Page 55 of Forgotten Desires

“Brynn,” she says my name on a sigh. “I was with you when you texted him. How did it go from he didn’t have your number to marriage in a few hours?”

In all the excitement following, I didn’t even think about the fact that Phoebe had been with me. Shit.

“It really was like that, though,” I explain. “I told you how I felt after our dinner, how sweet he was.”

“Yes,” she draws the word out. “I don’t know that means marriage in a week, though.”

I need to remind her how fast she and Asher fell. And they didn’t have the history that Crew and I do. “When you realized how much you loved Asher, didn’t you want to be with him? If you’d broken up, and went years without him, wouldn’t that have been enough wasted time?”

Please let this lie stop feeling like the truth.

“I get all that, I just . . . I worry. You’re moving to New York, starting your company, and . . . you know . . . your upcoming surgery . . .”

I nod. “Yes, I know.”

“It’s just a lot of things all at once, Brynn. I just want you to be happy and also not make decisions you’ll regret later.”

Before I can say anything else, there’s another knock on the door. Thank the Lord.

“Come in!” I say quickly.

Kimberly peeks her head in. “Sorry to interrupt, I just have something for you.”

“For me?” I ask.

“From my brother.”

She walks in and hands me a narrow box. I take it but hesitate to open it. I don’t know what the hell Crew gave me, and I didn’t even think to get him anything.

Now I feel like an ass.

“Open it!” the ever-impatient Phoebe demands.

I lift the lid and burst out laughing. There is a football nestled in white silk.

Kimberly looks at the gift and huffs. “What the hell is he thinking?”

“It’s how we met,” I explain with my cheeks burning. “We were on the beach, he was throwing a football with Ford and I caught it.”

I lift it and there’s a note at the bottom.

With shaking hands I unfold it to see his handwriting.

Dear Brynlee,

Ten years ago you caught this ball. I’ve had it, held it, and kept it with me. I never forgot a moment we shared, and just like this ball, I’ll hold onto today’s memories the same. Thank you for all you’ve given me.

Yours,

Crew

Oh my freaking God. He saved the ball. It can’t be. How can this man keep doing this to me? I’m not emotionally prepared for this. I thought it was a toaster or some other random gift. Not this. Not him giving me the ball from the day we met.

Why is he so intent on making me fall for him?

Tears roll down my cheeks and both girls are reaching for my face with tissues. “No, no tears!” Phoebe fusses. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”

I laugh once, lifting my face to them as they fan and dab.

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