The chillfrom the cold stone steps seeps through my gown, but I remain frozen in place, unsure what to do, what to think. After fleeing the Fireman’s Ball, my body and thoughts come to a grinding halt.
Peony sits beside me in silent support, not pushing and not trying to fix anything, which is more than I deserve after being so dumb.
Holding my head in my hands, I say, “I’m so pathetic.”
Peony rubs my back. “You both are, but you’re pathetic together.”
“That’s not helpful.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“Idiots in love. Sounds like a song title.”
Now is not the time to be funny. I elbow her.
“He was only trying to win a bet.”
“And so were you.” She pauses, then adds, “But was thatonlywhat it was?”
The question sits like a block of ice between us because I know my answer to that question. I think about everycoffee delivery, every stolen glance through the glass walls, every moment he made me feel special in a way no one else ever has.
I whisper, “Not for me. It stopped being about the bet a long time ago.”
“If you’ve learned anything from this, it’s to talk to Patton about how you feel. Tell him the truth.”
Before I can respond, Grandma Joyce appears with my coat. “You’ll freeze out here, sweetheart.”
She drapes it over my shoulders, then, despite her age and the impracticality of her dress, she sits down on the other side of me.
“Grandma, you don’t have to?—”
“Share what I think? You don’t have a choice. That man in there is in love with you.”
My heart clenches. “He made a bet about me.”
“And you made one about him. You’re even.” She pats my knee. “The question isn’t who started what. It’s whether the feelings became real and what you’re going to do about that.”
Peony says, “I’ve known Patton for almost my whole life. He looks at you like you’re the stars in the sky and he’s simply grateful to be in your midst.”
Despite everything, I almost smile. “That could be a song too.”
“So now what?”
“You go back in there and talk to him. Be honest with yourself. Remember what I told you about Grandpa and me? No more games, no more bets. Just two people figuring out if they’re brave enough to try.”
Peony nods in agreement. “She’s right. And if it helps, I’ve never seen you as happy as you’ve been these past few weeks. That’s not fake. Trust me, if his sixth-grade class play was any indication, Patton is not that good of an actor.”
This time, I do laugh, then think about everything they’vesaid and what I know to be true. Recently, my thoughts have revolved around Patton. Even the smallest text from him makes me smile. Seeing him at work is my favorite part of the day. Baking, snuggling, kissing … I don’t want to lose that. Or lose him.
“You’re right, I need to talk to him,” I say, standing.
Peony and I help Grandma to her feet and we brush off. I head toward the door, heart pounding, rehearsing what I’ll say, and I nearly collide with a man’s broad chest. It’s Patton in his firefighter’s dress uniform.
We stop on the steps, face to face, gazes locked, searching. His eyes are raw with emotion. Mine are teary.
Peony and Grandma go back inside, leaving us alone.
