AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why on earth did you do that?” I asked angrily.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t.”
“That’s right. I wouldn’t. And you shouldn’t have,” I said firmly. “What did he say?”
Trixi said softly, “He didn’t answer.”
That figures.It was also proof that he didn’t want to hear from me. He’d been caught and called out. Evidently, his intentions weren’t as honorable as led me to believe. I was glad I told him to leave and to get out. I didn’t need to listen to any more of his lies.
“Aunt Trixi, I really am not hungry. I have to go lie down,” I said.
“But I’m leaving in the morning and thought we should talk.”
“I thought you were going to be staying a few more days. What’s the rush?” I asked.
“You know, when you find what you want, you have to act. Don’t hesitate or overthink it, otherwise you end up playing ping pong by yourself and going nowhere.”
I understood what she said, but why did she have to be so damn dramatic about it? Great, she knows what she wants. I do, too. I just can’t have any of it. If she had a smart remark for that, I wasn’t going to ask, because it’d probably take her an hour to tell me.
Leaning over, I gave her a hug. “I love you, Aunt Trixi. Have a safe trip. I promise I’ll come visit you.”
“You’d better.”
I headed to my room and closed the door. It was quiet and dark inside. I wasn’t planning on doing anything but lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling anyway.
As I laid there, I heard my cell phone buzz. Great. What is wrong now? If it was Aunt Trixi checking on me again, I was going to lose my mind. I picked it up, but the text wasn’t from her. Andrew. My heart stopped and I was afraid to open it. He’s probably just checking to see how Ted worked out. Or seeing if I want to sell the club yet.
There really wasn’t any good reason for him to text or call me. Part of me wanted to toss my phone onto the nightstand and ignore it. But I had to know.
ANNE, I’M SORRY. ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND INSTEAD, I MADE YOU HATE ME.
I read it several times over. He loves me? There was no way he was texting me this. I double-checked, and yes, it really came from his number. But if he loved me, why didn’t he talk to me about what he was doing? Why go behind my back? Maybe I didn’t want to move the club. Maybe I wanted to keep everything as it was.
That wasn’t true. He actually found what I was hoping and praying for. A way out. I want to take it, but…but…I’m scared.
I had the chance to have everything I want, and I was too damn chicken to act on it. Was Aunt Trixi right? Was I getting caught up in the same internal battle that always ended back at square one? Will I ever have a clear idea of what I want?
I read his message again and again. At least you’re not afraid to say what you mean. Even if you’re wrong. I don’t hate you, Andrew. I love you, too.
Well, I admitted it to myself. That was the first step. Part of me was tempted to respond and tell him I loved him, too. But those were just words. I needed to show him, like he’d tried showing me.
I put my phone down and laid back on the bed. He loves me.
It felt like a weight had been lifted from me and I could finally breathe again. I’m so glad he sent me that text. Not that I knew what our future held, but at least there was still a chance, even if it was a small one, that Andrew and I could start again.
I wanted to make it special, but I was going to need some help. Aunt Trixi would be more than willing, but I wanted to keep her out of it as much as possible. If things didn’t go as planned and he shot me down, I didn’t need anyone going ballistic on his ass. It would just mean that we had a chance and we…blew it. I’d have to walk away and accept it, somehow.
Who can help me?I lay there racking my brain. It wasn’t hard to find Andrew. He was in Boston - rich, powerful, and very well known. But for a romantic surprise, well, that was going to take more than luck. I needed help from the inside.
Ted!I smiled. Guess your job duties just expanded. It was too late to call him now, but tomorrow night at work, he and I were going to have a chat. One that ended with him agreeing to help me.
Before I closed my eyes to sleep, I read Andrew’s text one more time. I could feel my entire body relax. Closing my eyes, I knew if Andrew visited me in my dreams, at least they would be sweet ones.
