Page 230 of P.S. I'm Still Yours

It’s embarrassing how much I miss him.

All I wanted to do when I dropped out of school to chase my dream was tell him about it. He’s the one who gave me the courage to open my online store in the first place. He bought me supplies when I didn’t have a dollar to my name.

I like to think that he’d be proud of me.

I enter the empty gym at around ten and hop on the treadmill to warm up. I’m not a fan of cardio, but I also can’t keep wasting away in bed the way I have been in the past month.

I put my earbuds in, starting with a light jog. A notification pops up on my screen just as I’m about to select an upbeat playlist.

It’s an email.

I frown at the sender, the name making no sense.

Unveiling Your Vision Contest.

The subject says, “You’ve won!”

What?

I click the email and begin to read.

Dear Hadley,

We are thrilled to inform you that your work has been selected to grace the album cover of Anaya’s next album! Your creativity and talent truly stood out amongst all the entries we received.

I nearly fall off the treadmill.

I heard about that contest.

It’s all Anaya talked about on her Instagram for the last two months. She thought it would be fun to have her fans create the artwork for her next album, which is coming out in two months. Last I heard, there were thousands of applicants.

I thought about entering, but in the end, I chickened out. Why am I receiving this?

My gaze drops to the third paragraph of the email.

We are so excited to work with you and bring your artwork to life. We will be sharing your store and announcing your win on Anaya’s Instagram tomorrow. Our team will also be reaching out to discuss your fees!

Oh my God.

I had a bunch of missed calls from an unknown number when I woke up.

I brushed it off, thinking it was a telemarketer. I scroll lower, landing on a section that reads, “Your entry.”

All the information of my application are listed under it. The email address of the person that submitted my work leaves me breathless.

[email protected]

My chest caves in on itself.

He did this.

He submitted my painting of a diamond heart but also linked my online store in the social media bar. He entered me into the contest months ago, long before we left Golden Cove, and the crazy part?

He did it anonymously.

He could’ve used his fame and friendship with Anaya to get me to win, but he didn’t.

Because he was trying to prove something to me.

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