Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 41935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
The distinctive little blue box is from Tiffany. My heart pounds as I open it. There’s a folded piece of paper and a beautiful necklace, the pendant a flower shape made of diamonds. I run my finger over it, my lips parting in shock.
It’s beautiful. I carefully set the box beside me on the car seat and open the note.
Alice,
I wanted to get you a hundred dozen red roses. But since we’re keeping things quiet, I got you this instead. You’re so close to me right now, but way too far away.
I’m not a man who falls in and out of love easily. I’ve seen friends fall for women hard and fast, but it never happened for me, until you. I always wanted to keep women at arm’s length. But not you. I want to be where you are. If you want to wait, we’ll wait. I’m not giving up, though. Be with me, and I’ll care for you in every way.
Yours,
Dalton
Yours. I read the word again and again, smiling despite how worried I am about my dad. Then I read the whole thing again and again after that. He’s mine. And in my heart, I’m his. Now that I know what this feels like, I can’t settle for something average, not in a month, not in a decade.
I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if I can’t have Dalton, I don’t want anyone.
eighteen
Dalton
“I’ve made some good friends in my time here, and more importantly, I fell in love. And because I have those feelings for her and only her, I can’t stay here and pretend to be considering anyone else. It’s not right.”
Alex bites his fist off camera, his eyes imploring me to say more. When I agreed to go on camera to explain why I was leaving the show, I told him I wouldn’t get specific. He’s trying everything he can think of to make me change my mind.
“If the two of you are in love, why is she staying and you’re going?” he asks.
“I don’t speak for her. I only speak for myself. This has been a great experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity. The league trusted me to represent the sport of hockey, and that’s an honor. I know my teammates will support my decision. And I guarantee I’ll be watching the show to see how things play out.”
I indicated with my voice that I was closing out. I wait a couple of seconds and then reach for the microphone clipped inside the collar of my shirt.
“No.” Alex rubs his temple, aggravated. “I need more, Dalton. Viewers are going to speculate about every female contestant now, and none of them will be able to focus on anything but which one of them you’re leaving the show over. Does she share your feelings? Did she dump you?”
“That’s between me and her.”
He turns and beats his clipboard on the ground several times, a little spring flying out of it.
“This is a reality show!” He stands back up and whirls to face me. “Don’t make me go after you for breach of contract!”
I shrug. “Do what you gotta do, man. I’m not speaking for anyone but me and you’re not changing my mind.”
I pass the microphone to him, but he won’t take it. After a couple of seconds, I set it on the ground and walk away.
Alice hadn’t even been gone for an hour when I started regretting not going with her. I meant it in the letter when I said I wanted to be where she is. Not just in bed. Everywhere.
I should be holding her hand on that plane. Carrying her bag to the car. Standing beside her at the hospital. I didn’t think it was possible to fall so hard for someone, but I did. I can’t go back to the way I was when I got to the beach house.
I was aloof. Focused entirely on myself. Now there’s Alice, and I don’t care how anyone but her feels about my leaving the show.
For a few minutes, I thought about asking her if I could come to Detroit. But I need to be there for her, even if I’m sitting in a car in the hospital parking lot because she doesn’t want me to meet her family yet.
I go to my room and pack, not worrying about folding my clothes as I stuff them into the two suitcases I brought here. It’s a relief to be leaving. I was scheduled to go on a one-on-one date tonight with Hailey and I was dreading it.
Now that Alice is gone, there’s no reason for me to be here. I make a final sweep of my bathroom to make sure I got everything and then check my phone. I have a text from my agent.
Tony: There’s a James Morrow at Detroit Memorial. Flight is booked, itinerary in your email. Let me know if you need anything else.