Page 75 of Love in Overdrive

Laney’s gaze dropped to the floor. Her cheeks flamed. She had to be sporting a nice, deep rose color. “I, uh…”

“Too late.” He moseyed on to the next basket on the table.

“Laney Hunt. Fancy running into you here.”

Ice ran down Laney’s back at the honeyed voice. Mustering up all her courage, Laney gave her nemesis a hundred-watt smile. “DeDe. What a surprise.”

“Surprise, surprise. Just like at the bank the other day. Why did you run out of there so fast?” She propped a manicured hand on her hip.

Think. Think. The truth was the last thing she wanted to tell her. “I forgot something.”

A perfectly arched brow rose. “What would that be?”

“I left the oven on.” Laney dropped her gaze and examined the handmade tissue box covers.

“Oh. For a second, I thought you were running from me.”

Crap. DeDe saw straight through her. She always had.

“Laney, I know you think I broke up your marriage, but you and I both know you and Pete were already having issues. He told me you two had split and filed for divorce.”

Laney bit back a snort. She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she looked her former friend in the eye. “Really? So, either you’re ignorant or a liar. Which is it?”

DeDe pulled back. Pink colored her perfectly contoured cheeks. “I swear on my grandma’s grave, I didn’t know.”

“I know for a fact your granny is playing bingo at the senior center tonight.” A wave of confidence flooded Laney, causing the words to flow. “Gossip spreads like wildfire in this town. You’re telling me you thought Pete and I had split? Bull pucky. A juicy piece of gossip like that would have been all over town before you could bat an eyelash.”

DeDe blustered at Laney’s words.

“Oh, don’t act like the wounded lamb. We were friends. At least, I thought we were.” A fist tightened around her chest, but Laney forced air into her lungs. “It shouldn’t matter if we were divorcing. You were my friend, DeDe.” She shook her head. “To tell you the truth, you deserve him. He didn’t care about me, or our marriage, any more than you did. So, he’s all yours.”

The woman who broke Laney’s heart stood tongue-tied. Laney was done. She needed out of DeDe’s sight. She had beaten herself up over her friend’s betrayal. But standing here, staring her in the eyes, Laney realized it had nothing to do with her. Looking back, the signs were there. DeDe always had a thing for Pete.

She started to turn away but whirled back to face DeDe with the flair of a diva. Laney’s insides rolled with emotions. Now that she had popped the cork on her anger, it burst out like champagne. She didn’t want to contain it any longer.

The other woman’s shocked expression fueled Laney. “Oh, you might want to keep an eye on his roving body parts, if you know what I mean.”

Not waiting for a response, Laney strolled to the end of the table where her brother was watching with a stupid grin on his face.

He held up a hand. “High five. I didn’t think I’d see the day you would tell her off.”

“I didn’t either. Especially in church—turn the other cheek and everything—but you know what? It feels really good.” Better than good. All the anxiety and nerves Laney had over facing Pete’s lover had left her body. No more ducking for cover. Laney turned to DeDe and gave a little finger wave.

“What better place to do it? Sin and confess all in one. One stop shopping.” He linked his arm with hers. “But really, sis. I don’t think you standing up for yourself is a sin. Come on. I’m hungry.”

They made their way to the table where their parents were seated. Shelly and her wife were at the table next to them. Strange. Their table seated eight. There was more than enough room. Just then, her parents stood to greet another couple.

The fashionably dressed woman in a classy suit hugged her mother like they were old friends, and the tall gentleman laughed at something her father said as they shook hands.

Just then, Laura looked over and spotted them. “Sawyer, Delaney, come and meet our friends, Eric and Sara.”

“So lovely to meet you.” Sara greeted her with a warm smile.

Laney couldn’t tell if she was in her fifties or sixties. Had she met her in the past? Something about her itched in Laney’s mind. Her face was so familiar. Where had she seen her before? The store? Church?

“Nice to meet you.” Eric had to be close to her father’s age. His wide, rough hand gently gripped hers as they shook.

“Delaney, your mother tells me you’re a teacher. What age children do you work with?” Sara asked as they all took their seats.