Page 109 of Good Directions

“Mrs. Burch,” I greet. I can see the doors to the vestibule over the little old lady’s head—so close, yet so far. Just a few more steps and I would be out of this ballroom and have some room to breathe.

“Where are you going?”

She might have framed it as a question, but there is no doubt in my mind that those four words are an accusation. One that she feels I need to repent for.

“Just getting some air.”

“But it’s the anniversary dance.”

I blink, trying to figure out why the old lady in front of me, dressed in her Sunday best, pillbox hat and all, is chastising me about not participating in a made-up ritual for which I do not qualify. Maybe this is it. The moment we’ve all secretly been waiting for. Hattie Burch has officially lost it.

I open my mouth to start to answer her, but she cuts me off.

“I don’t have time for whatever smart mouth excuses you come up with. Grab your girl and get out there. Don’t embarrass your sister at her own wedding!”

Grab my girl? Yeah, this is it. Hattie Burch has cracked.

“Mrs. Burch, I think you have me confused with my brothers. I don’t⁠—”

“Don’t you dare tell me that I have you confused, Anton Hayes! I know which one of you troublemakers is which!” She huffs, acting like she’s offended. “And your girl, Lawyer, was just in the bathroom with me. So get your backside in gear, and get back in there before you mess this up.”

“Sawyer,” I correct her instinctively.

Wait…did she just say…

I stare at Mrs. Burch, trying to process everything. She said Sawyer was in the bathroom with her. Which means Sawyer is here.

Sawyer is here.

I step around Mrs. Burch, not bothering to say anything else. I can’t. My brain is moving too fast to even know what to say. It’s too focused on whether or not the old woman is right or not. Somewhere in the background I think I still hear her yelling at me as I weave my way around a few more people to the large, propped-open double doors.

My heart is slamming against my chest, trying to break free. If it’s the hope that kills you, then I have every chance of perishing in the next thirty seconds, but the potential payout will be worth it.

And it is.

The second I walk through the doors, I see her.

And my heart stops.

Standing by the wrought iron railing that leads to a massive winding staircase down to the first floor, in a green satin gown with a slit in the side from floor to hip, is the most stunning woman I have ever seen. Her chestnut hair is pinned back off her face, that one errant strand fighting its way out of the hold.

I can’t breathe.

“Sawyer,” I manage, stopping just shy of where she’s standing.

“Anton.”

“I…you…what…” I stumble, not sure how to form a coherent thought. There is so much I want to say. Need to say. Knowing where to start is impossible.

“A deal is a deal.”

A deal is a deal. Right…okay.

I nod, swallowing hard. I don’t know how to take that. Because if she’s only here because she’s upholding part of a deal…then…

No, we’re not playing that game. We’ve played enough games. I’m done with games.

It’s time to do what I should have done before.