Page 82 of Can’t Say No

Remi suddenly goes teary eyed. The forty-something woman, who’s been on my ass like a drill sergeant for ten years is turning into a blubbering mess in front of me, all because of a box of cereal.

“Oh my God.” she clutches her chest. “I think that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard!”

“It’s really nothing,” I assure her. “Just a running joke at this point.”

She pins me with a look that I’ve seen a million times from her before, her no-bullshit stare.

“Keeping a box of Connor’s favorite cereal in your dressing room, just in case he shows up, is not a joke. I’ve created so many NDA’s for your one night stands, wondering why none of them stuck around to see what a talented, kind person you are, and now I get it! It’s been Connor this whole time.”

A pit forms in my stomach and my heart starts to beat a little faster. Because she’s right. It’s always been him. And the kind of connection Connor and I have isn’t something you just walk away from.

But I did.

And it’s looking like the biggest mistake of my life with every passing minute.

“You know,” Remi says softly, “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to keep chasing a dream that isn’t yours. The approval you’re looking for is never going to come. There will never be a day when you’ve finally done enough to please everyone else.”

She gestures around the room, gaze lingering on the ridiculous costume.

“You can walk away. I’ve seen your financials. You’re set for life, even if you break the outstanding contracts. You don’t have to stay in this world that you hate when you’ve found something, or someone, you love somewhere else.”

My racing heart slams to a stop, a familiar war erupts in my mind.

“But this,” I mimic her hand motion, “this is it. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I don’t know how to be anything other than this. I’ve played the game for so long… who am I if I walk away now?”

Remi shrugs.

“I can’t answer that for you. But that night back in August? On tour? I found out later that Molly Jo was having a panic attack and that’s why you stayed on stage longer, to give her extra time to recover. You were covering for her. You’ve got a good heart, Delaney. You always have even if the media likes to twist it otherwise. Maybe it’s time to show the real you.”

31

CONNOR

Iknow she’s not gonna show up. I know it, the students know it, and my dad knows it.

Yet here I am, fifteen minutes before Delaney’s performance at Fall Fest is supposed to start, standing at the turn off from the main road to the orchard, hoping against all hope that she’s gonna show up anyway.

After Delaney left, I called my dad and told him everything: the fake dating, my very real feelings for her, and the crippling reality that the love of my life seems perpetually destined to leave.

He was sad to see her go, but his primary concern was the loss of revenue from Fall Fest.

And maybe that’s how I should be looking at all of this too. The arrangement between me and Delaney was strictly business. We have the contract to prove it. It was my own damn fault for agreeing to it when I’ve been hopelessly in love with her my whole life.

As much as I want to be mad at Delaney, I really only have myself to blame.

“Hey, man.” A strong hand on my shoulder shakes me from my self deprecating spiral. “Thought I’d find you out here.”

Wells mirrors my stance. Behind us, I hear the festivities in full swing. When Delaney agreed to perform, Dad pulled out all the stops. A petting zoo, a haunted maze through the orchard, and he even insisted on renting a Ferris wheel.

Gonna be hell to recoup the cost.

I glance at my watch. Five minutes until the choir kids will go on.

Alone.

“I really thought she’d show,” I say finally, my voice thick with emotion.

Wells just grunts beside me, and his typical wordless reply finally pulls me from my wallowing.