The One Who Got Away is Back

Memory 12 ♡ Magic in The Water

I couldn't have known what this day was going to bring from the way it started.

Losing my sketchpad set me back a few precious days on the work I had to do for my final showcase, but I was finally on the pattern-making stage. I asked Becca to drop by the cafe after class so I could check that I was cutting them right before starting to sew. Not a single customer or coworker batted an eye at seeing this in action in the middle of the cafe.

"Hold still," I told her as I took in a little more fabric. "Have you lost some weight?"

"Thank you for noticing! I've been dieting a bit." Once I made a pause to grab some chalk, she turned and whispered, "Don't tell anyone, but I'm working really hard to score a date."

No doubt. I'd seen her intensify her workout routine and she'd been drinking a lot of really gross smoothies as of late. That, and she was constantly stuck to her cellphone. And from a couple of pictures I'd seen her take in our shared bathroom, I didn't think it was just texting that she did with it.

"More power to you," I told her sincerely. I wished I had an ounce of her confidence. "I think it's great that you're moving on from your ex."

"And this guy doesn't seem to be a dick, so that's an improvement."

We giggled together before I went back to work. The universe must have sensed that I was still bothered by the conversation and it rewarded me with an accidental pinch of my thumb. I yelped and sucked at the drop of blood that was quickly forming. I thought that was all the punishment I needed, but the front door opened and in came Miguel.

"Oh!" Becca jumped a little and I had to hold her back to remove all the patterns off of her before even more tragedy struck. When she freed herself, she reached for a big hug that Miguel reciprocated. All the while he was looking at me, his face scrunched up.

"Sorry," he said. And for a moment my heart stopped. Did he know-

But then I saw what he referred to, because two people jumped from right behind him.

I squealed.

One of them squealed.

The other one laughed.

And still Miguel winced.

"Page!" I screamed and she met me in the middle in a collision of hugs and sloppy kisses.

"Oh my God, Addy! I've missed you so much."

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked her, squeezing the living daylights out of her.

Jace recovered from laughing at our dramatics as he said, "We're dropping by for a visit and thought we'd surprise you."

I pulled back from my friend and gave her a once over, like I couldn't believe she was right there.

"Well, color me shocked because it's not like it's a national holiday or anything," I said. "By the way, love the dress."

"It's Kate Spade," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. "But I know you can make me a better one."

"Duh," I replied with a roll of my eyes.

She grabbed my hands and shook them. "You're going to let us kidnap you, right? We only have today to do fun stuff before we have to head over to Fort Lauderdale for Jace's cousin's baby shower."

I groaned.

"Dang it, I have to work. You should've told me you were coming and I could've switched my shift."

"In our defense," Jace said with a shrug. "The arrangements were last minute."

My brain churned out ideas such as calling Poonam and asking her for a backup, but I knew she would kill me if I sprung that upon her out of the blue. I'd probably do the same. The next idea was begging Ayrton to let me off early with a pay cut, but I actually did need the money. Short of feigning an injury, I couldn't think of anything else.