“I thought you didn’t gossip.”
“This isn’t about me.Hurry on.”
A roar went up ahead as the first drum line rounded the corner, the beat pounding through my chest.A confetti cannon popped, and streamers fluttered down like festive snow.
“There!”Odette wheezed, jabbing a finger forward.“Espresso Yourself.Front…”Gasp.“…row.”
My heart slammed against my ribs as my eyes landed on her.
Odette slowed, her hand bracing against a lamppost.“Okay, you’re on your own, kid.Go.Be brave.Stupid.In love.Go.”
“Thanks, Odette.”
I ran into the street and skidded to a halt when I almost took out a trumpet player.
“Sorry!”I yelled as I dodged the brass section and popped out next to a color guard.He stepped forward, the pole of his banner coming down at me.I jumped out of the way.
“What the hell, dude?”
“Sorry,” I said, tossing out apologies like the falling confetti.
“Wyatt?”Rose’s voice rose above the crowd, and my entire body froze at the angelic tone that was my home.
I caught her warm, chestnut eyes.The sun shone on her as if sunshine was drawn to her.It highlighted the speckling of freckles across her nose, the sun-kissed glow she’d been sporting since June.A slight smile tugged at her lips, and all I wanted was to—
A tuba slammed into me, knocking me off balance.I fell forward into a saxophone player who lost her footing and tumbled right into a clarinet player.Jesus, these kids needed to work on their core strength; they were folding like chairs.
I started helping band members back to their feet as I made my way to Rose.Finally, I broke through the sea of carnage and came to a running stop in front of the woman I needed more than anything in this world.
A speech had formed in my mind, but I was too busy gasping for air to get it out.
“Wyatt?”Rose said, standing from her chair.
“Marry me!”I blurted like an uncultured swine.
Her gaze flew wide, mouth parted, and the joy I expected to see fill those warm chestnut eyes never came.
“No.”
Her denial dealt me a final blow, knocking all the wind out of me.Words evaded me, not like I could get them out if they hadn’t.
I stared at her, marking every single feature to memory.The one freckle on the side of her nose that was darker than the rest.The sexy curve of her too-perfect lips.The sparkle in her eye that never seemed to fade.
With a nod, I stepped back.I’d lost my chance.When she needed me most, I’d abandoned her, and now, she didn’t want me.It was my own fault.
I turned to walk away.The band had stopped playing.The entire block was staring at us.I thought about bowing, but that required energy, and I was depleted.
A hand wrapped around my wrist and yanked me.I spun toward Rose, hope filling the places in my heart that were going dark.
“I love you too much to marry you,” she said with a smile that lit my whole damn world up.“It's not what you want.”
A laugh burst free, sweet relief washing over me from crown to toe.“Turns out…” I cupped her cheek, relishing the warmth of her skin.“It’sallI want.”
“Be real.”
“I am.I kept comparing us to my parents.We’re not my parents.”
“Definitely not.”
