Page 294 of The Bonus

So he gave me two.

My eyes rise to meet his. “Did you make this book?”

He nods.

Oh…

His silhouette blurs.

It’s not possible to miss someone this much.

It was…because I did

Realization sets in, I wrote these notes when I thought I would never see him again. “You found my box?”

“Yes.”

“You read my letters?”

“Every last one.”

I screw up my face in tears. “You made them into a…book?” My voice cracks with emotion, and I turn the page, I can hardly see the words.

From the moment I met her, I knew she was the one.

My heart ached for what I couldn’t have.

So I loved her from afar

Oh…

He leans in and kisses me, his lips lingering over mine. “I love you, Gracie,” he whispers. “I have always loved you.”

“I love you.” I smile against his lips. “Oh…man. You’re good.”

He chuckles. “How am I doing? Is this A game enough?”

“This is breaking the scoreboard.”

He laughs and holds up a finger. “Ahh…but there’s more.”

“More?” I smile as I wipe my tears.

He texts something on his phone. “Unfortunately, I can’t fit this part of our date into the magic picnic basket.”

The back door of my house opens and a trail of people in white chefs’ uniforms walk out carrying things.

Oh crap…was my house clean?

“What in the world?”

Two men put down a small round table and two chairs on the jetty, another man sets it with a white tablecloth and lights a candelabra in the center.

Then a stream of people carry out plates of food.

“What is this?” I gasp.

“Well…” He shrugs. “I couldn’t take you to your favorite Italian restaurant in New York…so I ordered in.”

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