Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
DREW
Iwake up in a panic as I roll over. My phone screen is dead, and reality crashes into me harder than a slapshot to the chest.
“No, no, no . . .” Scrambling upright, I run my fingers through my hair. The room spins briefly before I manage to steady myself. I scramble to find my charger and plug it in. It takes a minute or two before my phone lights up. It’s ten a.m. and there’s a message from Chloe.
Crap. She’s going to think I don’t care about her! That I ghosted her. When I started decorating our tree last night, I knew my battery was low. I knew it needed charging, but I got distracted. What is she going to think about me?
Chloe: Heard from Emma you’re asleep. Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.
Guilt twists sharply in my gut, like finding a lump of coal in your stocking on Christmas Day. How could I have fallen asleep? I was supposed to meet her last night. She must’ve thought I completely blew her off. I bet she’s furious, hurt, disappointed, or all three.
I send her a quick text.
Drew: I’m so, so, so, so sorry. My phone died and I overslept. Please forgive me. Call me when you get this.
Dragging myself out of bed, I rush through a quick shower, barely remembering to grab clean clothes. What if she doesn’t forgive me? What if I’ve ruined everything?
By the time I reach the ballroom, the late-morning light peeks through the windows, illuminating the tank waiting patiently in the center. At least that looks perfect; it’s ready for the fish that are due any minute now.
A door opens behind me, startling me. I spin around to find Emma standing there, arms crossed, eyebrow arched. “Good morning, dunderhead,” she says dryly.
I groan, rubbing my face. “How mad is Chloe?”
She sighs. “Honestly? She’s disappointed, but fine. She understands you were exhausted. You’re lucky she’s so patient and forgiving.” Emma steps closer to me, her arms crossed. “I hope you know she was really looking forward to seeing you, Drew.”
My guilt doubles. “I messed this up big time, didn’t I?”
“You did. You owe her,” Emma confirms, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “And actually, I just had a thought. I’m cashing in that favor you owe me from yesterday’s ride home.”
I raise an eyebrow warily. “What favor?”
“The one you promised me.”
“I don’t remember promising you any favors, but I also don’t remember a lot of yesterday afternoon.”
“I have a text from you as proof.” She grins mischievously and starts to reach for her phone.
“I trust you. What do you want?” I say tiredly, not in the mood for any games.
“With all that’s going on, I doubt my girl Chloe ever got around to asking you to be her date to the ball tonight. So your payment is simple—pick her up and make tonight perfect.”
I sigh in relief and smile widely. “That’s a price I’m more than happy to pay.”
Emma gives me a firm nod. “Good. Make sure you wear a suit and a dark-blue tie, so you’ll match her. I’m pretty sure she’ll be wearing dark-blue.”
“Okay. I think I have a blue tie.”
“You do. I saw it when I was putting your clothes back in the closet.”
My gaze slides toward the corner of the ballroom, where our tree from the farm sits. “If you have a few minutes, I could use some help.”
“With?”
“Finishing the tree. I have the rest of the ornaments ready to go.”
Emma rubs her hands together. “Show me where and I’ll do it on my lunch break.”
I point to a box sitting in the corner. She jogs over and peeks inside. “Oh, these look good.” She takes out one of the glass bulbs I hand-painted with a figure skate and hockey skate on it to represent our skating lesson. “You get some brownie points from me for putting a personal touch on these.”
“Thanks.”
With any luck, by the end of the night, Chloe will know exactly how much she means to me. And if I’m really lucky, she’ll forgive me too.
A small seed of doubt creeps in. But what if she doesn’t? What if last night made her question everything? I can’t stop picturing Chloe standing alone in that lobby, watching the clock, waiting for someone who never came.
I run a hand through my hair. I wouldn’t blame her if it didn’t.
She let me in, and I blew it on the second date.
I know one silent day shouldn’t erase everything we’ve started to build, but it might’ve hurt her more than I realized.
And the truth is, I’ve never cared more about something working out than I do now.
I just hope I won’t mess up again for a long time after this.
I’m determined for tonight to be perfect.