Page 88 of If Ever

She giggles, the sound is music to my ears. "I'll try to sneak away at some point. What's your day like?"

"It's Friday, so other than an early meeting and a run, my day is flexible."

"I'd think your show was workout enough."

"It's the start of a four-show weekend. That's four shows in forty-eight hours. If I don't stay strong and in shape, I'll never get through it."

"Sounds exhausting, now that you put it that way."

It can be. But I refuse to let it hold me back. "Give me a call when you get a break. I'll be standing by."

Three hours later, still no word from Chelsea. Central Park is postcard perfection. Now that the storm has passed, snow glistens under clear sunny skies. I breathe in the fresh air. The early snow is a novelty bringing out a surprising amount of people for a weekday.

I spend my five-mile run thinking of Chelsea’s sweet smile, her infectious laugh, and especially those moments when her vulnerable side shows through. While she opened up about her past when I asked, it's obvious she keeps a carefully protected wall around her. And that's okay. If I have my way, we'll have plenty of time to take that down.

My phone rings interrupting my ruminations. I slow to a walk. It's my agent. "Hey, Sean. What's up?"

"I thought we had a meeting."

I stop short. "Aw, shit! Was that today?" Other runners speed past. I step off the jogging path.

"It's not like you to miss a meeting. I've got the script for the new musical you've been waiting on."

"Sorry. With the, uh, blizzard I've been distracted." I check the time. "I can head over to you now."

"I've got to head out in five minutes, so we'll have to reschedule. I did want to check in about some auditions I'm working on, but I wasn't sure how many you can handle right now."

"I'm wide open." Except all the time I plan to be talking and skyping with Chelsea.

"You're ready for this next step?"

My heart glitches. It's a huge change, but the timing is right. "I think I have to be." I relax on a bench to catch my breath.

"I agree. And your appearance on Celebrity Dance Off was media gold. Primetime on a hit network show—what a sweet piece of luck that was."

I grin. "You have no idea."

"I've got to run, but I'll messenger over the script. Rest up because I'll start lining up auditions. You're going to be a busy man, but if luck holds, I think you can land something great that'll take you to the next level."

"Thanks, Sean. I'm ready."

Nearby a woman is helping her kids build a snowman, something I haven't done in years. I slip on my gloves and make a snowball. It takes a couple tries, but I'm able to catch a shot of it mid air with my phone and send the picture to Chelsea.

Next I find a wide-open expanse of snow and start rolling my snowball until I get a nice-size base. By the time I'm done ten minutes later, I have a decent snowman, complete with my scarf and hat. There's two protein bars in my inside coat pocket that I use for eyes and a frown. My creation complete I take a selfie with Frosty, matching his mood with a woeful frown and text it to Chelsea. "Can you come out and play?"

After retrieving my hat and scarf and shaking off the snow, my phone pings.

"Have you had lunch?" she asks.

I grin and respond, "I'm famished."

"Dominic says you'll know where Tavern on the Green is. Meet us there?"

Twenty minutes later Chelsea and Dominic step out of a cab in front of the landmark restaurant perched on the edge of the park. A bundle of grins and excitement, she kisses me hello.

"This is gorgeous," she gushes, as we're seated in the Central Park Room, which is like an atrium with floor to ceiling glass. Even part of the ceiling is glass, giving us the feel of dining in the center of a snow-covered paradise.

“You’ve earned a little tourist stop while we’re here,” Dominic says.

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