Page 71 of If We Meet Again

“I sense weird energy here. Wait…” Samantha looked around for prying ears, “…did you two get together?”

“No,” they both replied in unison.

“It didn’t get that far,” Ashley finished.

“Well, I’ll be damned. What are the odds? My sister and one of my best friends, I feel a senseof déjà vu.”

“She’s not here, isshe? Grace?”

“Nope, luckily for you she’s on vacation.”

Ashley breathed a sigh of relief.

A woman appeared by Megan’s side. Confidently, she placed her hand on the base of her back as though it belonged there. The tension had built to an unavoidable climax, there was no way to divert the attention away from Meganand Ashley.

“Ash, this is Megan’s girlfriend, Candice.”

Candice outstretched her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Ashley obliged. “You too.” Her down-turned mouth barely cracked a smile, her gaze never once dropping from Megan’s.

“Anyway, I need to go and mingle, so Ash, why don’t you go and check on Madison? She’s over there waiting for you.” Samantha pointed to the Chesterfield sofa, where Madison sat alone.

“No Georgina?”Megan asked.

Ashley turned to walk away, looking back over her shoulder with a wry smile. “Ancient history. Life moves on.”

When Ashley reached Madison, the broad grin and flashing eyes indicated she had already spotted the scene unfold.

“Is that who I think it is?”

“Yep.”

“Who’sthe chick?”

“Candice, hergirlfriend.”

“Why is she here?”

“She knows my sister from her Stanford days.”

Madison’s eyes widened. “Seriously? I never would’ve predicted that. Wasit awkward?”

“A little. I haven’t spoken to her in probablysix months.”

Madison peeked around Ashley to observe the women, who were huddled together in deep conversation.

“They look to be having a detaileddiscussion.”

“Really? What do you think they’re talking about?”

“I don’t know, I’m not a mind-reader.”

“Today’s going to be fun, isn’t it?” Ashley said sarcastically.

“Extremely entertaining, for me, anyway. And your mom hasn’t even bumped into your dad yet. I have been keeping tabs on that one.”

“Don’t remind me. If that is anything less than a car crash, I’llbe pleased.”