"Weird that we've never run into each other."
"It's a big city. And I'm sure we run in different circles. You're a professional athlete."
"So you finally got up the guts to leave East Lansing."
She frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"
He shrugged, leaning casually against the wall-looking unfairly, completely gorgeous, with his tousled hair, shadow of beard stubble, and cobalt-blue eyes. He was so much bigger than she remembered … broader.
She'd been only slightly prepared to see him because just before he'd arrived at Lovey and Marc's place, Lovey had mentioned they were waiting for Tanner. Katelyn's heart had stopped beating and she'd casually asked, "Tanner?" to which Lovey had replied, "Yes, Tanner Bennet, one of our groomsmen."
Her world had narrowed to a pinpoint at that moment, knowing that Tanner was about to walk into her life again, eight years after he'd left and broken her heart. Her breathing had gone shallow, her palms had dampened, and she'd gratefully gulped down the glass of water Lovey had offered her, all while smiling and pretending to review her notes in her folder.
So it hadn't been a surprise to see him when he walked in, but it wasn't like she'd had a lot of time to prepare herself either.
"I wasn't afraid to leave East Lansing," she now said to him.
"If you say so."
She clenched her teeth. She thought she'd gotten past the hurt and anger a long time ago. She'd known he had to leave. And she'd had to stay.
The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened to the lobby. Tanner straightened and gestured for her to exit first. She did so, head high, striding across the stone-tiled floor toward the door onto North LaSalle. The doorman opened the door for her and she smiled at him. "Thank you."
She stepped onto the sidewalk and a gust of frigid January air swirled her hair out around her head. She lifted a hand to tug strands out of her face and turned to Tanner. "Lovely to see you again," she said with a phony smile. "Take care."
"Wait." He set a hand on her arm.
She paused. "What?"
"Where are you parked?"
"Just down the street."
"I'll walk with you."
"That's not necessary. I feel quite safe here and it's not far."
"Whatever." He started walking with her anyway.
She yanked her arm from his grip.
"I thought I heard you were getting married," he said.
"How did you hear that?"
"I don't remember. Maybe I saw it on Facebook?"
She swallowed. "I was engaged, but it didn't work out." She didn't mention the other two times she'd been engaged. They hadn't worked out either, so there was no point in bringing them up. "I heard about your marriage too."
He slid her a glance as they walked along the sidewalk, glittering columns towering above them. A bus roared past and he didn't speak until it was gone. "Did you hear about my divorce?"
Her heart stopped and her head whipped around to stare at him. She forced herself to keep walking, to keep breathing. "No. No, I didn't."
"Yeah. It didn't work out."
She pursed her lips at her words being repeated. He wasn't married anymore. When had that happened? Oh hell, it didn't matter. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Were you really surprised to see me?" he asked. "You didn't know I play for the Aces?"
"I did not know. I'm not interested in the Aces. Or hockey."
"Ah."
"I suppose it's hard for you to fathom that there might be people who don't have a clue who you are."
To her surprise, he laughed. "Katie. You surprise me."
Her heart bumped at the name he'd called her, and at the fact that she'd somehow surprised him. "Why?"
"You've gotten a little backbone."
She stopped beside her car and frowned at him beneath the streetlamp. "Again, what the hell does that mean? You make it sound like I was some kind of timid mouse." She paused. "I guess we didn't really know each other that well." She jerked her head sideways and gave him another taut smile as she pressed the button to unlock her car door. "This is me. Thanks for your chivalry. Good night." Then she paused. "You are going to show up, aren't you?"
His forehead creased. "Show up where?"
"To the wedding."