He Planned Her Ocean Trip, I Booked a Different One Chapter 10

He Planned Her Ocean Trip, I Booked a Different One Chapter 10

After Gavin recovered and got out of the hospital, he quit his decent job in Aldermere.

He moved to Valcrest and found work in the office building next to mine.

On rainy days, a black umbrella would appear at my company’s front desk.

When I worked late, the convenience store clerk downstairs would hand me a hot cup of deli chicken noodle soup, saying someone had already paid.

He was trying to win me back the way I used to care for him.

But no matter how long he waited, how much he endured-

I never looked back.

Two years later. Valcrest.

The early autumn breeze swept across the lawn, lifting the hem of my dress.

I held a glass of champagne, standing beside Hayes.

Around us, friends raised their glasses, the clinks sharp and bright.

“Finally! It’s about damn time!”

Nina was beaming, eyes red as she clinked her glass against mine.

I smiled and turned to Hayes beside me.

He was tucking a strand of windblown hair behind my ear, his gaze soft.

The engagement party was winding down.

A hotel attendant wove through the crowd and handed me a blue velvet box.

“Ms. Miller, a gentleman left this at the entrance. He insisted it be given to you personally.”

I stared at the box. My fingers hesitated.

Before I could open it, the microphone onstage gave a light feedback squeal.

Hayes was pushed into the spotlight by a few of his friends

Someone shouted from the crowd: “Hayes, spill it-when exactly did you start crushing on June?”

Laughter rippled through the audience.

Hayes held the mic, his eyes finding mine across the grass.

“Senior year. City basketball finals.”

His low voice carried through the speakers.

“Second half. My blood sugar crashed. I was leaning against the bench, ghost-white.”

“The game was tight. Everyone’s eyes were on the court.”

“No one noticed I was about to pass out. Even I didn’t think I’d make it.”

He paused. A glint of something soft in his

eyes.

“Except for this freshman girl on the sidelines.”

“She slipped out to the snack stand, bought a box of strawberry hard candy, and quietly pressed it into my

hand when no one was looking.”

The crowd went silent.

I stood frozen, a buried memory surfacing like a wave.

That box of strawberry candy-two-fifty.

“That sweetness stayed with me for almost ten years.

Hayes looked right at me, every word clear.

“From that day on, I told myself I’d spend my life making sure yours only tasted sweet.”

My eyes burned. Everything blurred.

I always thought it was love at first sight for him.

Turns out, that quiet, restrained devotion had been years in the making.

The ceremony ended. Guests drifted away.

I walked alone into the hallway outside the ballroom, looking down at the nameless box’in my hands.

I flicked the lid open with my thumb.

Inside lay a perfectly cut diamond ring.

The design was familiar.

Years ago, when Gavin and I were so broke we lived on instant noodles, we’d stopped in front of a mall display window. I’d stared at this exact ring for a long time.

Gavin’s eyes had been red that day. He swore he’d buy it for me someday.

Now, he finally could afford it.

And he’d finally learned to pay attention-to remember the little things I used to say.

But it was all too late.

I watched the diamond catch the hallway light.

Felt nothing.

I closed the lid. Then raised my hand and dropped it into the trash bin by the corner.

Behind me, steady footsteps approached.

A suit jacket-still warm-settled over my shoulders.

Hayes wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my head.

“Come on. Let’s go home.”

I turned, slipping my arm through his.

The autumn wind didn’t feel cold anymore.

I looked up at his smiling eyes, and smiled back.

“Yeah. Let’s go home.”