Rachel
Remind me why I thought that being the event planner for my own high school reunion was a good idea?
Lyndsey
I told you that you were going to regret it.
Rachel
Then why did I DO it?
Rachel
Ugh, I haven’t seen him for ten years!
Rachel
And yet the second he asks me for something…
Rachel
I can’t help but say yes.
Lyndsey
At least you’re getting paid this time.
Rachel
Our twenty-year reunion will still be too soon.
Rachel
He probably doesn’t even remember me.
Lyndsey
Wait. You still remember him, right?
Lyndsey
So why wouldn’t he remember you?
Rachel
Lynds, my name is super common.
Rachel
I bet he doesn’t realize that the Rachel Davis he hired…
Rachel
Is the *same* Rachel Davis he went to high school with.
Lyndsey
I think he knows exactly who he hired 😍
Rachel
Hmm, it sounds to me like you’re matchmaking…
Rachel
And here I thought you said I’d regret planning this event!
Lyndsey
Oh, I still think the reunion’s going to suck.
Lyndsey
It’s a terrible idea in general.
Lyndsey
A bunch of people who didn’t like each other that much ten years ago…
Lyndsey
Arrive here, desperate to prove they’ve made something of themselves…
Lyndsey
While the alcohol flows freely…
Lyndsey
What could possibly go wrong? 🙃
Rachel
Great pep talk, coach. Going now.
Lyndsey
Lol stop. You’ve got this! See you soon.
Rachel tucks her phone into the pocket of her jeans.
Her nerves are swirling in her stomach.
Being back in her old high school is unnerving.
It feels like she’s stepped back in time.
Even the smell in the air is the same—
Gym shoes, hairspray, hormones, and sweat.
It makes her feel young and insecure.
Like she’s sixteen again.
In the pocket of her jeans, her phone buzzes with an incoming call.
She hopes it’s the caterers, letting her know that they’re ready to set up.
And maybe it’s because she’s back here…
In the same place where she once sighed over him with stars in her eyes…
But her stomach does a little flip when she sees his name on the call display.
She answers the phone and instantly, Mark’s deep voice wraps around her.
Rachel
Great. I’m on site as well.
Rachel
Is there anything you need right now?
Mark
Do you know how to tie a tie?
Mark
That probably makes me sound like an idiot.
Rachel
No, it’s a pretty common request.
Mark
Okay, good. I’m glad I’m not the only dud who can’t do this.
Mark
I watched six YouTube videos, and it still doesn’t look right.
Mark
Can you please help me?
Mark
If you’re not too busy.
The caterers will be here any minute.
And she still needs to get dressed too…
But she certainly has a few minutes for the guy signing her check.
At least, that’s what she tells herself.
She can’t let this run-in be about her feelings for Mark Harrison.
She shakes her head quickly to clear it.
Rachel
Sure, I can help. Where should I meet you?
Mark
I’m by the gym bathrooms.
Rachel
Okay. Be there in five.
Rachel takes a deep breath.
She’s about to come face to face with the man who dominated her every waking thought during high school…
And some of her sleeping ones too.
The area outside the bathroom is deserted when Rachel gets there.
Her thumb slides over the screen of her phone as she starts to tap out a text to Mark.
But then he steps out of the men’s bathroom before she can hit send.
The years have been good to him.
He always had a hard athlete’s body in high school…
And somehow, it only got more defined and muscular with age.
Rachel has to try hard not to swallow her tongue.
He fills out his suit so unbelievably well.
Looking down, Mark tugs at the loose tie hanging around his neck.
And his dark brown eyes crash into hers.
She truly didn’t think he’d remember her—
She was quiet in high school, and nerdy.
He was the star of every sports team there was.
The guy every girl wanted.
But tonight, Mark smiles at her.
The crooked grin looks exactly as she remembers it.
And nerves flutter through her stomach.
Mark
What’s the right way to greet someone you haven’t seen in ten years?
Rachel licks her dry lips.
Rachel
It’s probably something we should figure out before the reunion starts, though.
They both laugh. It’s awkward, but not unpleasant.
Rachel shifts her weight from side to side.
She’s very aware that she’s wearing jeans and a sweaty T-shirt.
And probably has dust on her nose from the hours she’s spent getting the gymnasium ready today.
Her phone vibrates with another text.
This time it IS the caterers.
She knows she has to hurry up.
Rachel
Your tie. Let me get that for you.
He looks at her expectantly.
Rachel realizes that he’s waiting for her to come closer.
Rachel
What kind of, um…knot would you like?
Mark
There’s more than one?
Rachel
All right, that’s what we’re dealing with here.
Rachel
We’ll just go with the Half-Windsor for you. It’s a classic.
Stepping forward, Rachel takes each end of the tie in hand.
And deftly knots it around his neck.
She can feel the heat emanating from his body…
As she threads the smooth silk together.
It’s charged with something…
But she doesn’t know if it’s real or imagined.
It could just be her own anticipation.
Mark
So, you’re an event planner now.
Rachel looks up at him, cocking her head to the side quizzically.
Mark
You were always so organized. So smart.
Mark
Student council president…
Mark
Member of the mentor program…
Mark
The job fits, that’s all.
Rachel
What? I didn’t think you knew who I was in high school.
She can’t believe she just said that out loud.
Rachel
I mean, yeah. I guess I found the right career.
Rachel
Just like you did. It makes sense that you’re a gym teacher.
With a confused expression, Mark watches as she backtracks.
He puts his hand on her forearm.
Mark
Of course I knew who you were in high school.
Mark
And I liked who you were, too.
Rachel suddenly finds it hard to swallow.
She blurts out the only thing she seems capable of saying.
Rachel
I need to change my clothes and deal with the caterers.
Pushing away from Mark, she charges into the women’s bathroom.
Her bright red cocktail dress is hanging from the paper towel dispenser, where she left it earlier.
It’s the dress of a confident woman.
A woman who knows who she is.
Just being back in her old high school makes her feel like a teenager again.
Shaking off her worries, Rachel exchanges her jeans and T-shirt for the dress.
She slips on a pair of classic black heels.
Then, after splashing cold water on her face…
She pulls her hair out of its ponytail and quickly adds some lipstick and mascara to her face.
She doesn’t have enough time to actually get ready, and this will have to do.
But then she assesses herself in the mirror…
And she’s startled to see how she looks.
Because, well, she looks pretty great.
Taking a deep breath, she smooths down the bottom of her dress.
Being in her high school is dredging up so many memories and feelings…
But she’s not the girl she was ten years ago.
The woman in the mirror is confident, and successful.
And looks really fricking good in a bright red dress.
Quickly, Rachel tucks everything into a duffel bag.
She leaves the bathroom to take it back to her car.
On the way, she sees Mark checking her out.
And it’s in a “Wow, she looks amazing” way…
Not in a creepy “I’m going to hit that” way.
He realizes that he’s been caught, and simply smiles at her.
Mark
Sorry for staring. You just…
He’s right, she does. But more than that, she FEELS great.
She relishes in the stark appreciation in his eyes.
It gives Rachel the confidence to do something she’s wanted to do for ten years.
She closes the space between them.
And looks up at Mark Harrison from beneath her lashes.
Rachel
Engaged or in some type of relationship?
Rachel
Interested in kissing me right now?
Then, rather than waiting for him to initiate…
Rachel rises onto her toes.
She means to brush his lips lightly, to test the embrace…
But winds up pressing her whole body against him.
Her fingers tangle into the front of his shirt.
He moans, or maybe she does, as their lips part and they explore one another.
When the kiss ends, Rachel’s skin is flushed.
Mark
We could have been doing THAT for the last ten years?
With an impish smile, Rachel nods conspiratorially.
Rachel
Then how about this?
Rachel
If you play your cards right…
Rachel
Maybe you can kiss me for the next ten.
Mark’s laugh is deep and rich.
Mark
Oh, I plan to do that for as many years as I possibly can.
Rachel
I guess that makes sense.
Rachel
Besides, you should probably keep me around anyway.
Mark arches an eyebrow questioningly.
And Rachel tugs at the end of his newly-loosened tie.
Rachel
Unless you have someone else to tie this for you?
Grinning, Mark shakes his head.
Mark
I leave myself in your very capable hands.
