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“A grand gesture!” he exclaims. “Something with fireworks or doves, or if you got the timing right you could do both…” he trails off and I can’t help but imagine a situation where there are doves released and fireworks set off. It’s not a pretty picture.
“That doesn’t sound like something for Juliette,” I say.
“Everyone likes fireworks. Does she not like doves?” He sounds completely serious. “I know they’re just white pigeons, but they’re still beautiful and a symbol of love.”
“I thought they were a symbol of peace,” Levi says.
“No doves. No fireworks,” I say in a tone that hopefully will prevent him from purchasing those very things.
“Then what are you going to do?” Grayson asks.
“I’ve got an idea”
One that will be simple, but meaningful and require no explosives or birds, thankfully.
“I need to go. Thank you guys.” I shoot to my feet and so do my brothers. After a round of hugs and handshakes, I start to leave.
“You aren’t going to tell us your idea?” Grayson has the audacity to look put out. But since he helped me work through this, I throw him a bone.
“I’m going to write her a letter,” I say as I walk toward the front door. The memory of Juliette looking wistful as she talked about the lost art of letter writing is running through my mind.
“Old school, I like it,” Maverick says.
“A letter? There’s nothing grand about that at all. Where’s the pizzazz?” Grayson shouts as I walk out the door.
“Not needed,” I yell back.
As I’m closing the door I hear Levi say, “Please never use the word pizzazz ever again.”
I start my car and head to the nearest art supplies store with renewed determination. Julietteistoo good for me, but maybe this letter revealing how amazing I think she is and how I know I don’t deserve her in my life will get her to forgive me. Regardless, I have to try. Because living without Juliette just isn’t an option, it’s no more possible than surviving without the sun or oxygen. As terrifying as it is to admit,I need her. I just have to hope she needs–or at least wants–me too.
Chapter twenty-five
Adrian Carter
Hot,goldliquidpoolson the envelope carrying my letter to Juliette. Streams of glitter catch the dim morning light, winking up at me before I cover the wax with the stamp I bought. After several cups of tea, little sleep, and too many thrown-away drafts, I’m finally done with my apology letter. I likely spent way too long on it, but since I’m not used to sharing my emotions verbally or in written form, it took some time to feel like I got it right. After hurting Juliette the way I did, she deserves more than a half-hearted attempt.
I pull the stamp away from the wax once it’s hardened, revealing the floral design pressed into it. Yesterday I bought the best parchment I could find, a seal kit, and a quality pen. Hopefully, she’ll appreciate the effort even though the paper isn’t from her shop.
My back aches when I stand to stretch. It’s fairly early in the morning, but it’s Saturday, so maybe if I head to Peaches & Cream I can give Juliette her letter there. If she’s not there, I’ll know she’s likely avoiding me and I’ll just stick the letter in her mailbox and hope she doesn’t toss it in the trash. I don’t think she hates me, but I wouldn’t blame her for not wanting to hear from me after I rejected her.
Loud barks puncture the quiet morning, making me frown. Murphy rarely barks like that, and I don’t know of any other dogs nearby.
“Murphy, no!” Juliette’s voice sounds over the barking.
The distress in Juliette’s tone has me rushing out my back door onto my deck. Juliette is standing at the top of her stairs, blanket wrapped around her like a cape. Murphy is in her backyard, but so is another dog. They’re growling at each other, the other dog looking worse for wear. The stray has mangy fur and a gaunt figure.
Juliette starts to go down the stairs–which is cause enough for me to go down my own–when she trips over the edge of her blanket and lands at the bottom of the steps. She cries out in pain and I rush across the grass between our houses, the cold ground stinging the soles of my feet.
I step between Murphy and the other dog, shooing it off. Thankfully, it scares pretty easily, whimpering and backing away. Murphy continues to growl at the retreating animal, but I’m more concerned about Juliette.
I kneel in front of where she’s slumped over on the last step. “Jules, are you alright?”
“I’m okay–I think.”
“What’s hurting?” She looks up when I ask the question.
“Would it sound dramatic if I said everything?” Her eyes are watery as she blinks back tears. “My back took the brunt of it I think.” She winces and I reach out to brush her hair out of her eyes, wanting to do something to help her. “But I hit the back of my head pretty hard. It’s killing me.”
