Page 89 of Absolutely Not in Love
I sniff and wipe the tears from my eyes, then read Felix’s letter one more time.
In the space of five minutes, whatever hesitations I had about forgiving him completely evaporate. Turns out, self-awareness and humility, and a really good apology, are incredibly sexy.
Also. I really,reallylove him, too.
A sudden desire to tell him overwhelms me, but it’s not exactly the kind of thing I want to say in a text. I want him to look in my eyes when I tell him I understand. When I tell him that no audition in Knoxville or anywhere else is more important than he is, than what the two of us share.
But how?
A sudden thought pops into my brain, and a jolt of excitement pushes out to my limbs, making my hands tremble.
Felixdidhear me say that once I was in love with him, I would go to his games.
I bite my lip as I stand and cross back to the kitchen so I can retrieve my phone.
I glance at my watch, then send Abby a quick text, asking her to cover the first few minutes of my first period. She has her planning period first, so it shouldn’t be a big deal, and I’m definitely going to be a little late.
Then I text Summer.
Because I think I need to go to California to watch a hockey game, and if anyone will give me the courage to make it happen, it’s her.
“This is seriously the most exciting thing we have ever done,” Summer says as we wheel our suitcases through the Asheville airport.
“It’s the craziest thing we’ve ever done,” I say. “And I still can’t believe you’re coming with me.”
“Are you kidding me? Taking a red-eye across the country so you can declare your love for a super sexy hockey goalie? This is the kind of thing people write books about. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“And you’re sure it doesn’t have anything to do with avoiding your boss?”
“Oh, it has everything to do with avoiding my boss,” she says back. “But this excuse is much more believable than the one I was coming up with on my own.”
“Yeah? What excuse were you planning on using?”
“A brain-eating amoeba from my sister’s lab escaped and slipped into my food, and now my frontal lobe is only partially functional?”
I roll my eyes. “Pretty sure amoebas can’t escape or slip anywhere on their own. Also, I think the brain-eating kind are deadly.”
Summer frowns. “See? Thisisa better excuse.”
“Summer, you’re going to have to talk to someone about him.”
She presses her lips together. “I know. I will. I’m working on a plan.” We reach our gate, already crowded with travelers, and drop into a couple of empty chairs. “In the meantime,” she says, “I’m going to escape my own worries by dreaming about your soon-to-be magical happily-ever-after.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I say. “I don’t even know if we’ll get into the game.”
“Of course you will. Parker will come through.”
Parker did say I could reach out if I ever wanted to go to a game. I got her number from Felix the night we ran into them on Maple Street, but I haven’t texted her until today, and so far, she still hasn’t responded.
It’s possibly insane that I’m flying across the country when the entire plan is hinging on Parker getting us into an already sold-out game.
Worst-case scenario, I’ll just hang out outside the team bus and wait for Felix to show up. But I really want him to see meatthe game. Cheering for him. Wearing his jersey. Watching him play.
“Okay,” Summer says from beside me, her phone in her hand. “Flint says everything is set for our hotel stay. And there will be a driver to pick us up at the airport as soon as we land.”
I shake my head in disbelief. It’s hard enough to accept the fact that Summer’s brother-in-law istheFlint Hawthorne. But to imagine him caring enough about my stupid problems to get us a car and a suite in a hotel I could never afford on my own? It’s too much.
Then again, I wouldn’t be making this trip without Flint’s generosity. After my stupid four-hundred-dollar Uber bill and my plane ticket, I’m double digits away from maxing out my credit card.
