Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
That’s when it hit me.
TWENTY-THREE
FELICITY
When I got to work Friday, Gianni told me Winnie wanted to see me. “She’s been in here a couple times looking for you,” he said. “She tried calling and texting but said you didn’t respond.”
“Yeah, I’m taking a break from my social media, and it seemed easier to just take a break from my phone altogether,” I said. “I’ll go see what she wants.”
I found Winnie in the lobby, directing guests to the patio, where a rehearsal dinner was taking place. “Hey,” I said. “You were looking for me?”
“Yes. Hutton was here.” She beamed. “But I kept the secret. I had to tape my mouth shut, but I kept it.”
“Today?” My voice rose. “He was here today?”
“Yes. Earlier this afternoon.”
“What did he want?” My heart had started to race.
“To know where to find you. I didn’t tell him,” she added quickly. “But I promised to give you this.” She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a small, folded square.
I took it from her and unfolded it.
It took me less than ten seconds to decode the dots and lines on the page. My eyes filled.
“What is it?” Winnie asked. “Some kind of secret language?”
“Yes.” I sniffed. “It says ‘I love you.’ It’s written in the code we promised each other we’d always honor.”
“Aww, that’s so cute. He looked really miserable—he does love you, Lissy. So much.”
“You think so?”
“Of course I do! He told me he’s never been in love before, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he’s scared he blew his only chance to be with the one person who means everything to him.”
Goosebumps blanketed my arms. “He said all that?” He loves me. He loves me.
“Yes! And I’m sure I was not supposed to tell you any of it, but in my defense, I did make it obvious I’m terrible at keeping secrets. He also offered me a billion dollars for your whereabouts.” She lifted her chin. “I want you to know I didn’t take the money.”
I laughed. “Thank you.”
She bent down in a little curtsy. “You’re welcome. I think maybe you should hear him out, Felicity. Guys aren’t perfect, you know? Sometimes they need a second chance to get something right.”
Later that night, when I got back to Millie’s, I called him.
“Hello?”
I couldn’t help smiling. “That’s new. I was expecting your usual greeting.”
“I’m working on some things about myself.”
“Good for you.” I paused. “I got the bat signal. Are you okay?”
“No. There’s something I have to tell you, or it’s going to eat me alive.”
“Okay.”
“Can I see you?”
“I guess so. I’m at Millie’s.”
“Text me the address,” he said. “I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
We hung up, and I sent him Millie’s address. I had just enough time to change out of my work uniform into shorts and a T-shirt, and although I debated fussing with my hair and makeup, I decided against it. Hutton knew what I looked like morning, noon, and night. I didn’t need to paint my face for him.
But I did take the ring from the blue box and slip it on my finger.
When he pulled up, I was sitting on the porch with my arms wrapped around my knees. My pulse skittered as he came up the front walk. “Hey,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Hey.” His smile was boyish and charming. “Will you go for a drive with me?”
“Sure.”
He took my hand and led me to the passenger side of his car, where he opened the door for me and closed it after I got in. A few minutes later, we were heading toward town.
“Are we going anywhere in particular?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
I tried to guess where he might be taking me, but we stayed in so much that there weren’t a lot of places that had a ton of memories for us besides his house. Since we weren’t going in that direction, I was completely baffled.
For a moment, I wondered if he was taking me to some airfield where a private jet was going to whisk us away to some exotic location. I hoped not—I didn’t want him to think that I needed those kinds of things to be happy.
I shouldn’t have worried. Hutton knew me better than that. Even better, he knew us.
We pulled up behind the public library, where a little old lady was waiting by the door with a set of keys. She was short and plump and had a head full of coppery curls.
“There you are,” she whispered excitedly. “I was getting nervous.”
“Sorry, Gladys. Thanks a lot for this.”
“You’re welcome, dear. I’m glad to help.” She unlocked the door and put a finger over her mouth. “Don’t turn any lights on, okay?”
Hutton nodded. “We won’t be long.”
“I’ll just wait in my car.” Gladys looked back and forth between the two of us and sighed before hurrying over to a Buick, the only other car in the lot.