she’d been on in her lifetime hadn’t gone well. Her aunt always said men were intimidated by an intelligent woman, but who knew if that was the reason.
And that was fine with her, really. To become a doctor, she’d have to stay focused. Men only complicated things.
Instead of frowning and walking away, a slow grin spread like molasses across Wes’s face. It was a nice smile—not like the kind guys wore when they leered or when they thought they were all that and a bag of chips. No, this smile lit something deep in the pit of Angela’s stomach.
He seemed like the good, stable, guy-next-door type. The kind of guy who wouldn’t want anything to do with awkward, serious Angela Ladd.
“Well, that’s okay. I wasn’t looking for a date.”
“You weren’t?” Why the disappointment flooding her heart? Angela’s toes curled in her shoes, itching to run again. “Why did you stop me then?”
“Technically I didn’t stop you. I just asked to join you.” He nudged her with his elbow.
Angela stiffened at the contact. “Well—”
“Relax, I’m teasing you. I tried to grab you after class yesterday, but you left really quickly. And then, just now, I was sitting over there studying when I saw you running past. So I thought I’d try again.”
“Why did you want to talk to me?”
He flicked his fingers through his short blond curls, scratching the base of his head where his head met his hairline. “Uh, okay, well, you’re really smart and I thought maybe we could be lab partners. I asked Professor Higgins if I could switch, because the girl I’m paired with right now is so clueless. And I noticed you don’t have a partner.” Wes shrugged. “So if you’re open to partnering up, maybe we could try it out.”
Just like his smile, he seemed totally sincere in his request. “Sorry, but I work better alone.”
He studied her for a moment. “Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. Why not try working with me and see?”
Angela couldn’t help but gawk at him. “I—”
“Don’t answer now if your answer is going to be no.” There was that beaming again. Why did it affect her so much? “If you decide to be my partner, just come sit by me tomorrow in class. If not, no hard feelings.”
What a strange guy. “Okay.”
Wes turned to leave but stopped, looking over his shoulder. “I do hope you say yes, though.”
Seventeen years later, Angela sucked in air and slowed her pace again, snapping the cap off her water and sipping the cold liquid. Her heart bumped wildly against her chest—whether from the physical exertion or the memory, who could say?
That one day had forever altered the trajectory of Angela’s life. What if she’d just kept on running? Hadn’t slipped into a seat next to him in class the next day?
Would she take it all back?
No.
The answer thrummed through her entire body, and relief chased it.
She may have a lot of complicated feelings where Wes and their life together were concerned, but at least she knew that much.
And for now—for this moment—that was enough.
12
Eva had to get out of here.
Slowly she rose from the overstuffed gray chair situated by a large picture window.
Angela stood next to the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, fingertips splayed across her forehead, eyes slightly closed. “Kylee, for the last time, just because we’re in a small town doesn’t mean you can run off with the first people you meet.”
Eva took another step, praying Sherry or one of the other kids would walk in and save her from the awkward drama playing out in front of her.
“Mom, all I want to do is meet them for ice cream in town. It’s bad enough you took me away from all of my actual friends. Now you’re also going to keep me from making new ones? Like, really?”
“Stop overreacting. I simply said you needed to invite them here so I can get to know them first.”
Almost to the kitchen . . . Eva’s foot hit the leg of a chair, and she winced at the loud thump.
Angela and Kylee looked up at the noise. Angela’s face turned white—maybe she’d forgotten Eva was there.
What could Eva say? “I’m going to walk into town.” Yes, that would be just the break she needed. She couldn’t handle much more of this tension—they’d been here a week and already she’d been witness to one too many arguments. “You want to come with, Kylee?”
“Yes!” Kylee ran toward the stairs. “Be down in three.”
“Sorry. I guess I should have