Page 44 of The Longshot

My harsh truth suddenly turns into my worst nightmare, but I can’t back down. I refuse to let him get the best of me. I refuse to allow this behavior to go on for another second.

“I said…” I stand up straight, my voice loud. “That I will never, ever, get back together with you.”

After all this time of withholding my truths to settle his mood, finally, I stay true. I hold on. Yet, all that strength doesn’t mitigate the fear in the back of my mind when it comes to what is about to happen next.

We’ve never gotten to this point.

He bites down on his lip.

“You think you’re big now, don’t you, Chelsie?” My heart pounds in my chest as he takes controlled steps forward. “Like you’ve got it all planned out. New look, new town, new life?” He scoffs. “Well, let me tell you something. You can change your location, change your job, Christ, change the way you look, but…” He takes a final step in so that he’s back to pressing me up against the glass. “That doesn’t change the fact that you’re mine. You’ve always been mine. Do you understand? Do you even know what you’re throwing away by trying to leave me? Do you know how stupid that is? Is this what you want?” He gestures around. “To work at a fucking bakery for the rest of your life? Is that it?”

I remain silent. Talking is what he wants—he wants me to get angry. I can see it in the way he tenses his hands together.

“You know, I’m the best thing that has ever happened to you, Chelsie. I’m the best thing that will ever happen to you. Now, stop with all of this bullshit and come back with me.”

“No.” I hold my ground.

He’s back to glaring at me. “No?”

It’s like he’s never heard the word before.

“You heard me. No. I’m not leaving with you.”

“And why not, huh?”

There are a million and one ways I can respond to his question. I could write a book on all the reasons, yet somehow, the only clear answer becomes the person who suddenly swings open the door to the bakery and steps inside.

My eyes dart towards the clock.

3:30 PM.

Gary.

“You want a reason?” I peer into Simon’s eyes before diverting my attention over to Gary. “Because I’ve moved on. I’m seeing someone else, and here he is now.”

TWELVE

W I L K S

I’ve done everything in my power this week to win Chelsie over—really, I’ve pulled out all the stops. So much so that as I pace my way towards Ruby’s bakery, I don’t have anything left in me to offer for this final week of swooning but… me.

Take it or leave it.

Truthfully, I hope she opts for the earlier of those two options, not just to save my ego, but because not-so-deep down, I really want her to.

The odds are in my favor, given that my daily trips to the bakery with whatever obscure gesture I’ve managed to come up with have left a lasting smile on Chelsie’s face.

I never knew that as you gave someone a gift, they could give you one right back without even realizing it.

It feels special to even be in the presence of her smile, let alone to be the reason behind it.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Chelsie’s got layers. I’m confident that there’s a depth to her that I fear very few people have ever been able to scratch the surface of.

Does that intimidate me? Sure, a little bit. But does it entice me beyond belief? Oh yeah, it definitely does.

I think Chelsie and I have more in common than she even realizes. I mean, if we want to talk about layers, you’re looking at a prime example.

Very few individuals in my life have seen the “real me”.

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