Tasha’s shoulders shook with her laughter.
Rose frowned. “Why?”
Tasha shrugged. “Because Ben will meet his replacement—”
“He’s not Ben’s replacement.” Rose’s tone was sharp. Was Tasha deliberately poking her temper?
“And you’ll meet Ben’s new wife.” Tasha drank her diet soda. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”
The temperature in the café seemed to drop by at least ten degrees. There was a buzzing in Rose’s ears. “Ben’s wife is pregnant?”
“You didn’t know?” Tasha tilted her head. “She may be too far along to attend the reunion.”
A shaft of hurt and anger so sharp sliced through Rose like scalding steel cleaving her in two. She clenched her teeth against the pain. Benjamin was living the life he’d promised her.
“Well, I wish them every happiness.” The lie was sour in her throat. She didn’t want him to be happy. She wanted to hurt him back.
“Good for you, Rose.” Maxine saluted her with her iced tea. “You’ve moved on and gotten over Ben.”
That sounded like something Lily would say. The realization made Rose uncomfortable with her deception. Her gaze drifted away. Their server returned with their credit card receipts.
“It’s getting late.” Rose checked her silver wristwatch. “I’d better get going. It was great to see everyone.”
Claudia stood. “At least show us a photo of this mystery man.”
Rose chuckled as she stood, as well. “I don’t carry his photo.”
“You don’t want to talk about him. You don’t carry his photo.” Tasha led them from the restaurant. “I have doubts that he really exists. I hope we meet him before the reunion.”
Rose’s shoulders tensed. So do I.
“I need a boyfriend.” Rose puffed the words as she and Iris continued their five-mile jog through the Park of Roses on Saturday morning.
It was the last day of spring, the day before the longest day of the year. Even this early on a Saturday morning, the park was busy with cyclists, walkers and other runners. Rose jogged beside Iris past the tennis courts. The row of maple trees on their left formed a canopy over them. They continued down the incline to the music of the birdsong around them.
“I thought you’d given up on men.” Iris’s strides were synchronized to Rose’s, the result of years of jogging together.
Her youngest sister’s lemon-yellow jersey and navy blue biker shorts were cheerful contrasts to Rose’s steel-gray jersey and black shorts. They veered to the right at the bottom of the hill.
“A fake one for my reunion. Remember?” Rose frowned into the distance. Ben’s fair features and wavy dark hair superimposed themselves over the park’s picnic area. She briefly squeezed her eyes shut to dispel the objectionable image.
“Do you have any candidates?” Iris’s voice became increasingly breathless as she expended more energy on the path.
“Not even one.” Rose had searched her mind Friday night after dinner with her former classmates: work, church, neighbors, anyone.
“What about Leroi? You’ve worked with him for years.”
“He’s dating someone.” Rose leaned forward and shortened her stride as she climbed the incline that led to the high school. Her words came out in puffs. “Besides, Leroi’s successful. And intelligent. And good-looking. But he doesn’t. Hold a candle. To Ben.” And she needed someone whose looks would eclipse her ex-fiancé’s.
“You’re in luck.” Iris took a breath. “I know someone. He’d be perfect. For your assignment.”
“Who?” Rose crested the hill with Iris. Her pulse and breathing slowly returned to normal.
“Donovan Carroll. Also goes by ‘Van.’ He’s Ty’s friend. Vice president of sales. For Anderson Adventures.”
“How’s he look?” Rose looked at Iris, reluctant to believe her sister had the answer to her problem.
“Six-three, six-four. Clean shaven. Classically handsome. Shaved head. Built like a football player.”
So far, so good. “Smart?”
“Very. And charming.” Iris smiled.
“Sounds perfect.” Almost too good to be true. She wiped the sweat from her eyes. What’s wrong with him?
“Ty’s cousin would be, too. But he’s recovering from his breakup.”
“I remember.” Rose felt an empathetic tug in her heart. “You told me.”
“I don’t think your plan would work if both of you brought baggage to it.”
“I agree.”
Two male joggers were advancing toward them. They had the long, lean, well-muscled look of professional athletes or narcissistic gym rats. Their naked torsos glistened with sweat like a neon sign flashing, Warning: Heartbreak Ahead. They caught Rose’s gaze. Their confident smiles seemed to ask, “Do you like what you see?” Rose’s scowl answered, “No, go jump in a lake.” The men looked away. Wise move, boys.
“Maybe Lil knows someone, too.” Iris’s suggestion redirected Rose’s attention.
“Can’t ask Lil.” They reached the end of their path. Rose turned as they jogged back to their cars. “She thinks I should go to the reunion alone. Ben would love that.”
How could she possibly go to her law school reunion alone while Benjamin attended with his pregnant wife? The idea made her want to throw up. Benjamin would think she hadn’t gotten over him. She wouldn’t let him believe that.
Rose glanced toward Iris, who’d fallen silent beside her. She took a deep breath. “I’d like to meet Van.”
Iris nodded. “Great. I’ll set it up.”
“Lunch next week?” Rose heard the tension in her voice.
“Why rush?”
Rose shrugged her shoulders. They’d just passed the high school and were heading back to the incline. She hated hills. “The sooner I meet Van.” She paused to breathe again. “The sooner I’ll know. Whether I need to find someone else.”
Iris chuckled softly. “I think you’ll agree. Van is perfect. For the role.”
“Hope so.” The stakes were high. The risks were steep. She’d already committed to this plan. She couldn’t back out. Rose had to convince Benjamin and her former classmates that she hadn’t given him a moment’s thought since she’d broken up with the lying, cheating snake almost two years
