He shifted his body into a more comfortable position and said, “I gather from what Rita said, they still maintain a close friendship and get together for a girls’ trip every year. She admitted they aren’t proud of their past, which is why they’ve never attended a class reunion since moving away for college.”

Bryce shrugged. “That shouldn’t keep them from returning home if they wanted to. I often wondered what happened to them. But then, I could never talk Vashti into coming back to a class reunion, either. When she left she swore never to come back. You did hear about the holiday class-reunion committee being formed, right?”

“Yes. I heard about it.”

She wondered if he planned to attend. It wouldn’t surprise her if he didn’t. She recalled a time he hated Catalina Cove High School. The way some of the students, parents and teachers had treated Vashti when she’d gotten pregnant had infuriated him. Kaegan had always been loyal to his friends and at the time she and Vashti had been the only friends he had.

It occurred to her then why it bothered him that she could not accept a friendship between them. He’d had few friends in his life. Sawyer and Ray were his close friends now, but he needed the originals, as well. Namely, her and Vashti. They had been as protective of him as he’d been of them.

At that moment an idea formed in her head. “I’m thinking about joining the reunion committee. I think it will be fun trying to get others to return to Catalina Cove for the holidays.”

“That’s a good idea. I think you would be great on the committee. I hope Rita, Monique and Faye will come this time,” he said. “At one time or another, all of us have done some pretty stupid stuff while growing up.” He paused for a moment, glanced over at her and then added, “Some of us have done stupid stuff as adults, as well.”

She knew he meant how quick he’d been to believe she’d betrayed him. To give him credit, at least he hadn’t wasted time apologizing when he’d found out the truth. And he had sincerely been remorseful; she was sure of it. Still, a part of her hadn’t been ready to accept his apology at the time. It had taken her a while but she’d come around. Forgiving didn’t mean reconciliation, and she had rejected the idea that they could ever be friends again. Yet here he was helping her in an area where she needed help. He’d known, and in simple Kaegan Chambray style, he’d delivered. She’d retained more information studying with him than she could have on her own.

“What about you, Kaegan?”

He looked over at her. “What about me?”

“Would you consider going to the holiday class reunion?”

He shrugged. “Not sure.”

She didn’t say anything for a minute, and then she said, “I have an idea. Like I told you, they are asking for volunteers to work on the committee. I will work on it if you will.”