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“Yeah, Lee and I both know how hard it is to put yourself out there and risk it, but trust us when we say that it’s so much better once you’re on the other side of that.” Brady claps a hand on my shoulder.
“All right, fine. I love her.” I give Miles an “Are you happy?” look.
He laughs as if it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “I know I wasn’t happy about it when I first found out, but honestly, I know what kind of man you are and I know you’ll put her happiness first, Chase.”
Brady claps his hands in front of him. “Now we just have to figure out what Chase’s grand gesture is going to be.”
“You’re gonna hate it, whatever it is,” Lee says.
“It’s going to force you outside of your box,” Miles says.
“Whatever it takes. If it means I get to be with Twyla, it’s worth it.”
And as we come up with the plan, I remind myself of those words a thousand times because this is one hundred percent out of my comfort zone.
Thirty
Twyla
It’s my last Sunday in San Francisco before the owner of the condo returns and I must go back to my life in Connecticut. The prospect makes me sad because, for a while, I felt as though I was building a new life here in California.
I haven’t seen Chase this week. Whether that’s by design or fate, I’m not sure, but a part of me is sad and disappointed that he hasn’t reached out. Sure, I could have gone across the hall and knocked on his door, but what would be the point? The fact that he hasn’t tried to talk to me tells me everything I already knew when he told me to go meet Mathew.
The Kingsmen have a game today, and after much persistence on her part, I agreed to watch the game with Violet in the owner’s box. She reasoned that it would probably be the last time I’ll get to see her, Bryce, and Shayna before I leave. The unspoken part was that with Miles not playing for the Kingsmen anymore, we really don’t know when I’ll see them again.
My time here was successful at getting me to move on from my feelings about Mathew, but as my departure draws nearer, I realize that I’m leaving more heartbroken than I arrived. It’s just over a different man.
Chase burrowed his way into my heart and there’s no way I’ll ever get him out.
Which is why I’m so nervous as I make my way up to the owner’s box at the stadium. I won’t have to see Chase face to face in person today, but I’ll have to watch him play and that feels almost as bad. To know that we’ll be existing in the same space and yet won’t be interacting at all other than as complete strangers… it feels like a hot poker in my chest.
But I put on a brave face and a smile as I walk through the door to the owner’s suite.
“Twyla, you made it!” Brady’s mom, Lennon, is the first to spot me. I met her at the gala and let’s just say that she is a handful.
I can’t imagine growing up with Lennon as a mom. When I think of my ultraconservative mom saying some of the things that come out of Lennon’s mouth, I could dissolve into a fit of giggles.
“Hi, Mrs—” I stop myself. She made it clear at the gala that she prefers to be called by her first name. “Hi, Lennon.”
“So glad you could come, sweetie. I heard you’ll be heading back to the East Coast soon?” She frowns.
I nod. “Yeah, in a few days.”
“And what’s this I hear about you and a certain number seventeen?” Her eyebrows rise in interest.
“Oh, um… we’re not really a thing anymore.” My cheeks heat.
How the hell does she know anything about Chase and me?
She eyes me appraisingly. “These things have a way of working out. I saw you two together at the gala. That’s not likely something that’s going to fizzle out. Trust me.” She leans in and winks as though we’re sharing a secret.
“Oh no, that wasn’t a real date. I was just his plus-one.” I look over her shoulder for someone, anyone, to save me from this uncomfortable conversation and spot Violet, who glances up from talking to Theo and does a double take, eyes widening.
“That might’ve been the story you both told yourself, but I have a keen eye for this sort of thing. It’ll all work out.” She squeezes my hand.
“Hey, Twyla. How long have you been here?” Violet gives me a knowing look as she comes up behind Lennon.
“Just a minute. Thanks again for having me.”
