Page 53 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout

Tonguing his cheek, Beau sighed. He hadn’t planned for the night to be heavy or painful. He didn’t need reminders of how much he hurt Sienna—that had been written on her face when he first saw her again after the game, in the way she carefully and curiously eyed him, like he was a stranger instead of her best friend, her first love. It was in the hesitancy of her voice, her touch.

She has every right. I fucked up,Beau thought angrily, frustrated. But then he remembered what he was asking Sienna for wasn’t forgiveness.

He shifted and folded his left leg over his knee, pulling his suit as far up as it could go and nudging his sock down. “I had an accident a few years ago, off-season. Broken tibia. Surgery. A metal plate. Months of physical therapy. But do you know what else I got?” He waited, and Sienna shook her head. “A second chance to finish that dream I started the day I left you. A second chance to make all that time away mean something.”

Sienna fought his hold to look away, but Beau held her in place while his other hand moved to tap his left temple. “Eighteen stitches. A grade three concussion. A dead brother.”

Eyes softening, Sienna reached for his hand. “I know.”

“Do you know what else I got? A second chance atlife,” Beau said. “So when you showed back up in high school, I was there to fall in love with you.”

Beau watched Sienna try to fight the tremble that took her mouth. His hand slid from her chin to her cheek, cupping it gently, trying to erase the emotion.

“And you now, all these years later... ” Beau wasn’t able to stop himself. He pressed his thumb against her mouth. “I’d be an idiot to think it means I’m forgiven, that we can pick up right where we left off. But do you know what you here gives me?”

Sienna shook her head, and Beau sighed as his finger rubbed against the smooth length of her lip from the movement.

“Hope, Sienna. That there’s a piece of you that wishes as much as I do you’ll be able to give me another chance. I have to hope that this is the time I prove, even though I was wrong to leave, I was still right about one thing.”

Taking a shaky breath, Sienna brought her hand up, holding onto his wrist. The smallest turn of her head into his palm brought waves of both anguish and happiness through Beau’s body.

“What were you right about?”

Beau moved, his fingers tracing her face, over the freckles that reminded him of constellations. He picked his favorite—one just below her right eye and made a wish.

“It’s always been you.” He could feel Sienna’s breath hitch. “I can tell you I’m sorry a million times. Words aren’t enough. Please give me a chance toshowyou.”

After ten seconds, Beau was prepared to plead his case more.This fancy restaurant I own? It’s fancier with you in it. These sandwiches are good, but they taste better with you eating next to me. This life I’ve built is big, it’s exciting, but the only thing that would make it exceptional is you in it,he mentally rehearsed.

Sienna pulled back. “You know, I need to, uh, use the bathroom. Excuse me.”

“Yeah, sure.” Beau cleared his throat as she slid from the booth, and he watched as she made her way through the restaurant, only she didn’t head to the bathrooms. Sienna went outside.

Beau released a heavy breath. “Fuck.” He ran a hand over his face before pulling out his phone.

Find out what I need to do to close Disney World for a day.

Chase responded immediately to his text.

Disney World? It would be cheaper to build your own amusement park.

Beau didn’t care about money. Not when it came to Sienna and what she cared about—sick children.

I didn’t ask you for a cheaper option. Find out.

Beau pocketed his phone, ignoring how it vibrated again in his jacket. He passed his half-empty glass between his hands, focusing on the amber liquor, trying to ignore how his heart raced faster with each second she was away from the table.

Too much too quick, Beau told himself. But he had little time to waste.And even if I had the time, I don’t want to wait.I don’t want to wait anymore to be with her.

“Okay,” Sienna said, sliding back into the booth. Her cheeks were flushed, bitten by the cool winter night.

“I thought you left.”

Sienna shook her head. “I just needed a moment. Some space.” She took a deep, calming breath. “Show me.”

Her words brought a smile to his face before his brain could even register what she said. He grasped Sienna’s hand.

“We’ll take dessert to go, come on.”

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