“Hey, Kitty,” he says, causing certain parts of my female anatomy to warm.
“Hey, yourself. How was your meeting?”
“It went pretty well. We’re negotiating to sell most of Captive Films.”
“Really? Will you still have a job?”
“After this deal, I won’t need a job, but I’ll still work. I’m going back to doing what I love—producing.”
“That’s amazing, Riley. I’m happy for you.”
“Aiden told me that they offered you a job.”
“Yeah, they did, but I don’t know if I’ll accept.”
“Is it something you would like to do?”
“Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? The ability to design my own venue? Every single venue I’ve ever worked at, I’ve thought about how I could make it better. And couples are so into personalizing their weddings, to be able to create spaces that would allow them to do that in an elegant way would be so cool.”
“Then I think you should take them up on it.”
“But the job would be here, Riley,” she says softly.
“What if I told you that I’m thinking it’s time I put down some roots of my own. I would love to have a place on this coast that’s big like my parents’ place in the Hamptons. Somewhere all the kids could come. Where we could all spend the holidays together.”
“Your family would love that. Would you keep your place in L.A?”
“I think so. I would assume I will still be here often for business.”
“So you’d go on location to produce?”
“Okay, so this is a secret, but Keatyn and Knox are going to build a small studio in the area. Knox already bought a house near Asher Vineyards, and he and Keatyn bought the land near it that includes large outbuildings to use as sets. She wants to spend more time there. Her and Aiden want to start a family.”
“Aiden mentioned this afternoon that the tabloids are speculating she’s pregnant.”
“Well, that’s pretty normal for her. Of course, they all want Knox to be the father.” I laugh. “It’s really kind of crazy.”
“Sounds like it. Which is probably why she’d like to be here. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. And it smells so good.”
“How is the wedding planning coming?”
“Really good. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I hired an assistant.”
“That was fast.”
“He flew out this morning.”
“From where?”
“Don’t laugh, but he worked at the coffee shop, and he hit on me, and then he went to see the trilogy with me.”
“He hit on you?”
“Yeah, but he’s harmless. I mean, I think, mostly. He’s young and cute. Honestly, his cockiness reminded me of you in high school.”
“You liked me in high school.”
“No, Riley. I loved you. Speaking of that,” I say. “Have you read the note?”
“The note?”
“Yeah, the one I gave you at homecoming? I sort of expected you’d say something about it.”
“Shit, I totally forgot about it.”
“Can you read it now?”
“Uh, sure, let me get it out of my wallet.”
I hear some rustling then he says, “It’s in pink marker. Just like all the other notes you wrote me.” He hesitates. “Ariela, we put the past behind us. I’m not sure I should read this.”
“I really want you to. Tonight. Now. I need you to know.”
“Okay, here goes—
“Riley-
I’ve wanted to talk to you about this for weeks, but I just couldn’t.
I love you so much. And I wish I could go to California and become your wife.
But, I can’t.
Because if I do, it will hurt my dad.
No matter what I choose, someone is going to get hurt.
And no matter what I choose, I know that I’ll be the one who will hurt the most. Because none of this is what I want.
What I want, if I’m being completely honest, is three things.
I want to be able to live out my dream of going to Princeton.
I want to marry you.
And I want my parents to be proud of me.
So I’ve decided to go to Princeton.
If I do that, I’ll have two out of the three things that I want.
I hope and pray that you will understand. That you will still love me. That you will still want to marry me. That we can figure out a way to have a long-distance relationship. That we can stay together until I graduate and come to California with you.
I love you, Riley.
I know in my heart you are the only boy I will ever love.
You’ve held my heart captive since the day we met.
Please tell me that we can work this out.
That it won’t be the end of us.
All my love forever,
Ariela”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Maybe it was a mistake letting him read it after all these years, but I desperately needed him to know that I never wanted us to be over. Ever.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You’ve had this note all this time? Why didn’t you mail it to me? Send it to Keatyn? Message me on Facebook? You ruined us, and this note would have changed everything. Showing it to me now, this is just—cruel.”