Chapter 6
Career Day or Bust
The entire gang pitched in, diving headfirst into setting up the cafeteria and breezeway with tables and decorations for our event. The excitement was palpable as posters were hung and the parents all started to trickle into the respective booths.
We had a little bit of everything, from doctors to lawyers to police officers, all the way to electricians and hospitality workers.
Sawyer and Shirley were off in the corner supervising by way of propping up their swollen ankles on chairs and comparing pregnancy horror stories.
“You all set over here?” I asked Sawyer while handing her a bottle of lemonade.
She pointed to her camera on the table and a few of her lookbooks. “I think the kids are going to love the pretty dresses in these sample packs.”
Shirley leaned over, flipping through the first couple of pictures. “Hey, I went to college with her.” Shirley pointed to Misty, Trace’s sister.
“That is the smallest of worlds,” I remarked, glancing down at the stunning pictures Sawyer had taken of Misty before the shit hit the fan that day.
“I didn’t think she was married,” Shirley remarked while looking closer at the photo.
Trace’s laugh boomed as he walked up to check on Sawyer. “Oh, she’s not. I made her let Sawyer use those in her portfolio as payment for putting us through the shitshow that was her ill-fated wedding day.”
Sawyer pointed to Trace. “Misty’s not-so-wedding wedding was how Trace and I met, actually. Talk about a turbulent start to a relationship.”
“Now I need all of the details.” Shirley scooted her chair closer to Sawyer as she went into the debacle of that hilarious day.
“I think we should leave them to it,” Trace whispered to me as I followed him away from the table. “So, which one is the jerk-face?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, subtly motioning over my shoulder to where Blake was talking to Annabelle and Waylon. “Is everyone calling him that now?”
Trace’s grin grew wide as he whispered, “Pretty much. Oh, he’s the guy from the car wash. Everything is making so much more sense now.” Taking a step away from me, Trace leaned in to shake Blake’s hand as he came up behind me.
“Mr. Hartigan, this is Trace.” I motioned to each of them in turn. “I don’t know if I formally introduced the two of you the other day.”
“Good to actually meet you, Trace. Thanks for coming out to support our little school yet again.” I could feel Blake sizing Trace up. It was hilarious.
“The little lady wouldn’t have let me off the hook for this one.” Trace nodded over to his very pregnant girlfriend, and Blake’s shoulders relaxed.
What is going on?
“How does it go? Happy wife, happy life,” Blake teased, glancing over to Sawyer and Shirley, who were still deep in conversation.
“There have never been truer words spoken.” Trace chuckled.
I could see Shirley gasping and saying, “No way,” as her hands covered her gaping mouth.
“I should probably go make sure Sawyer doesn’t need anything else before this shindig gets going. She hasn’t gone to the bathroom in the last ten minutes, so it’s time to worry a bit.” Trace rushed over to the table and immediately helped Shirley and Sawyer get to their feet before making their way down the hall to the ladies room.
“I have to hand it to you, Caroline—I am thoroughly impressed with how well this all came together,” Blake muttered while he looked around the room.
“Doubting me, were you?” I sniped, putting my hand on my hip.
He held up his hand with his thumb and forefinger barely spread apart. “Just a little, but good job proving me wrong. I like that.”
His tone broke into my brain, instantly sending me close to hating him again.
“I wouldn’t make that mistake again if I were you,” I bit back before turning to join Waylon, Harper, and Annabelle.
“You didn’t do that man’s looks justice when you were describing him to us,” Harper remarked as she eyed Blake from behind. “I mean, that suit just hugs him in all the right places.”