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Why had I come to New Burlington in the first place? For community. For a place to be myself. For a chance to have a life that felt totally different from the empty existence I felt in New York. The move had never been about money. It had always been about something better.
Andbetterincluded Anya. There was no doubt about that. We had chemistry, and everyone saw it. In a lot of ways, the viral video proved it. In the last few weeks, I’d watched it countless times on my phone, on my laptop, I always saw the same thing.
We belonged together.
“Do you have any idea how I can repair our relationship?” I asked. “I really care about her, Morgan.” I took a deep breath. “I’m even falling in love with her.”
Morgan’s eyes widened. “You are?”
“Yep.” I thought about it for a moment. “I am in love with Anya Post.”
Morgan gasped.
I spread my hand, relief coursing through me. It felt great to say it. Morgan was the first person I’d said that to, but it was the truth. Iwasin love with Anya, and the distance between us had only made my feelings about her stronger. I was borderline desperate—I have to make this up to her, and I’ll do anything.
“I want to show Anya how sorry I am,” I added. “Maybe she’ll forgive me.”
Morgan cocked her head, and I could almost see the thoughts traveling through her mind. “I have an idea,” she said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ANYA
Simple but elegant.
That’s how I would have described Morgan’s wedding day. She wore a beautifully beaded dress, complete with a long train covered in delicate, appliqued flowers. The weather was perfect, and early that morning, a small army descended on the Front Street Park gazebo, wrapping it in garlands and greenery.
I couldn’t have imagined a better day for someone I cared about so much.
Morgan was truly the most gorgeous bride I’d ever seen.
And as one does at weddings—particularly when you’re single—I’d spent time pondering my own happiness. I’d yet to experience the passion I saw on Morgan’s face when she talked about her work or the hopefulness in her voice that came with this wedding.
I wanted that.
Even though the man had ghosted me, I also thought of Robert. Despite my best resolve, I hadn’t been able to put him out of my mind. In fact, I’d been thinking about him a lot over the last few weeks—and particularly about the last time I saw him when he tried to talk to me at Morgan’s bachelorette party. I wasn’t nice to him that night, and the alcohol wasn’t a good excuse for the way I behaved.
