“No. I was born here.”
“So you’re a returnee or just visiting family.”
“Visiting,” I bit out. “Thank you for the food. It was great.”
I was about to get up and leave, but she blocked the side of the booth I was in.
“What did you say your name was again?”
“I didn’t. Look, I need to leave now, and you are blocking my way.”
“Sorry.” She stepped aside. I thought she was finally going to let me go, but she caught my wrist in her hand.
“I know those eyes from anywhere.” Her eyes started to glisten as unshed tears filled them, “You are Monica’s daughter, aren’t you. Jade Elizabeth. Right?”
I ripped my hand out of her hold. “I need to go. Excuse me.”
I rushed out of the diner, leaving her standing there gaping at an empty space. I was in such a hurry, I didn’t see that there was someone by the door. I rammed right into their hard chest and tumbled backward.
I fell onto my ass hard. When I looked up, I saw a rather displeased Grayson Stone.
He looked like he wanted to say something but was cut off when a shrill voice called out from one side of the diner.
“Baby!”
The professionally dressed blonde-haired woman stepped over me and stood right in front of Grayson, giving me the perfect view of her behind. She smacked her lips to his and pulled away.
“I missed you!”
When she finally turned her head to glare down at me, I stilled. This couldn’t be happening.
Astrid Anderson. The girl who had tortured most of high school. The girl who had told all the boys that I had chlamydia and herpes from sleeping with Jorge the janitor. The same girl who had gotten her friends to jump me in the bathroom when she found out that I was dating Grayson back in senior year.
She had called him baby and told him that she missed him. Were they dating? Were they married? No. Ethan would have told me if Grayson had gotten married. I knew he would have.
“What’s up, Voldie,” she grinned evilly down at me.
Well, this day just kept getting better and better, and it was only noon.