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“FYI… Before she and I hung up earlier, she asked me about you. She wanted to know how you were doing and also if you ever ask about her.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“The truth. I told her that you were still so torn up about the two of you ending and that you mention her every time I talk to you.”
“And what’d she say?”
“Well, first, she started crying. Then she told me that you were the love of her life and always would be. She also said she had no regrets and would go through everything all over again just to experience the love you gave to her.”
I blew out a hard breath and kept pacing around in my and Stevie’s secret spot in the woods at the running trail.
“Brooke, why would God allow me to meet someone like Stevie Sinclair and fall in love with her if He didn’t intend for us to be together?”
“Maybe, just maybe, He’s not done with you and her yet.”
“Oh, He is. That’s so damn obvious.”
“It sounds like Stevie isn’t the only one who needs a little time to see the big picture.”
“I see it now,” I said, then took a drink from my water bottle. “So when is Stevie’s last day at your office?”
“She’s already resigned.”
“What?”
“She was adamant about giving me at least two weeks’ notice, but I told her no because she needs to be with her dad full time as soon as possible.”
“Okay, there’s another blow to my heart. I was hoping to see her at the courthouse again before she resigned. There wouldn’t have been anything said between us but…”
“I know, Zac. I know that longing just to take in the vision of her again. I was the same way about my exception. Hell, I still am.”
“You got to tell him goodbye. I never did with Stevie because I’ve been too angry—and now she’s moving away.”
“Are you still angry? Because you don’t sound like it.”
“No, I’m not anymore.”
“Then go tell your exception goodbye. She’s at her house packing up as we speak—and she’s there alone.”
I was a few houses down the street from Stevie’s when I saw her step outside onto her front porch and begin taking down the Halloween decorations. Seeing her do that made my chest tighten up even more. She really was leaving Dallas and I really wasn’t going to get a second chance with her.
Her back was to me when I started pulling into her driveway, but she heard my car and turned around. As soon as she saw me, she dropped the witch hat in her hand onto the grass and didn’t move again. Not even after I got out of my car and walked up to her.
Stevie’s bottom lip was quivering and her beautiful deep blue eyes were brimming with tears just like mine were. Unable to hold myself back any longer, I pulled Stevie into my arms and held her trembling body against mine as tightly as I could. Then we both broke down and cried like we’d both been needing to do.
After the tidal wave of our emotions began to subside, Stevie lifted her head off my chest and looked up at me. I wiped off her cheeks and she wiped off mine. Then she asked me a question I’d known was coming. She wanted to know why I was here.
Before answering her, I looked over her face again and then said, “I didn’t tell you goodbye. That’s why I’m here. I knowabout your dad and I am so sorry. I know you’ve resigned from your position at the D.A.’s office and I also know you’re moving back to Austin. I couldn’t let you leave without seeing you one last time, telling you how I feel, and telling you goodbye.”
Stevie searched my eyes and then nodded at me. “Tell me how you feel right now.”
“Brokenhearted because you and I are over, but I’m happy for you that you can go help your dad.”
“I’m brokenhearted too—and I miss you so much. I dream about us, and in my dreams, I relive all the special times that we shared. I’ll always carry them with me, Zac.”
“I dream about you every night. Even Malcolm has been dreaming about you.”
“What?”
