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I don’t expect you to just forgive me. Nor do I think you would. I want to prove it to you. Prove to you that I’m the man you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with. It’ll be tricky with me thousands of miles away from you, but I will persevere. And when my season is over, I will be running back to Sunrise Bay for you.
Keep an eye out for my wooing.
Love you always,
X
This isn’t at all what I thought I’d be waking up to this morning. I assumed Xavier would take back everything he’d said in the heat of the moment last night. I knew we were at a crossroads, but for him to say he’s going to openly pursue me is unexpected and surprising and, if I’m honest with myself, a little thrilling.
In an effort to clear my head I set out to get my running gear together, but the doorbell rings. I open the door to find Amy from Twisted Stem with a vase full of red roses and an envelope where the card would be.
“I told him I’d deliver these personally. And don’t worry, I’m not telling a soul who sent them to you.” She winks and hands them over.
I smell the roses, and it might be cliché, but it’s so classically romantic. Red roses have one meaning and that’s love.
After thanking Amy, I set the vase on the counter, pull out the envelope, and open it to find a check with way too many zeros, made out to the Sunrise Bay Library. The small note just says, “Build your extension. You of all people deserve it.”
The fact that I hold all the money I need to build the extension is electrifying even though I know there’s no way I’m going to keep it. Quickly, before I can change my mind, I rip it into small pieces. I hope this isn’t how he thinks he’s going to win me over—with money.
Picking up my phone, I send a text to Xavier.
Me: FYI I’m not for sale.
The three dots appear immediately, as if he watched Amy deliver the flowers and was waiting for my response.
Xavier: I’m doing it for the town. I won’t even ask you to name the extension after me.
Me: This is you buying me off. Try something else. And void the check, I tore it up.
Xavier: CLARA! Why? This way you can break ground in the spring.
Me: You know I don’t work that way. I do love the flowers though. Thank you :)
Xavier: Can I call you tonight?
I take a moment to think about it, but as scared as I am to put myself out there for Xavier to hurt me again, I still trust him. There’s too much past, too much between us for me not to give us another chance at romance.
Me: Yeah.
Xavier: Eight?
Me: Okay.
I toss my phone on the counter. I definitely need to clear my mind now.
On my run, whether I do it subconsciously or not, I end up at the high school stadium. The metal gate leading to the track is open and I decide to walk around it to cool down.
My mind wanders and before I know it, I’m remembering the night I’d planned on talking to Xavier in the hopes of patching up the hole in our friendship.
I pulled into the parking lot of the high school, which was already packed with cars since it was Xavier’s big night. I’d prepared myself for his entire family to be there and Presley assured me she’d be by my side the whole time.
Xavier was being honored before the high school football game and I figured he’d do a quick in and out of town, but surely, he’d make time for dinner with his family or something after the ceremony the way he always did. I’d planned to catch him on the way in or out that night.
My first clue that things were not going to go how I’d hoped was when I spotted the limo that sat idle along the curb. There was no way anyone else in Sunrise Bay would’ve had a limo bring them to a high school football game, but even that was outside of Xavier’s character. He never showed off his wealth or his fame to the people in town. In fact, he did everything he could not to make anyone in his hometown feel less than. In Sunrise Bay he was Xavier Greene, son of Hank Greene and Laurie Greene, grandson to Ethel Greene and just a good hometown boy.
As I got out of my car, I looked over at the limo to see Cameron Baker, Fisher Greene and his baby mama, Allie standing beside the long black vehicle.
My gaze traveled to who they were standing with. They weren’t hard to miss. The model, Giulia, who Xavier had been photographed with a few times stood at his side in the skimpiest dress. She had to be freezing. Xavier wore a three-piece designer suit that made him appear better than everyone in their jeans, sweaters, and winter jackets. Even the way he held himself was different. His chin was tipped up, his chest pushed out a little more and he had this look on his face like he was only half-interested in what was going on here tonight, even though he was the guest of honor.
