“I don’t think she’d want anything from me.”
“Dad, that’s ridiculous. Of course she’d want something from you. I know her and I know she cares about you. Get her a book.”
“She has so many of those.” She’d told me the words spoke to her. She loved reading old classics in paperback but got anything modern as both an e-book and in paperback. Except forMen’s Healthand the occasional entertainment magazine, I wasn’t a big reader, so I didn’t understand the need to have different versions.
“But not one from you.” Aria started to look as hopeless as Aaron had. “Dad, forgive me for prying. I don’t mean to because it’s none of my business, but did you actually tell her how you felt?”
I looked at her and couldn’t quite believe we were having this conversation.
“It is your business, and she knows how I feel.” I knew she did. She had to. It was evident, and she must have known because she’d rejected me. She’d flat-out told me I couldn’t see her.
Aria shook her head. “It’s different. Knowing because you assume something is not the same as knowing because you were told it. It just might make a difference somehow. Think about it.” Her smile widened and I saw her point.
I just wasn’t sure what I could do about it.
I did have an idea though, one stupid, crazy idea that made me realize I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
* * *
Brooke
* * *
I’d said goodbye to Sally only the night before, so I couldn’t believe it when she pulled up in my driveway with a gift.
I was leaving in an hour. Noah was upstairs getting my luggage together and then he was taking me to the airport.
“I looked for this everywhere and found it in the attic.” Sally giggled.
She pulled out a case with a medal in it and handed it to me.
“Your gold medal?” I widened my eyes at her in surprise.
“I want you to have it.”
“Jesus Christ!” I shrieked. “What? You can’t just give me a medal.”
If I’d earned an Olympic gold medal, there was no way on earth I’d be giving it to anyone.
“Well, I am. You know I have several, and this one is special because we were at the same place at the same time. We might not have known each other, but we were there.” She beamed.
I looked down at the medal and saw it saidAtlanta 1996. I laughed and held it close to my heart, just like everything that was dear to me.
“Thank you. It means a lot.” It did, because I was a mess. I’d been a mess for the last few days without Ryan. I’d seen Aria a few times, and while it wasn’t weird between us, I’d felt weird.
“I thought it would. Don’t be a stranger, Brooke.”
“Oh God no. I have your number, and I know where you live.”
“That sounded kind of creepy,” Sally joked.
My cheeks flushed when I realized it had. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m just messing with you. But, hey, I should let you know something I found out the other day. You’ve seriously inspired me, and I was contacted by theNorth Carolina Timesto do an exclusive next year for the summer issue. Anyway, they told me there were looking to expand and needed to take on two senior features editors, so of course I told them about you. I didn’t really think you’d be interested because there are so many opportunities out in LA, and God, you’re withPeople Magazine—I know the salary there must be in the six-figure region.”
Something flickered in my heart as I listened. “It’s a good salary, yes.”
“Exactly, and being a senior there would mean more money. Here I think it may be five figures. I told them you’d be great but something seriously amazing would have to be here to keep you, something…orsomeone…someone more amazing than me.”
