Chapter 11

I glanced over to my door and saw something illuminated behind the curtains. I looked at my alarm clock. 2:56 A.M. What was so bright in the backyard?

I trudged over to the curtain and pulled it back. My breath caught in my throat. There were tea candles all over the porch. There were tiger lilies laid out, making a path over to the swing. And there she was—sitting on the swing, nervously smiling at me. I was speechless.

All the thoughts about her being a player, Rachel’s words, my doubts, they all fell right out of my mind as I stepped outside. I wrapped my blanket around me tighter and gingerly sat down next to her.

“What is this, Charlie?”

“I just…I don’t know.” She sounded so innocent and sweet. “It’s stupid, isn’t it?” She looked away from me, but I grabbed her face gently and made her face me.

“This is incredible. It’s so sweet. It’s beautiful,” I softly said, and she smiled, but still looked nervous.