When they got to the next stop, Lance was still trailing right behind Claire and her friends, hitting every spot they posted about online and snapping photos at the same cafes and landmarks.
"Cindy, this boba shop is all over social media,” York said, handing her a cup. "Hold it up, I'll take a photo for you." He had waited in line just to buy Cindy a drink and snap her picture outside the crowded shop.
Across the street, Claire crouched in front of an older woman's fruit stand, eyeing some sweet melons. She and her friends were all holding milk tea too, chatting and sipping as they walked around. Claire had spotted the melon stand and wandered toward it.
"These are really sweet, dear. Homegrown and a bargain. Take two?" The old woman smiled warmly.
Claire knelt down to pick a couple out, but just then, she heard York's voice. She glanced over and, sure enough, there stood York and Cindy. What were the odds? Were they on vacation too?
She barely had time to process it before she noticed Lance standing nearby. Seriously? Was fate messing with her again?
While Cindy was smiling for her photo, she caught sight of Claire by the fruit stand and suddenly froze, her expression stunned. Claire, thinking it was time to look away, almost did—until she saw Lance glance her way too. He clearly hadn't expected to see her here of all places.
"Claire?" Lance called out.
With him saying her name out loud, it was impossible for anyone to pretend they hadn't noticed each other. Well, Claire decided to try anyway. She acted like she didn't hear and turned back to the vendor. "Your melons are really sweet, right? I'l take four."
The old lady's whole face lit up. Selling one melon was hard enough, and they were so heavy. If she didn't sell them, she'd have to carry them all home again. Claire handed her 50 dollars, telling her to keep the change, which made the woman even happier.
Lance watched as Claire ignored
him, and he let out a helpless sigh. As he walked closer, Shirley spotted What are you doing
him Lance
here?Shirley always thought Lance was a bit unpredictable, and seeing him pop up like this was honestly confusing.
"I'm here on a work trip, but brought Cindy with me for a little holiday," Lance said. Shirley nodded, and following his gaze, she saw Cindy and York across the way. "York's over there. Do you want to say hi?" Lance asked.
Lance offered, but Shirley was speechless for a second. She'd chased York in the past just to annoy Claire, but if she was being honest she'd liked him too. Now he was engaged to Lance's own sisters
and Lance wanted her to go over and say hello? Was he serious?
“Sure,” Shirley said, acting like it was no big deal. She put on a grin and waved.
"Cindy, York! Fancy running into you two here. Are you guys traveling, too?"
Cindy had no choice but to be friendly, even as she hugged York's arm just a little tighter, showing everyone he was hers. “We're just here for fun. Lucky for us, Lance brought us along," she said with a smile.
York added, "Since we ran into each other, why don't we all get dinner?"
Shirley shrugged. She didn't mind, but the rest of the group might feel different. "There are a lot of us. Maybe we'll skip it."
She knew Claire's situation was
awkward. York was her ex-fiancé, and Claire and Cindy never got along it would be
weird. But Cindy
tried to smooth things over it's just a meal, right? We all went to school together."
Cindy also spotted Sophia and Len strolling up from down the street. That whole crew was really close, always hanging out or traveling together. "Let me check with everyone," Shirley said, as if she was being polite.
When she actually asked Sophia and Len, they exchanged awkward glances, uncomfortable with the whole idea. In truth, neither of them liked Cindy, which meant they weren't too fond of the whole James family either.