Then she turned and started down the sidewalk. He watched her go, letting the epiphany rattle through him again.
Everything he had accomplished since college—his work in Argentina, his company, his professional success—was all thanks to Anne. She’d given up their shared future so he could have one of his own. It seemed so obvious now, and the fact that he hadn’t realized it back then triggered an urgency that bordered on panic. He turned back to the shop.
He had to go inside and find Anne.
But just as the thought entered his mind, there she was, standing in the center of the crowd inside. He could see her through the tall window.
She was talking to a small group and hadn’t seen him standing just outside, so Freddie let himself take in every detail. Her blond hair pulled up in a ponytail that highlighted the long slope of her neck. The green dress that played off the color of the vines and flowers around her, making her skin glow and her blue eyes vibrant. She had always claimed not to enjoy parties, but right now she looked so relaxed, like this was her natural state whether she knew it or not. Completely unaware that maybe the only thing that had been missing that entire time was a party celebrating her.
Someone must have called to her from the other side of the shop, because she craned her neck to look, then turned back to the people she had been standing with, smiling as she offered what he could only assume were apologies as she disappeared back into the crowd.
He didn’t move, though.
How could he go in there right now? Yes, he needed to talk to her, apologize and work out all the shit he should have eight years ago, but tonight wasn’t about him. This washernight, one she had worked her ass off to make happen. No matter what he said, if he went in there, it would quickly be about him, them, a recentering of the party’s focus that seemed so unfair he couldn’t even consider it. But he also couldn’t leave without letting her know how he felt, that he was here and, from now on, he wasn’t going anywhere.
That’s when he felt his dad’s small notebook in the pocket of his coat. He had slipped it in there when he’d left his parents’ house, so he could continue jotting down his thoughts about the nonprofit on the train home. But now it needed to serve a different purpose.
He pulled it out and began writing. The snow was coming down more heavily now, but he didn’t care. He bowed his body over the page and scribbled line after line, then tore out the sheet. He wasn’t sure he would remember how to do it—he hadn’t even considered it in eight years—but before he could recall the steps, his fingers did the work, carefully folding the small sheet into a perfect paper triangle.
He held it tight in the palm of his hand, then pulled out his phone to text his sister.
FREDDIE
Hey. Can you come outside? I need you to do me a favor.
CHAPTER 27
Anne never thought she liked parties, but as she leaned against the long wood counter and watched the last of the party guests make their way to the exit, laughing and blowing kisses before disappearing into the snowscape outside, she realized that maybe she just hadn’t had enough to celebrate before.
People knew her name. They commended her work. It was as exciting as it was jarring, so much so that she had barely been aware of the time. One minute it felt like she had just arrived, and then suddenly Sophie was making her speeches, thanking everyone for coming, and wishing them a good night.
And itwasa good night. Maybe one of the best she’d ever had. Except for one thing.
Freddie hadn’t shown up.
The party had been so overwhelming, at some point she had forgotten to look for him until the very end. She had just taken for granted that he would be there, that at some point he would tap her shoulder, maybe even take her hand, and that would be it. She would apologize, he would, too, and they could start workingtoward building back everything they had lost over the past eight years. But he never did.
It hurt, in a tender way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Well, I would consider that a success,” Sophie said with a satisfied sigh as she strode over to stand beside Anne.
“I think that’s the understatement of the year, Soph,” Anne said, smiling.
Sophie nodded, surveying the empty glasses strewn on the counter, the empty hors d’oeuvres platters. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”
Anne pushed off the counter with a groan. Not only had she been too distracted to feel her heart break all over again; she hadn’t felt how sore her feet were in her heels until a few minutes ago.
“Should we bring all these dishes into the back or…” Anne paused when she saw Sophie’s expression. Her friend was watching her with concern, as if mentally debating something. “What is it?”
“I just want to preface this by saying that he made me promise not to say anything until the party was over.”
Anne narrowed her eyes. “Okay.”
“Okay.” Sophie let out a long breath. “Freddie was here earlier.”
Anne’s pulse stuttered in her veins. “What?”
“He didn’t come inside because he didn’t want to distract you or something? But he wanted me to give you this.”
