Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
ONE WEEK LATER
Samantha
I leaned against the front of my desk and looked at my class as they filtered into the room, cutting off their lifeline and tossing their phones into the basket that I now kept near the door.
“Good morning.” I smiled, picking up the white box that sat on my desk. “Since we’ve reached the end of the book, I thought we’d celebrate with a donut party.” I flipped the lid to the box of donuts and walked around the room, letting each student take one.
“Donuts from Avila’s. Love you, Sam.” Devon grinned.
I smiled at him as I set the empty box on my desk. I picked up a copy of the book and held it up.
“Final thoughts. Did you like it?”
“Way more than I thought I would,” Emma said.
“I didn’t expect all the drama,” Lily said.
“Drama? That was literally eighteenth-century reality TV.” Devon laughed.
I walked over to the board and wrote in all caps: MR. DARCY, and underlined his name.
“Let’s talk about him. Did you like him?”
“At the end, yes,” Gina said.
“At the beginning, I hated him,” Devon said. “He was rude.”
“I think he needed some serious therapy,” Delilah blurted out.
Madison raised her hand.
“Madison.” I pointed.
“I think people misunderstood him.”
“Go on.” I nodded.
“I don’t think he was mean on purpose. He was just socially awkward and didn’t know how to connect with people.”
“Exactly.” I smiled. “Mr. Darcy isn’t the hero because he’s perfect.”
“He’s the hero because he fixed himself,” Devon said.
“Yes, Devon.”
“Mr. Darcy lets himself love someone even when it’s uncomfortable and scary,” Lily said.
Thoughts of Wes swirled in my mind. Our encounter on the street outside the coffee shop. His speech at the homecoming game. I got lost in my thoughts, and the students knew it.
“You okay, Sam?” Emma asked.
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile, but I could tell the class wasn’t convinced.
The bell rang, and the students gathered their things.
“Tomorrow, we start Romeo and Juliet,” I said as they began to filter out of the room.
Delilah stopped at my desk on her way out. “For what’s it worth, Sam. The right Mr. Darcy figures it out eventually.” She walked out.
Weston
I’d checked the weather app every day for the last week, and finally, it was supposed to rain tonight.
I’d been waiting impatiently because I had something to do, and it could only be done in the rain.
Finn applauded me. Kylie threw her arms around me and told me she was happy I’d come to my senses.
All they knew was what I told them. I had a plan to get Sam back. A plan that Zoey helped me with.
I left the office early, went home, and waited. Seven o’clock and the sky had finally opened up. Grabbing the poster boards and an umbrella, I climbed into the back of the car.
“Samantha’s building?” Ben glanced at me.
“Yes, Ben.” I smiled.
I wasn’t sure how she’d react. She’d either love me or want to kill me. Ben pulled across the street from her building. The rain was steady. I sent a text to Zoey.
I’m outside the building.
Awesome. I’ll bring my mom out.
Samantha
I was sitting on the couch with Zoey, reading some essays.
“Who are you texting?” I asked.
“Maya. It’s raining out.”
“I can see that.” I smiled.
“Let’s go for a short walk,” she said.
My brows furrowed. “In the rain?”
“Yeah. Come on, Mom. It’ll be fun. We’ll bring our umbrellas and walk to the ice cream shop around the block. Doesn’t double chocolate fudge ice cream sound good?” She wiggled her brows.
“Not really.”
“Come on.” She got up and grabbed my hand. “Please. It will be a memory. Don’t you want me to have a memory of my mom and me strolling through the rain to get ice cream?”
“Fine. You convinced me.” I smiled. “Grab the umbrellas.”
Weston
My phone pinged with a text from Zoey.
We’re coming out now.
I stepped across the street, my posters secured under my arms, and stepped on the sidewalk in front of her building door.
I lifted the first poster board and waited for Sam to come out.
My heart was beating out of my chest. What if it didn’t work?
What if she couldn’t forgive me? The building’s door opened, and Samantha froze when she stepped out and saw me standing there.
First poster:
I KNOW YOU TOLD ME TO LEAVE YOU ALONE.
Second poster:
BUT I’VE NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD AT LISTENING.
Third poster:
MY GRANDFATHER TAUGHT ME THAT SUCCESS MEANT PUTTING BUSINESS FIRST.
By this time, people had stopped on the streets, holding up their phones.
Fourth poster:
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME THAT SUCCESS MEANT PUTTING FAMILY FIRST.
Fifth poster:
I FORGOT WHOSE SON I AM.
Sixth poster:
YOU DIDN’T CHANGE ME, SAM.
Seventh poster:
YOU HELPED ME FIND MY WAY BACK TO MYSELF.
Eighth poster:
I MISS YOU.
Ninth poster:
YOU SAID THAT MR. DARCY EVENTUALLY FIGURES IT OUT.
Tenth poster:
I CAN’T PROMISE FOREVER. NO ONE CAN.
Eleventh poster:
BUT I PROMISE I’LL CHOOSE YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Twelfth poster:
YOU TOLD ME THAT FOREVER ISN’T A PROMISE. IT’S A CHOICE.
Thirteenth poster:
I CHOOSE YOU.
Fourteenth poster:
I LOVE YOU, SAMANTHA HOLLIS.
I stood in the rain, soaking wet, while she stared at me. I didn’t know what she was thinking, but I’d hoped it was that she loved me too. She took a few steps closer, and a smile crossed her lips.
“You stood in the rain and held up a sign.”
“Fourteen to be exact.” I smiled.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“I can. Because I would go to any lengths to win you back.”
“You’re soaked.”
“I know.” I smiled.
She took a few steps closer and brushed her lips against mine. The people on the street who stood to watch clapped and shouted.
“Let’s get you inside, Mr. Darcy.” She smiled.