Page 65 of Unbroken

Ifelt overdressed for a simple movie in the park, but both Zoe and Shannon had ganged up on me, forcing me to submit to their hair and makeup efforts. When I’d finally turned to look at myself in the mirror, I looked more like the usual happy Fiona.

The one who always wanted to look pretty for Eli.

I felt the tears coming and sniffled hard before I could stop them. Suddenly, Zoe and Shannon had squished me into a sandwich hug, which only made me cry harder. We stood that way for a few moments, the both of them also misty, before Shannon straightened up and helped me fix my makeup. Once she finally declared me ready, she hustled me outside where Josh was already waiting.

The closer we got to town, the busier it appeared.

“Wow, it looks like the whole town is here,” I said as we got out of Zoe’s Jeep. I couldn’t believe the number of vehicles parked along Main Street and all around the park. Josh had our large picnic blanket tossed over his shoulder and led us closer to the big screen beforehanding it to Zoe while he went to grab food from the different vendors set up around the venue.

“I guess we all love this movie.” Shannon shrugged looking around at all the people. “I know I do.”

“That scene where Hugh Grant turns her down and Julia Roberts just keeps smiling?” Zoe added. “Kills me every time.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that. Okay, it’s a good movie and it wasn’t as if Poplar Springs had a regular movie theater. The movies and concerts in the park that took place during the warmer months were a cheap and fun way to enjoy some outdoor entertainment but this felt like overkill. It was true that most everyone was wrapping up—or had wrapped up—their busy season, so did that mean we were all that desperate for a bit of nineties entertainment?

“The ticket prices were a little higher this time with the proceeds going to the community center fund,” Zoe added, as if that explained all the people here. I might agree if we were watching a mid-century western. Something all the members of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association or Pop High’s football team could sink their teeth into. But it still seemed weird to me to seethismuch of a turn out forthismovie. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some elaborate joke or wonder if it was a scene from a Twilight Zone episode.

Josh joined us a few minutes later, loaded down with food. Shannon had already spread the blanket on the ground, and we all plopped down together.

“I heard the pre-show is pretty good tonight,” Josh said, pulling out his phone to check the time.

“Oh yeah?” I asked, reaching for a crispy tater tot and trying not to groan at its spicy and buttery goodness. “What are they showing?”

“That.”

Josh pointed to the screen with a smile as a figure walked out from the shadows. A spotlight turned on and I gasped.

Eli.

I looked around in confusion. “What … what’s going on?”

“Hey, everybody,” Eli said into a mic. He looked fantastic in dark Wranglers and a long-sleeved Henley that made all his muscles pop. Even his boots looked polished, all of which was a vast difference from the dusty, sweaty man I worked with every day. “I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to help support the community center. I will apologize in advance for the change in movie. I’m sure some of you were looking forward to some mission impossible-type activities.” Quite a few people shouted his name and clapped, while a couple others made jokes about the movie switch.

I was so confused. They were supposed to show a different movie? I might have enjoyed a Tom Cruise action movie. Why did it get changed?

“At any rate, the movie’s gonna start in a few minutes, but before it does, I wanted to take care of something real quick if y’all don’t mind.”

My heart was practically pounding out of my chest as I watched Eli shift back and forth. He seemed as nervous as I felt.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not much for public speaking and big displays like this.”

“Leave that to your dad,” someone shouted, and everyone laughed.

“Exactly,” he said, squinting into the crowd. “There’s only one thing that could get me to put on a show like this for y’all. One word, actually. And that word is ‘love.’”

A murmur rippled through the crowd, and I felt heat rush to my face.Is he doing what I think he is? No. No way.I shook my head but couldn’t stop staring at Eli who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but on stage.

“I have a confession to make.” The quiet chatter that had continued when he’d first stepped out stopped. “You see, I didn’t realize it at first, but I fell in love with someone who’s here tonight. And it caught me completely off guard. Because I grew up thinking of this person as my nemesis. I guess you could say we’ve had a love-hate relationship that goes all the way back to kindergarten. ‘Frenemies,’ as she called us.”

I laughed along with the rest of the crowd, my eyes shining with tears.

“It took some time for me to realize why I always wanted to be around her, but I finally figured it out. It’s because of the way she could make me laugh harder than anyone I’ve ever known. The way she pushed me to be the best version of myself. And yes, the way she sometimes annoyed the hell out of me.”

He smiled and gazed into the crowd like he was trying to find me. I raised my hand up slowly, and I saw his posture change when he finally spotted me.

“Ah, there she is,” he murmured like he was talking only to me. “I realized the reason why I felt all of those things was because I fell deeply, ridiculously in love with Fiona Cafferty.”

I let out a sob, unsure if I should jump up and run to him or let him finish.

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