Page 130 of Hard to Get

I cough. “It’s not too late. Jesus, Stella.” I pull her into my arms. She wraps her arms around me, too, and we hold each other for a moment while I try to get rid of the obstruction in my throat.

“I’d rather be alone than in a bad relationship.” She leans back in my arms to look at me. “But… I’d rather be with you.”

My heart clenches violently. “Stella. I was so pissed.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And kinda crushed, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t afraid… but maybe I should have been.” I huff out a laugh, my chin against her hair. “Being rejected is no fun.”

“I wasn’t really rejecting you. I know you thought that, and I’m sorry. I was stupid.”

“Don’t ever say that. You’re not stupid. Maybe you had a little blind spot about this.” I swallow. “I was going to come see you. Tomorrow.”

She pulls back to gaze up at me. “Really?”

“Yeah. If you didn’t show up here tonight.”

“You… wanted me to show up?”

“Yeah. I’ve been sitting here for a fucking hour.”

“Oh.” A slow smile stretches across her face. “I was hoping you would be here, too. That’s why I came.” She pauses. “Did you send me chips?”

I laugh. “Yeah.”

“And treats for Betty.”

“No. Those were from Frank.”

Joy shines in the smile that spreads across her face. We sit there smiling at each other for about ten hours. I drink in her beautiful face, lifting a hand to brush back the hair that lays over her shoulder beneath the hat. “The first day I saw you here in the park, I was knocked on my ass. You were so beautiful. I mean, you are. I thought I probably looked like Frank, running around with my tongue hanging out.”

A small giggle escapes her.

“I thought you were… so composed and self-possessed and smart and… chill as fuck. But then you talked to your dog and I saw how much you loved her and I saw your big, soft heart.”

“I was so mad at myself for turning down your coffee invitation.”

“Were you?”

“Yeah. And then the next time I saw you, I was going to invite you out. But you had a date.”

I frown. “I didn’t have a date. I haven’t seen anyone but you in… since before the summer.”

“Oh. Well, you were busy that night.”

“Ohhh yeah, the guys were coming over. I wanted to bail on them. But, you know…”

“Pals before gals?”

I grin. “Yeah. And then I had my niece and nephew with me.”

“But we kept running into each other. Like it was fate, or something.”

We share a smile. “Yeah. Fate. But you know what?”

“What?”

“I don’t believe it was just fate. Maybe it was some external force that brought us together, but it wasn’t an external force that chose you for me. It was me. I choose you.” I hold her gaze steadily. “If we hadn’t run into each other again, I would have found you. On purpose. Like you told me… as a hockey player, I can’t control outcomes but I can improve the odds. I don’t have control over you, but I knew I could improve the odds of seeing you again.”