A Trusting Heart (12 page)

“No, as a matter of fact, this would have to be the first time. Maybe if I had had more practice at matchmaking, you would be having a better time tonight.”

Drew looked from Megan to Cora to Trevor in confusion.

He felt a little uneasy as if he were an actor in a play, but no one had bothered to give him a script.

“There are no complaints here. As a matter of fact, I’d have to say I’m the luckiest man in the whole restaurant.”

Cora’s thoughts were dragged away from Trevor’s dilemma to the very charming and handsome man sitting right next to her. Cora smiled back at Drew and realized that tonight didn’t have to be a complete disaster. She had a very charming and kind dinner companion and, since there was nothing she could do to save her son’s evening, she might as well enjoy herself as best she could. And to Drew’s complete delight, she focused completely on him.

Blaine and Linette had the same idea, and spaced out everyone but themselves after ordering from the waiter. No one even blinked an eye when Megan ordered four entrees. Megan and Trevor looked at each other cautiously knowing they were stuck.

“I’m feeling a little like a fifth wheel here. What about you?” Trevor whispered in Megan’s ear.

Megan sighed loudly and threw down her napkin before rising from the table. She could do something about it. There were two other couples here who were more than willing to have a great time. She didn’t have the right to put a damper on their evening, just because she had the bad luck to be stuck with a creep. She found the hostess and asked if they could have a different table. Within seconds, they were escorted to an intimate alcove away from everyone and everything. Just the two of them. Alone.

Perfect
, she thought wryly.

“I hope your sister appreciates your sacrifice.”

Megan almost smiled. “She would do the same for me, I’m sure. Just out of curiosity, why did you do all this? You could never bring yourself to ask me out in high school, so why the sudden interest?” Megan asked.

Trevor closed his eyes and wondered what to say to her. The truth? It couldn’t hurt him at this point. He was out of the game anyway. He’d just make Blaine return the ring for him. The little slave.

“I wanted to in high school, but I was too gutless to do anything about it. I promised myself if I ever had the chance again, I wouldn’t waste any time. And when I saw you at the reunion, it just seemed perfect. You’re single, I’m single. Why not?”

Megan’s mouth hardened into a straight, thin line. “You don’t even know me. This is crazy.”

“Sure, I know you. Well, a little bit. Okay, I just have a few memories, but why shouldn’t that be a good reason to want to go out with you? We were in the same biology class in the ninth grade. We had two classes together our junior year, and senior year we had government and seminary together. I watched you every day. I saw things most people didn’t. You always acted so haughty and snooty around your little clique and they ate it up. They couldn’t get enough. You were the quintessential cheerleader. But it was just an act. I saw the time when no one was looking and you went up to Robby Seaver, that boy who had downs syndrome and you told him what a cool guy you thought he was, and how proud you were of him for getting that medal in the special Olympics. You made sure none of your friends saw you, but you did it. But my favorite was the time you stood up to your boyfriend in front of everyone. And, boy, did you pay for it. Justin Webster, the one kid everyone picked on, accidentally knocked Dylan’s lunch out of his hands, and Dylan of course started to beat the snot out of him. You put yourself right in between them so Justin wouldn’t get hurt. You’re the one who ended up with the black eye that day.”

Megan closed her eyes as the memory of that day came back to her.

“That was an accident,” Megan whispered fiercely.

Trevor said nothing as he looked at her with his dark serious eyes. The waiter brought their food at that moment and asked politely if she would like the chef to keep the rest of her entrees warm in the kitchen. Megan had the grace to blush, but nodded her head regally. Her first pick was lobster. Trevor had ordered steak of all things. Why go to a French restaurant and order steak? It was just as she suspected: the man was insane.

“For a while, I couldn’t believe it myself. Megan Garrett, the head cheerleader, a nice person?”

Megan cracked the lobster angrily as what he said started to sink in.

“So why didn’t you ask me out? I don’t believe you were gutless for a second. Not Trevor Riley, seminary president and defender of all goodness and light.” Megan looked him square in the face and saw him flinch. She knew exactly why.

“I didn’t fit in with your image, did I, Trevor? I bleached my hair and had the best perm this side of Salt Lake. My finger nails were so long and red, you would have rather died than introduce me to your mom. I’m right, aren’t I? You were so good at seeing the inside, but you still couldn’t get past the outside. You were too good for me, weren’t you?”

Trevor sighed and wondered if the evening could get any worse. He had planned to have a wonderful evening. He had hoped to bypass all of the high school baggage and move on to the future. This was not turning out at all the way he had expected it to. There went all of his mom’s grandbabies.

“I had a little problem with pride when I was in high school. I admit it. A big problem, actually. I thought I had an image to uphold as seminary president. I was on my mission and asking myself why I still couldn’t stop thinking about you when I realized what an idiot I had been. Do you remember getting a letter from an Elder Riley in Guatemala?”

Megan had her mouth full at the moment, but nodded her head. She did remember. She just hadn’t put Elder Riley together with Trevor the Seminary President.

“I thought if maybe we could start writing each other while I was on my mission, then we could get together when I got home. The one time you wrote me back, all I got was one sentence: ‘Don’t get worms.’”

Megan covered her mouth with her napkin, giggling over the memory. If she had only known, she probably would have written a different letter.

“Oops.”

Trevor smiled back at the woman still giggling at him. She was stunning when she smiled. Actually, she was stunning even when she was looking like she wanted to kill you.

“So did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Get worms.”

It was Trevor’s turn to laugh.

“Yes, I did. And I always blamed that letter for it. The very next day, I found out I had parasites in my stomach. I won’t bore you with the details, but they almost had to send me home. It was horrible. I still can’t eat chicken feet soup without gagging.”

Megan was sure he was telling the truth, but couldn’t help giggling.

“All right, so maybe you’re not the biggest jerk in the world. I can understand wanting to go out with someone you secretly liked in high school, but what I don’t get is this huge production. You had your mother set us up on a date. All you had to do was call me on the phone. I’m listed and I did owe you a dance. I would have said yes. Just to warn you, though, I’m not sure I’m a good bet right now.”

Trevor noticed the shadows appear in her eyes and knew he would do anything to make them disappear.

“Don’t sell yourself short. According to my sources, you’re quite the prize. Not only are you the best realtor in the world, I believe my mom said you had E.S.P., and you have a gorgeous dog, a nice home, and a pretty little sister. There aren’t that many women out there who can offer anything close to that.”

Megan snorted at the mention of her dog. Maybe Trevor was in the market for one?

“You’re forgetting one teensy weensy detail: I’m cursed. If I were you, I’d run for it. Me and relationships don’t mix. I’m a disaster just waiting to happen.”

Trevor knew Megan was thinking of Dylan. It was as if there was a third person at their table. A very unwelcome third person.

“Did you love him very much?”

Megan’s head snapped up as she looked at Trevor in surprise.

“Oh, I almost forgot you had a spy. I should have realized your mom would tell you everything.”

Trevor grimaced, knowing he should have done things differently where his mom was concerned. He had thought he was being so clever and inventive.

“Did you?”

Megan tilted her head up in irritation and stared at the lights hanging from the ceiling. Well, it was a night for truth it would seem. She’d never see Trevor again after tonight anyway, so what would it matter?

“Yes, I did. I loved him. I don’t know that I was in love with him, but if you grew up the way I did, where there wasn’t a lot of affection or even acceptance, having a relationship where someone actually cared about you and looked out for you was amazing. A little overbearing at times, but still comforting. Because of him, I took the discussions and joined the church my junior year in high school. His family really took me in. Wow, was that an eye opener. Family Home Evenings, daily prayer, scripture study. A family that really loved each other. I have to be honest, I don’t know if it was Dylan or his family I wanted more. At the time, my parents thought it was great. Now, I realize that was my dad just making a business deal sweeter. My dad and his dad were going to merge their two companies. Things fell through, though. Oh, well. I’ve always wondered if someone else had asked me out, what I would have done. I guess we’ll never know.”

Trevor had trouble meeting her gaze. Their lives might have been very different if he had been a little more humble.

“Oh, admit it. If I had asked you out, not only would Dylan have beaten me up, you would have laughed your head off. The head cheerleader and the seminary president. You wouldn’t have been able to hold your head up in the cafeteria. Admit it.”

Megan pursed her lips, ready to defend herself, and then wondered what her parents would have done if she had come home one day and told them she no longer wanted to date Dylan, the son of one of her father’s closest business acquaintances, but that she would now be dating the poor seminary president. Her mom and dad would have nipped that in the bud as fast as you could say, “no money for clothes.”

“I really can’t say. I’d like to say that I would have. And besides, Dylan wouldn’t have beat you up. Weren’t you some karate champion or something?”

“They call it a black belt,” Trevor said with a laugh. He reached his hand across the table.

“Let’s call it a truce then, shall we? I’ll admit that I was a spineless jerk and that I shouldn’t have set this date up the way I did if you’ll admit that, yes, I am one of the best looking guys you’ve ever been out with, and that, no, you won’t change your phone number tomorrow morning.”

Megan laughed and reached out to shake his hand. “You got it. I won’t change my phone number and, yes, you just might be the best looking man I’ve ever gone out with. But don’t let it go to your head.”

Trevor’s grin was so wide, Megan could tell he would need a clamp to stop smiling.

“And, by the way, I’m sorry about that kiss last Saturday. I was just upset that Dylan was trying to humiliate you. It was my dumb way of sticking up for you.”

Megan took a sip of water and patted her mouth with her napkin before answering. Holding grudges wasn’t one of her favorite things to do. Maybe she should give him a break.

“Okay, Trevor. All is forgiven. But I’m warning you, next time you want a little kiss, ask.”

Trevor wanted to jump up in the air and shout, “Hallelujah, she said NEXT TIME!” But he settled for telling the waiter to put all of Megan’s untasted entrees into the best-looking doggie bags they could find. He even went so far as to order desserts to go along with all of her meals. Megan felt slightly mean about all of the food she had ordered, but knew it wouldn’t go to waste. It might even tempt her sister to gain a few pounds.

The three couples met outside and waited for the valet to bring Cora’s car. Cora and Linette both attempted to catch Megan’s eye, wondering where they should go from here. Cora gave up and tapped Megan on the shoulder anxiously, not knowing what her reaction would be.

“Megan, do you still feel up to a play or would you like us to take you home? Blaine and Linette say they don’t care what they do, and Drew and I can take a play in some other time. What do you feel like doing?”

Megan looked around the group for their reactions. It looked as if Blaine and Linette would be happy any place they could talk. Drew was beaming down at Cora and would clearly be happy as long as he was with her. Trevor was looking at the ground, but his hands were clenched at his sides. She wasn’t sure what to make of that. What did she want to do? She really didn’t want to go to a play. Her mind was in such a jumble she knew she wouldn’t be able to concentrate. She had started to enjoy Trevor’s company. It would be nice to just go for a walk with him. Everybody would think she was an idiot if she suggested that, though.

“Don’t worry about hurting my feelings, Megan. If you’d rather just go on home, then that’s what we’ll do. I promise I won’t start crying.”

Megan’s mouth twitched at the thought of Trevor boohooing over her. As if. “Well, to be honest, I would rather just go home. I don’t feel like a play tonight. Maybe we could pick up a video on the way home—and some ice cream. We could make some shakes or something. And I really need to take my dog on a walk. Would you mind?”

Trevor’s face had closed up as she voiced her wish to go home, but at the mention of a video and a walk, his grin was back bigger than ever. Everyone in the group laughed in relief that the evening wasn’t going to end.

Blaine put his arm around Linette’s shoulders as he insisted on being the one to pick the movie. Linette’s eyes were sparkling and she looked very different from the sad, hopeless girl she had been just a few days earlier. It was amazing what a little bit of care and good food could do for a person. Not to mention a little romance. And she did have Cora and Trevor to thank for that. She turned and smiled at Cora, who walked over to her quickly, pulling her in for a quick hug.

“I’m sorry, Megan. I would never have hurt you for the world. Do you forgive me?”