Page 98 of Sidelined Love

“Hey, Dad,” I say.

He shifts his gaze toward me, his eyes lighting up when he sees me. “Hailey! This is quite the production you've put together.”

“Thanks.” I glance at Angela. “Hi, Angela. It’s lovely to meet you, and I'm glad you could make it.”

“Of course, I wouldn't have missed it. Your father tells me you've worked very hard on this event.” Her voice is warm and kind.

I nod. “Well, I had a lot of help too.” Across the room, I spot Jade ushering an elderly woman to a seat near the front. I know I need to get back so that I can help out.

I give my dad and Angela an apologetic look. “I should get back to helping everyone get to their seats. But I'm really happy you're both here and I’ll have to introduce you to Levi, my boyfriend, later.”

My dad freezes for a moment before a smile appears on his face. He pulls me in for a quick hug. “I can’t wait. We'll be cheering you on. Now go on and show them what you’re made of.”

I help a few people find their seats before making my way up to the front of the room where Mrs. Rafferty waits by the podium.

She gives me a small smile. “Whenever you're ready, dear.”

I take a deep breath and step up to the microphone. The chatter in the room quiets down as all eyes turn to me. I spot my dad and Angela near the back, Jade and Levi over by the snack table.

“Welcome, everyone, to our first community chess event!” I say, pleased that my voice comes out steady. “I want to thank you all for being here today and supporting this idea of mine to bring people together through the game of chess.”

I go on to explain the format, recognizing the local chess club members who are helping run the mini tournament, and express my hope that this will become a recurring event. The words flow smoothly, and I find myself relaxing as I speak.

As I wrap up my welcome, applause fills the room. I spot Levi whistling loudly and Jade pumping her fist in the air. Laughing, I step away from the podium and Mrs. Rafferty takes over to direct people toward their first match.

I let out a huge sigh of relief as I walk over to where Jade and Levi are standing.

“See, I told you you'd do well,” Jade says, pulling me in for a hug.

“Seriously, Hailey, you nailed it. I got chills listening to you speak so passionately about bringing people together,” Levi adds.

I grin at their praise. “Thanks, you guys. I'm just relieved I made it through without messing up too badly.”

We make our way over to the snack table as the first round of chess matches begins. I grab a brownie from the snack table and take a bite. It’s not as good as the brownies at Brewed Beginnings, but it is still pretty tasty. As I chew, I scan the room and I can’t help but smile as I take in the scene I've helped create.

“This was an amazing idea, Hailey,” Jade says, looping her arm through mine. “Just look how happy you've made everyone.”

I nod, blinking back the sudden tears that are starting to form. I’m going to cry more today than I have in weeks apparently. After over a month of planning and late nights making decorations with Jade, seeing it come to life is incredibly rewarding.

Looking around, I see people from all walks of life drawn together by a shared love of chess. My heart swells with happiness. This event has exceeded my expectations, but let’s also be real, my expectations were in the gutter anyway.

I see that Jade has walked away to talk to her grandmother, who I wave to, and I spot my dad and Angela across the room. He has his arm around her waist and whispers something that makes her laugh. Seeing him happy and moving on mostly makes me glad he has found someone who seems to be having a positive impact on his life. When they make their way to the table and appear to be preparing for a match themselves, I feel Levi take a small step closer to me.

I'm pulled from my thoughts all together as he slides his arm around me. “What do you think? Was all your hard work worth it?”

I smile up at him. “It was, absolutely. Seeing everyone so engaged and happy is… It’s more than I could have asked for,” I reply, my gaze dancing around the room to catch the various groups immersed in their games.

Levi's gaze follows mine. “Since everyone is focused on their games, how about we take a minute for ourselves? There's a little sitting area I saw earlier. It's quiet and pretty secluded. You could use a break, and I… I'd love a few moments alone with you.”

The suggestion surprises me, but the idea of stepping away for a minute with Levi is appealing. “Lead the way.”

Levi takes my hand and leads me out of the main hall and down a quiet hallway. We walk around a corner and enter a cozy sitting area with plush couches and chairs. A large window looks out over the courtyard where I can see a couple of birds bouncing between the trees that have lost a lot of their leaves.

Levi sits and gently tugs me down next to him. I smooth my dress and wait expectantly.

“I wanted a minute to tell you how amazing you are, Rook,” he says, his blue eyes intent on mine. “Seeing you up there, speaking with such passion, you took my breath away. You've worked so hard for this and I'm so proud of you.”

“Thank you, Levi. It means a lot.”

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