My Hometown Love

Chapter 7 - Unexpected Reunions

Jake walked over to us and put his arm around Kevin, squeezing him in the process as he beamed at him proudly. 

“Lex, you remember Kevin right? He’s my best bud and my best man for the wedding.”, Jake said as he introduced me to the person I knew all too well. 

Kevin stood in front of me extending his hand, looking to shake my hand as he looked at me politely.

“Hi, Lexie. It’s good to see you again. It’s been a while.”, he said flashing his famous dimples as he smiled. 

“Yeah. It’s been a while.”, I replied briefly with a polite smile as I quickly shifted my attention to the others, eager to move on before my emotions break like hell let loose. 

It’s a good thing that I was not as sensitive to confrontation like I was back in high school. Working in New York kind of toughened me up. I felt a pair of eyes staring at me as I introduced myself to the rest but I promised myself to remain civil and put on my best behavior until after the wedding. Soon we were discussing wedding details throughout the morning. 

*********

The meeting ended with Jake and Maria assigning us as Maid of Honor and Best Man with various tasks that required us to work together to get them done. ‘Just great, more time with this jerk’, I thought to myself as I looked over the list of tasks. 

“So Lexie, shall we start with getting the decorations this afternoon?”, Kevin asked as we started to disperse.

“Yeah sure.”, I replied politely yet with a hint of a cold shoulder.

His face changed with my reply and I knew that I shouldn’t let my feelings get in the way of doing my very best for Jake’s wedding even if it meant working with Kevin alongside all my previous emotional baggage. I told myself that I wasn’t a mean person nor did I want to be and so, I am going to put it behind me and just act like Kevin is an acquaintance I just met. I might take Selena Gomez’s advice and kill him with kindness. 

“You okay?”, Kevin asked still with a slight hurt feeling look from my previous response.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I’m okay. Sorry, I just spaced out. Anyway, about this afternoon, where shall I meet you?”, I asked with a new determination. 

“Maybe we can start at the mall? I heard there’s a new pop-up store with decorations for all kinds of events.”, he replied looking relieved that I didn’t snap at him coldly again. 

“Okay sure. I’ll meet you there then. Say about 2.30 in the afternoon?”, I said glancing at my watch. 

“Okay. See you then.”, he replied as he turned to walk out of the cafe. 

*********

I felt all kinds of nostalgic memories I walked into the local town mall. I was in awe of how this mall has been around for so long and was unchanged despite being in great shape. I heard a familiar voice call out my name and my heart skipped a beat upon hearing that voice. I silently told my heart to shut up while walking to the bench where Kevin was waiting. 

“You ready?”, he asked as he stood up in front of me. 

I nodded and continued to trail behind him as we visited various stores slowly ticking off things on our list as the afternoon passed by. 

Before we knew it, we were both in the open parking lot with at least 3 bags in each hand greeted by the evening breeze. 

“Come on, I’ll give you a lift home.”, Kevin said breaking the silence as he fumbled with his bags trying to get his keys. 

“Oh, it’s okay. I can always get my parents or Jakey to pick me up. Don’t trouble yourself.”, I replied politely trying my best to control my laughter as I continued to watch him struggle to find his keys with his hands full. 

“No, I insist. Plus, I can drop off all these decorations at your house too.”, he said as he led me to his car. 

“Okay then.”, I said as I realized that he had a point. 

But then, I saw a surprising yet memorable sight. There parked in parking lot 8B was the famous blue Subaru Outback that I remember all too well. It was the car that I used to see at the pet shop, school, and at home as Jakey got picked up and dropped off. We used to call it Kevin’s partner in crime because everywhere we saw this car, we knew Kevin Walker was somewhere around. Plus, he used to take all his dates joyriding in this beauty. 

“I see you kept the Outback.”, I said as I entered the car after stashing all the bags in the back seat. 

“Yeah. This baby has been with me through some tough times and I’m not ready to part with her yet. I’m surprised you remember.”, he said with empathy as he exited the parking lot and toward home. 

I smiled and quickly turned my head to look out the window, trying my best to stop myself from blushing. I can’t believe how after all these years, he still could make me blush like a teenager. Sadly, that feeling didn’t last too long as it slowly got replaced with the feelings of hurt and embarrassment of long ago.

*********

The first few days back home went by in a blur. I spent most of my time helping with the wedding planning and occasionally attempting to bake at the bakery with my parents. I have also been spending time with Kevin, all for the sake of the wedding but I don’t know, he seems like a changed person maybe?

Anyway, here I am standing in front of a mirror in a silky lavender dress as a lady tries her best not to poke me with her pins. Maria looks at me adoringly as I turn around, watching the dress flow and spin.

“It’s perfect. Do you like it, Lexie?”, Maria asks as she looks at me through the mirror. 

“I love it plus it is my favorite color.”, I reply beaming as Maria breathes a sigh of relief.  

An hour later, we are waiting for Maria to come out to show us her dress when I receive a text. I find myself smiling to myself when I see the sender. 

Kevin: Hey.

Lexie: Hey yourself.

Kevin: So whatcha doing?

Lexie: Bridesmaid dress fitting and Maria’s dress alterations. 

Kevin: Oh, serious stuff. 

Lexie: Yeah. Don’t worry, we will try not to overshine the groom and his groomsmen. 

Kevin: Yeah we’ll see about that. 

Lexie: So did you need something?

Kevin: I was wondering if you wanna have coffee this afternoon? If you want to that is. 

Lexie: Ah I see..... Yeah sure, why not. Where? Please don’t say the Lava Java. 

Kevin: Ha-ha. I was thinking about the Coffee Pot, it’s just further down the road from the Lava Java. 

Lexie: Okay. See you there at 4.00 pm.

“So, what do you think Lexie?”, I hear Maria’s voice and look up to see her in this gorgeous ivory white mermaid cut dress. 

“Oh wow, Maria. You look stunning! I swear if Jake doesn’t cry when he sees you in that dress, I’ll punch him so hard till he does.”, I say as I admire how elegant she looked. 

“Oh Lexie!”, she says as she fans herself to stop herself from crying. She bends down to hug me before stepping down from the platform and into the dressing room. 

********

I drop in to say hi to Jake before heading down to the Coffee Pot. I arrive there to find Kevin sitting with his back facing me as I walk towards his table. 

“Hey.”, I say as approach him. 

“Hey. Thanks for coming. Come, sit.”, he says as he points at the chair in front of him. 

“So, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. But, maybe we should order something first.”, Kevin quickly added as soon as I sat.

“Erm...okay. Here’s a waitress heading towards us now.”, I added but I felt my blood boil when I saw who it was who was coming to take our order. 

It was none other than Liliana. The same mean Liliana that occasionally made my school life hell by picking on me, making fun of me, and spreading rumors about me. 

“Liliana.”, I said in a voice that sounded like a low growl as I glared at her approaching. 

“Oh shit.”, Kevin replied as he turned around to see her just as she appeared right next to our table. 

“Well well. Look who it is. It’s little Alexandra Cooper. What happened to the New York big shot? Or did they send you back for being a loser?”, Liliana said smirking all the way. 

She looked at Kevin briefly eyeing him up and down before turning to me again. 

“I see you’re still the needy clingy Lexie that is so hung up on Kevin Walker. Don’t you ever learn that he is way out of your league? Or should I remind you about the Graduation dance?”, Liliana said menacingly before laughing and walking away. 

There it was again. The feeling of embarrassment and hurt of years ago that I buried way deep down has come up and haunted me again. And it’s all because of Kevin Walker. 

I didn’t even bother that my eyes were filling up with tears. I stood up, glared at Kevin with hurt, and walked out of the cafe. 

“Lexie, wait! Lexie!”, I heard him call out to me as he tried to keep up with me running. 

I ignored him with all my might and continued to run with no destination. 

All I wanted is to run away from him, again, like I did 6 years ago.