Chapter 529
“I just landed in Apex for a business trip,” Dane said, bringing it up like it was no big deal.
Claire blinked, caught completely off guard. “Why didn’t you call earlier? I would’ve picked you up from the airport.” She glanced at her phone. “Actually, are you still there? I can come get you right now.”
“You don’t need to go out of your way,” Dane replied. “I’ll just see you tomorrow.” “It’s not even that late. Just past ten.” Claire felt determined. “I’ll come pick you up.” Dane could tell she meant it, so he didn’t argue anymore. “Okay. I’ll wait for you.” Claire turned to her friends. “I need to go pick someone up. Are you three going home on your own, or what?”
The airport was in the opposite direction, so there was really no point in making everyone go together.
“I’ll drive them,” Len said. He was the only one with a car besides Claire. Sophia and Shirley had come together.
“Perfect. Len, you’re in charge now.” Claire jingled her keys and grinned, saying goodbye before heading out.
Driving alone, Claire let herself relax, the city lights flying past, her favorite playlist filling the car. She reached the airport in no time, barely making Dane wait.
Meanwhile, in Len’s car, the conversation was heating up.
“Who do you think Claire went to pick up?” Sophia asked, her curiosity on full blast.
Shirley rested her chin in her hand. “It sounded like a guy on the phone earlier. When we were all in Cabinda for training, I never heard about her meeting anyone. But what if he’s her boyfriend?”
“No way,” Sophia scoffed. “Claire barely talked to any guys in school. And now she suddenly has some boyfriend who lives a thousand miles away? That doesn’t sound like her.”
Best friends were supposed to tell each other everything, especially if there was a new boyfriend involved. If Claire actually did have one and didn’t say anything, Sophia knew she’d be a little hurt. But she trusted Claire.
“If she really has a boyfriend, she’d definitely let us meet him,” Sophia said. “If she’s keeping him a secret, then he’s probably not even worth talking about.”
Shirley had a hunch, though. She’d
heard that the guy might be the grandson of one of Pandora’s old friends from Cabinda. But she
wasnt about to spillary before
Claire said something first. Besides, the guy seemed older than them.
Maybe he was just someone Claire
was helping out for Pandora.
“I do wonder what Claire’s future boyfriend will be like,” Sophia mused. “Did you see
how smug Cindy looked when York turned up? Ugh.”
Cindy had always rubbed Sophia the wrong way. Now, Sophia couldn’t stand York, either. Honestly, she’d never liked him much. Best friends always thought you deserved better and soplja felt Claire should be with someone amazing not some random guy who thought he was all that.
York was a few years older than Claire, but not old enough to call him a “mature man.” Still, Sophia always thought Claire deserved more.
“Her boyfriend should at least be better looking than York,” Shirley said, blurting it out. In her mind, Claire could do so much better. That was probably why she didn’t even hesitate to end that engagement.
And it wasn’t ‘t like Claire’s family was struggling. Even if her birth parents were from a small town, everyone at The Jame’s Village looked pretty well-off With Pandora as the head of the family, they definitely werent hurting. Finding Claire a decent match couldn’t be that hard.
“If we think so, Claire definitely does too,” Sophia said, nodding.
While they chattered away, Claire had already made it to the airport. She found
Dane waiting for her in a coffee shop, looking relieved to see her walk in.