Page 31 of Pitch for You

“Thank you for giving us a second chance. I will not hurt you ever again. Ever since I left for college, I have regretted my choice of leaving you behind. My heart will always be yours. Always and forever.”

As I looked into his eyes, I could see the truth of his words. He would not only be my rock but also Max's guiding star, helping us through whatever challenges life may bring. In that moment, I knew – this was my happily ever after.

“I love you.”

The corners of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, his love for me reflected in his eyes. “I love you too, Sofia. More than you'll ever know.”

Slowly, almost reverently, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss was tender – a testament to the love that had endured despite the passage of time and the obstacles we had faced. Our hearts seemed to meld together.

A new chapter of our lives were beginning- a second chance.

19

Brett

I sat cross-legged on a plush couch in Rich's apartment, sipping coffee and flipping through a book of local events. Rich was sprawled out on the floor in front of me, a bowl of popcorn in hand as he watched a movie.

“So, what's the plan this weekend?” Rich asked, pausing the movie and turning to look at me.

“I was thinking of taking Sofia out,” I replied, setting down the book and taking a sip of my coffee.

Rich raised an eyebrow. “A date? So does that mean that you guys finally made up?”

I nodded, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. “Yeah, about time, huh? She is nervous about giving us another shot officially - so I need to make sure she has a good time.”

Rich grinned. “Well, you're in luck. There's a wine festival happening downtown this weekend. Perfect romantic date material.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, but I want to do something that includes Max too. I want to bond with him, show him that I care about him just as much as I care about his mom.”

Rich nodded. “I get it. He's a great kid, but he needs a male role model. How about you take him to the museum in Dallas? I heard they have a dinosaur exhibit that he'll love.”

I smiled. “That's perfect. Thanks, man.”

“No problem,” Rich said with a grin, pressing play on the movie again.

The dinosaur exhibit did sound perfect for Max. I could already picture his eyes lighting up at the sight of towering T-Rex skeletons and interactive displays.

“You know,” I said, leaning forward, “I think I might combine the two ideas if we can. We could start the day at the museum with Max, then drop him off afterward to Diane maybe. That way, Sofia and I could hit the wine festival afterward.”

Rich nodded approvingly. “Smart move. Best of both worlds.”

I pulled out my phone and started looking up the museum's hours. “I just hope Max doesn't feel like we're ditching him halfway through the day.”

“Are you kidding?” Rich laughed. “That kid adores you. He'll probably be thrilled just to spend a few hours with you at the museum.”

As I scrolled through the museum's website, I came across a special event listing. “Oh man, this is perfect! They're doing a 'Junior Paleontologist' workshop in the afternoon.”

Rich tossed a piece of popcorn at me. “See? It's all falling into place. You've got this, Romeo.”

I chuckled, dodging the popcorn. “Let's hope so. I really want this to work out, you know? Not just with Sofia, but with Max too. They're kind of a package deal.”

“And that's what makes you a stand-up guy,” Rich said, his tone turning serious for a moment. “Not every man would be so eager to take on that responsibility.”

I shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise. “It's not about responsibility. Max is a great kid. I genuinely enjoy spending time with him.”

I clicked Sofia’s contact in my phone.

You up for an adventure today? Thought we could take Max to the museum. They have a dinosaur exhibit today.

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