Page 74 of All Dressed Up

“So, this was the big homecoming game? Not many people there.”

“It hadn’t started yet.” Rachel gave Jesse a sideways glance. “Besides, it’s a small town. You know that.”

They watched as Bethany filmed the cheerleaders playing a round of truth or dare while stretching on the grass. She couldn’t help but smile. Those stretch sessions had always been fun. She pointed to the screen. “That’s Jessica Knight. Man, I hated her. She was always stirring up trouble.” They listened as the brunette with a high-pitched voice dared Rachel to ask Adam out.

“You don’t look very excited to do it,” Jesse commented.

“I was terrified.” Her gaze was glued to the screen. Sure, on the outside she always did her best to look composed and in control, even back then. “I didn’t want him to say no.”

Suddenly the camera went from Rachel’s face to the grass.

“What’s happening?”

That memory came flooding back. She looked up from the computer over at Bethany. “My best friend just did the most selfless act.”

“What’s that?”

“She’d set down the camcorder, put her own feelings aside, and encouraged me to go ask Adam out for pizza.” Seconds later, the image on the screen moved from the grass, focusing on a teenage Rachel jogging over to complete the dare by asking the football player out.

Her cheeks warmed seeing it all play out. Adam was never meant to be her endgame partner, but he’d always have a special place in her heart.

She glanced behind her shoulder, up at Jesse. “I’m not sure why we’re watching this. It’s a sweet memory and all, but Will wasn’t even in the video.”

“Rewind it back for a second.”

“A bit bossy for your first day, don’t you think?”

“Just do it.”

“Fine.” She clicked on the bar and dragged it back. They watched as she asked Adam out again. “It’s just me asking my future boyfriend out to Ralph’s Pizzeria.” She sighed. Another dead end. Unless, Mary was suggesting they have pizza for lunch, which wasn’t a bad idea. She could have been more direct about it than sending them on a wild-goose chase. “Want to go grab some lun—”

“Wait.” His bony finger touched the screen. “What’s going on back there?”

She squinted. “A football player walking by.”

“Hit pause.”

Rachel did it, her focus on the player holding something long in his hand. Suddenly her heart began to pound. “Is that?” She glanced up at Jesse and immediately jerked her head back to the screen. It was hard to tell given the player still had on his helmet. “Is he holding a flower?”

“I’ll bet anything that’s a snapdragon.” Jesse beamed, appearing all kinds of pleased with himself. He pointed to the screen. “And look right there. Looks like a note tied to the flower.”

Rachel squinted to see. There could be something attached to the flower. It was hard to tell.Could it be Will behind that helmet?Rachel placed her finger on the paused screen, tracing the long stem with her fingertip. She pushed off the stool. She needed to find out. “I’ve got to go.” She grabbed the rest of the bouquet and raced for the door.

Stopping, she spun around and backtracked to Bethany, flinging her arms around her friend, careful not to poke her with the flowers. “You are amazing.”

Bethany jostled her camera in her hands. “Um... I take it you saw what you needed to see?”

“More than you know. I’m really glad things worked out for you and Adam.”

Bethany grinned. “Me, too.”

Rachel joined Jesse at the entrance. “You can take off for an early lunch. Just stay out of the Sugar Spoon,” she warned.

It took her less than five minutes to power walk down the street and back to her shop, her footsteps keeping in sync with her rapidly beating heart. This was it. The absolute perfect moment she’d been waiting for. She’d thank her Buttermilk Blooms Bandit for the flowers all these years later and tell him how madly in love she was with him.

Will and she belonged together and that started right now.

Flying into her shop, she called out his name, taking the backstairs two at a time.

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