Chapter Twenty-Four

 

Colton

 

 

 

Things are even worse than I thought. Elle hates me. Why else would she throw a hot dog at me? Well, not at me, but still… She marched away in the most furious state I’ve ever witnessed.

I know I was a fool for not telling her about putting in an offer on that stupid house in Vermont. And then I had to be so stupid as to say I don’t know when she asked me if I was going to buy the house, and whether or not we have a future together. I don’t want to move away at all! Not anymore. What I want is to be with her, right here in Summerville Creek, but she doesn’t want to talk to me.

“What was that all about?” Layla asked. She’s looking even more perplexed than I am. “She told me you two had a fight about household chores, but how bad can it be? Did you ruin her favorite clothes by putting them in the dryer or something?”

“Or something,” I say.

I tell Layla goodbye, grab my hot dog, and head off. It’s time for a last attempt to win Elle back. I realize it’s not going to be easy, but I have to at least try. If I let her go without a fight, I’ll never forgive myself. Before I can attend to that, I have another thing to do, though.

I walk through the staff corridors until I arrive at Frank’s office.

“Do you have a minute?” I ask, already closing the door behind me.

“For you? Always. Have a seat.”

I pull back one of the chairs facing his desk and sit down. “I’ve decided not to move.”

His face lights up at those words. “Straight to the point, I like it. What made you change your mind?”

I shrug. “A few things clicked into place.”

“Does this mean you’re going to accept my offer to become co-manager of the park?”

“Perhaps. I have a few conditions. Nothing crazy.”

He nods. “Go on.”

“I do think managing the park would be my kind of thing. I love being Prince Charming, but I’ve been in that job for years now.”

He grins. “You can’t grow your career as Prince Charming. I’ve been telling you that for quite some time now.”

“I know,” I say with a laugh. “You were right, as always. Anyway, I feel like it’s time for something new. Something with a bit more variety and responsibility. I always thought I needed to get away from this place and this town to find growth, but now I’m positive that’s not true.”

“I’m glad you came to that realization. Running away wouldn’t have changed a thing. In fact, I think it would’ve made things even more complicated for you.”

“I agree. So, I guess I’d like to try it, but not before Sarah starts her maternity leave. She has enough on her plate as it is. I don’t want to burden her with having to train a new Prince Charming, you know?”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“And I’d like for us to do a trial period. See if this really is my kind of thing.”

He smiles at me. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to hear you say those words. I’ll have legal draw up the papers right away.”

“Great. Before you do that, though, I need you to help me with something,” I say, hoping he’ll say yes.

“Of course. What can I do for you?” He folds his hands and leans back in his chair.

I laugh. “A lot. But if you can make this work for me… I’ll be the happiest man alive and I’ll owe you big time.”

 

***

 

I can hardly believe I was able to pull this off, but I did it. Well, with the help of my amazing coworkers. I wouldn’t have been able to do this alone. Luckily, it’s parade night, and Frank made sure it’s starting half an hour earlier, so it will pass the hot dog cart right before the sun sets.

“Nervous?” Sarah asks, putting on her comfortable sneakers.

I shrug while I keep my focus on my own reflection in the mirror. Gosh, I hope I look good. “A bit.”

She laughs. “Your hands are shaking. That’s more than a bit.”

I grin. “Fine, I’m dying here. What if she runs away from me again?”

Sarah walks toward me and joins me at the mirror. Then she smooths the creases out of my shirt with her hand. “She won’t.”

“Thanks.” I turn around and take her hands in mine. “What about you? Are you sure you’re okay with coming back to work? It must be hard being on your feet all day.”

“Sitting at home doing nothing was worse. My obstetrician said that the baby and I are both healthy and safe, so… As long my princess is doing well, so am I.”

“What? It’s a girl?” I shout.

Her eyes swivel toward the door. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”

I smile at her and pull her in for a congratulatory hug. “No one’s here, don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thanks, Colton. Seriously. I couldn’t imagine a better coworker than you. I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.”

“I’ll still be here, you know. And it’ll be my personal mission to make sure my replacement is a top-notch guy.”

In the distance, I can hear the parade announcement being spread through the park.

“We should go,” Sarah says.

“I guess it’s now or never.”

I follow her outside to the backstage area where the floats are waiting for us, and greet my fellow costume crew workers as if I’m not about to pass out.

We take our places on the float and Sarah squeezes my hand. “Everything is going to work out just the way you want it to.”

“Thanks.”

The music starts and the giant fence slides open. The floats roll out one by one. It’s time to focus on my job and that means performing my dance routine with a big smile on my face, not a look that says I’m so nervous I might throw up. It’s more of a choreographed series of movements than a dance routine, but still, I need to put on a show.

All along the parade route, guests are cheering us on and snapping pictures, pushing thoughts of Elle and me to the side. It’s only when the castle gardens come into sight that I start feeling jittery again.

“You can do this,” Sarah says with an encouraging nod of the head.

Right on cue, the parade stops, and I jump off the royal float. I walk toward the hot dog cart, my heart pounding in my chest. Elle stands as still as a statue, her face full of confusion and surprise.

I slip behind the counter. When I’m right next to her, I extend my hand. Man, I hope she’ll grab it. For a few moments, we’re enveloped in silence, but then she puts her hand in mine and the guests around us start cheering.

My face breaks out into a big smile. I pull her away from the hot dog cart and help her up onto the float. She’s looking mortified, probably because she hates that hot dog costume so much and doesn’t want to be in the spotlight like this.

The music starts up again, and I can see Frank strolling toward the float, giving me a thumbs-up.

I take Elle’s hands in mine and drop to one knee. A gasp goes through the crowd. Despite what they probably think, I’m not about to propose, but I need her to see I’m serious.

Her face goes pink. “What are you doing? Get up,” she whispers.

I grin at her. “I’m not getting up, Elle. I’m on my knees, in front of all these people, begging your forgiveness. I shouldn’t have kept things from you, and I certainly shouldn’t have told you I didn’t know whether or not we still have a future. We do. If you still want to be my girlfriend, that is.”

“Are you still set on moving away? Because I would understand if you were. I just want us to be honest with each other.”

“I’m staying right here with you. There’s nothing in Vermont, or the rest of the world for that matter, that will make me as happy as I am with you in Summerville Creek. Will you be mine, Elle?”

Tears spring to her eyes and as soon as I see her smile, I know her answer is going to be yes.

“Oh, Colton, you have a such a charming way of making a girl weak in the knees. Or in my case, the buns.” She pulls me upright. “So yes, I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.”

“I love you,” I whisper as I brush the red fabric from her ketchup hat to the side.

Our mouths find each other, and I’m transported to heaven. I don’t care that all these people are looking at us. This is our moment. Elle’s kisses are soft and full, just like my heart.

“I love you too,” she says as she pulls back.

I wrap her in my arms as well as I can with that big costume of hers. “Look up at the sky,” I tell her.

We both cast our gazes to the patch of sky above the castle. A loud bang startles her, but then she can’t stop smiling when she sees a colorful explosion of fireworks.

“This is how my heart feels when I look at you,” I whisper into her ear.

“I love you, Colton. Thank you for all this.”

The float starts moving again, the music volume is turned up, and the parade continues on its route while Elle and I hold each other in a heavenly embrace.

I let out a content sigh. If this is what pure happiness and love feels like, I’m never letting go of her again.