The Best Mistake of Her Life by Aimee Carson Page A

kind,” Kate said, her voice smooth.
    Kind? Memphis shot Kate a questioning look, but she ignored him. There was nothing benevolent about Tabitha Reed. The smile on the woman’s face didn’t reflect the light in her eyes.
    “Oh, please,” Tabitha went on. “Everybody wanted to be Kate Anderson in high school. You were the most popular girl, you had a famous family
and
you dated Dalton.” Tabitha’s tiny laugh sounded forced. “I had such a crush on him back then. Even I was a little jealous of the girl who had everything.”
    And Memphis finally realized what this conversation was about, the subtext clicking into place. There was no well-meaning sympathy from this woman regarding Kate’s recent difficulties, and Tabitha wasn’t simply being an insensitive ass. Instead, she’d corralled Kate at the end of the dinner table with every intention of venting years of resentment and envy.
    And Kate was politely going along with herplans, but Memphis’s patience was growing thinner by the second.
    Even her husband was beginning to look uncomfortable. “The message board on the reunion website has been hopping with activity,” Jim Reed said, as if trying to change the subject. “Based on the numbers so far, I bet we get better than a twenty-five-percent attendance.”
    “I know,” Tabitha said. “Did you see the number of people that confirmed after Deena posted that wonderful picture of Kate and Dalton?”
    Kate froze, and Memphis leaned in, prepared to tell the woman to go to hell.
    But Kate laid a discreet hand on his knee, as if to hold him back. “What picture?” Kate asked.
    “Your shining moment of course, silly. It’s of you and Dalton being crowned at the Prom,” Tabitha said, her smile too wide to be believed. “Isn’t that ironic?”
    A muscle in his jaw knotted as Memphis struggled to keep his mouth shut. He’d promised himself he’d try to make Kate’s first date enjoyable. Cussing at their table companions probably wouldn’t achieve the goal.
    Kate’s voice wasn’t as strong as usual. “I didn’t realize that had made its way onto the photo album.”
    “It was posted yesterday morning,” Tabitha said. “And since then we’ve had a fifteen-percent hike in our attendance confirmations.” The woman’s bobbed black hair shifted forward as she leaned in, clearly excited. “It’s fantastic news.”
    Fantastic.
    As if Kate should be thrilled.
    Memphis’s patience ground to a complete halt. “Who knew a public divorce could come in so handy?” His voice was hard, his expression way too unforgiving to be mistaken for humor. Kate’s fingernails gently bit into his knee, and she sent him a sideways glance intended to get him to hold his tongue. But he went on anyway. “Perhaps Kate should get married and divorced all over again. All in the name of a better attendance rate, of course.”
    “Memphis,” Kate said, her voice strained.
    But Memphis had had enough of her yielding to Tabitha’s every malicious whim.
    Kate straightened her shoulders and sent their table companion a gracious smile. “I’m simply pleased that—”
    “The dinner was so delicious,” Memphis finished for her as he stood. “Unfortunately, we have to go.” His smile lacked even a hint of warmth. “I hope you enjoy your dessert.”
    Silently fuming, Kate didn’t resist when Memphis held her elbow as he escorted her out of the crowded restaurant, the tension heavy between them. When they reached the empty bank of elevators, Memphis finally spoke.
    “Damn it, Kate,” he said. “What the hell was that all about?”
    Kate pulled her arm from his grasp. “I’m the one who should be asking you that question.”
    Memphis ignored her response as he stabbed the down button for the elevator. “That woman maliciously droned on and on and you just rolled over and played dead.”
    “Listen, hot shot. Being confrontational doesn’t make you brave. What purpose would it have served if I’d challenged