Obsession Falls(22)

“Colin.”

“High school ex-boyfriend Colin? You’re kidding.”

“Nope, that’s him.”

“His ears must have been burning.”

Our eyes met and he flashed me a wide smile as he walked to our table. He was dressed similarly to the last time I’d seen him—button-down shirt and slacks. I wondered if he always dressed like that or if he’d just come from the office.

But what was he doing here?

“Hey, Audrey. We keep running into each other.” He turned to Sandra. “Hi. Colin Greaves.”

“Sandra O’Neal.”

“I didn’t think I’d see you here, of all places,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

He glanced around. “I come down here once in a while. Nice to have a change of scenery. I can’t go anywhere in Pinecrest these days without being recognized. Sometimes I just want to have a drink in peace, not give out a bunch of free legal advice to the locals.”

I gave him as friendly a smile as I could manage. “I’m sure that gets old after a while. Enjoy your drink.”

He grinned, like I’d said something amusing. “I see what you’re doing, but you can’t get rid of me that easily, sweetheart. We still need to catch up. Sandra, you don’t mind if I join you.” He was already circling behind her to sit in one of the empty chairs. “How’s your mom?”

I felt like I had to answer. After all, he’d known my parents for years. “It’s been a tough couple of years, but she’s okay.”

“Glad to hear that. I’ve seen her around town. She’s certainly stayed active in the community. I’m sure that’s good for her.”

“She does like to keep busy. How are your parents?”

He leaned back in his chair. “The old man is – well, he’s still my old man. He made the mistake of retiring and now he just stays home and drives my mom crazy.”

Colin’s parents had always seemed like decent enough people, although I’d never gotten the impression that they’d liked me all that much.

I shifted in my chair, finding it impossible to get comfortable. I hoped he’d decide to get up but the silence was a few seconds away from getting awkward and he wasn’t moving, so I rushed to fill it. “And how’s Lorelei? Is she still working at the library?”

“No.” His eyes narrowed for a second. “She’s a medical assistant now, which I guess makes her happy. She works a lot of hours, anyway.”

His tone was flippant, almost irritated, and I wondered if my mom’s gossip about Colin and Lorelei had been true.

“Good for her.”

He shrugged, as if his wife and her profession didn’t particularly matter. He angled his face toward Sandra and put on a smile. “I’m sorry, Sandra, I don’t mean to exclude you from the conversation. How do you know Audrey?”

The skepticism in Sandra’s eyes almost made me laugh. She was clearly not impressed with Colin’s attempt to act interested in her. “We work together. And how do you know her, exactly?”

Colin met my eyes and smiled. “We’re old friends from high school.”

“Old friends?” Sandra asked.

“Well,” Colin said, turning his palms up. “We were more than friends. In fact, we almost got married.”

That took me aback and I sat up straighter. “We didn’t almost get married.”

“Of course we did.”

“We were never engaged. I think you need to at least be engaged to be able to say you almost got married.”

“Most of us thought it was a foregone conclusion that we would get married.”

Sandra raised her eyebrows at me, as if to say, what are you going to do about this guy?

I wanted to stand up and make a scene. To tell him that I didn’t care what everyone else had thought. They’d been wrong. He’d been wrong if he ever thought I’d marry him and he should go home to his wife.

But I couldn’t make a scene. I squirmed in my seat. What would all the people in here think? I just wanted to get out of there.

Without thinking about what I was doing, I pushed my chair back. “I’m sorry Sandra, but I should probably get home.”

“Audrey, sweetheart.” Colin’s tone was placating, like he was talking to an upset child. “Don’t do that.”

“You shouldn’t call her that.”

My eyes widened at the growly voice behind me. I didn’t know when Josiah had gotten up from his place at the bar but I could feel his presence behind me now, dark and menacing.

Colin looked up at him. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t think she likes you calling her sweetheart. So how about you go find your own table and leave these ladies alone.”

“How about you mind your own business.”

“I would love to but you keep bothering them and I don’t like it.”

My heart raced and I felt like I was glued to my chair. Sandra grinned at Josiah, as if this whole scene was making her night. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. He towered behind me like a wall of timber, arms crossed and brow deeply furrowed, his eyes locked on Colin.

I had no idea why Josiah was standing up for me. Colin hadn’t been harassing us in an obvious way. Sitting at our table and making conversation wasn’t that bad.