Chapter 9
Edmund had said he and his mate Amanda would be picking Rachel up–but she definitely wasn’t expecting the third person standing beside them.
“Rachel! Over here!”
She smiled and made her way over, first giving Amanda a warm hug. “Amanda, you haven’t aged a day. Still stunning as ever.”
Then she waved at Edmund with a grin. “And you–better watch it, or Amanda’s gonna trade up for someone who can keep up with her.”
Edmund chuckled, pretending to huff. “It’s been, what, years since we last saw you? And the first thing out of your mouth is roasting me?”
Rachel winked. “I call it flattery. That silver beard of yours? Total ‘legendary photographer‘ vibes. You could give Max Rief a run for his money.”
Edmund laughed harder. “Figures. Your brother always let you get away with murder.”
The mention of Aaron made Amanda glance around. “You came by yourself? Your brother didn’t see you off?”
Edmund looked around too. “Maybe he went to grab your luggage? You’re empty–handed–someone’s got to be handling your bags.”
Rachel looped her arms through both of theirs and started leading them toward the exit. “Nope. I came solo. I’m an adult, remember? I can handle myself. Now let’s go I’m starving.”
Neither of them seemed to notice anything off. But the man walking a few steps behind did.
“Wait, uh–Rachel…”
Edmund turned, blinking as if he’d just remembered. “Oh right! I completely forgot about our driver.”
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Rachel had noticed the man the second she exited the terminal.
He looked to be in his early thirties–broad shoulders, strong frame, soft features. He
wore a light gray sweater layered under a dark coat, and something about him radiated
calm.
“Rachel,” Edmund said, motioning toward him, “this is Justin. You two went to the
same college. Ring any bells?”
She searched her memory, frowning slightly. “Sorry… Justin, were you one of Edmund’s
students too?”
Edmund burst into laughter. “You seriously don’t remember?”
Rache
still looked blank.
Justin scratched the back of his neck, cheeks tinting pink. “Edmund, come on. Don’t put
me on the spot ke that.”
Edmund was cracking up. “Alright, alright, I’ll zip it. Or better yet, you can tell her
find
yourself when you find
e guts.”
Justin, clearly flüstered, qu
Justin, clearly flustered, quickly ducked away. “I’ll get the car. Meet you outside in a
minute!”
Rachel tilted her head slightly, still baffled.
Amanda, catching the look on her face, leaned in. “You really don’t remember, huh?
Back in college–you delivered a love letter to a guy, remember?”
Rachel’s eyes shot wide.
Oh. That.
It had been a total disaster.
The letter wasn’t even hers. It belonged to her roommate, Liza, who’d been crushing
hard on some senior but was way too shy to confess. Rachel, always the bolder one, had
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offered to deliver it on her behalf.
She’d waited outside the sketching studio until she spotted the guy, then handed him the envelope. But before she could explain, a group of rowdy guys nearby snatched it out of his hands and
ead it aloud like they were hosting a comedy show.
At first, Rachel hadn’t thought much of it–love letters were usually sappy,
embarrassing at
On rst.
But not this
Liza, timid as she was in person, had apparently written a letter that belonged in an R–rated stand–up act.
The first line? “Your fly’s down.”
The second? “Looks promising.”
Rachel had frozen on the spot.
The poor guy had gone red as a tomato, stammered out a flustered apology, then
sprinted after his friends to grab the letter back.
It had been legendary.
For weeks, she was infamous on campus. Everyone thought she was the boldest girl in
the school. Aaron had not been amused.
