“Okay, look up, please, and smile.”

They posed, their arms around each other’s shoulders. Mia raised her fist and said, “Girl Power!”

“Word,” Kat agreed.

Jordan and the blonde approached our group. Adam turned to Jordan’s lovely companion and smiled. “Hey, Lindsay, glad you could make it.”

“That’s some pretty impressive stuff you were just flashing there, Drake. I’ve got my checkbook out. Where do I sign on to invest?” she laughed. “And you’re looking gorgeous today, Mia. How are you doing?”

Adam, Mia and Lindsay continued to chat briefly. They all seemed to know each other so well that I really did wonder if this Lindsay woman was Jordan’s girlfriend. She looked older than him by about five to seven years. Maybe the bad boy was settling down. They appeared to make an attractive couple, though that thought irritated me so I didn’t dwell on it.

After a few minutes, Adam said something to Mia, kissing her on the cheek, and then he, Jordan and Lindsay moved away to talk to a couple of guys from developing.

I turned back to Mia. She was a very pretty woman, tall and thin with short dark hair and brown eyes. Those eyes suddenly fixed on me as she seemed to realize that I was still there, waiting.

“Hey, Mia,” I started nervously, tucking my phone into my pocket. “Could I—um…”

“Hello, Mia…” Cari said, bumping up against me. She threw an arm around my shoulder and I stiffened. “April and I were just talking about you.”

Mia’s lips thinned. “Funny, I didn’t feel my ears burning.”

“I think—” I began.

“Yeah, we were saying that you look so good, considering. I mean, you are looking a lot better than you were.”

My face burned, and Mia and Kat exchanged a long look.

“Also, I wanted to get a close-up glance of your gorgeous ring. You are so lucky. Can I?” She reached out her hand.

Mia paused and then hesitantly held it out so Cari could get a closer look. “Wow, Mia. Just wow. You sure are living the dream.”

I stared at Cari, mouth open, and pulled away from her. Mia was already turned toward Katya, and they began to walk away with their heads close together as they talked. I took a step forward and Cari put a hand on my arm. “Hey, April. We should hang out. Maybe tonight…”

“I have the project from hell to work on—for the boss from hell.” I glanced in Jordan’s direction. He and the blonde were leaving the warehouse, and Adam was going off in a different direction with the developers.

I grasped at that in order to get rid of Cari. “Oh, look at that, Adam’s leaving…”

Cari spun and waved for Ingrid to join her. “Gotta go! See ya.” She and Ingrid fell into step behind Adam and his group, as I suspected she would.

I watched her go and my heart sank. I’d let Cari spoil my opportunity to apologize to Mia. And I’d thought up all the things I wanted to say, too. About how I shouldn’t have said what I had, how I was so sorry I’d hurt her feelings. I clenched my teeth in frustration and turned, dejectedly making my way back out of the warehouse.

Taking responsibility for my bad behavior toward her would have felt good, even if it was scary. I had no idea if Mia would reject my apology or laugh at it or whatever. But I was angry that I’d allowed Cari to railroad my attempt so easily. I also knew that, deep down, I was too chicken to stand up for myself. I didn’t make waves. It had always been like that.

Having to go from one reluctant parent to the other every other week while growing up had taught me that if I wanted to fit in, I’d have to tell them what they wanted to hear and show them a smile while doing it.

What was worse was that this might have been my only chance to apologize to Mia, since my job future was extremely uncertain. It occurred to me that I owed Jordan an apology, too. Maybe this was one I could find the courage for.

During the entire walk back to his office, I rehearsed what I was going to say to him. By the time I arrived there, I had a beautiful speech all planned in my head. It sounded poetic and perfect, like another of my favorite book heroines, Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables.

When she’d practiced her lovely apologies, she’d charmed the old town gossip, Rachel Lynde, who had been prejudiced against the new orphan girl in town. I could do that. My words, like Anne’s, would need to be heartfelt. I could definitely do that.

It was only with a slightly shaky hand that I raised my fist and knocked on Jordan’s closed office door. He grunted for me to come in.