Page 33 of To Fall or Not to Fall

Chapter Twenty-Two

T heo

There has to be at least a thousand people at the fairgrounds. The fall festival is definitely happening. Twinkling lights are strung everywhere, the smell of cinnamon hangs in the air, and laughter spills across the field.

I feel out of place—and yet, weirdly at peace. I look left, then right. That’s when I see her. Beautiful Ava.

She stands next to the Welcome to the Coconut Beach Fall Festival sign. Her hair is long and loose. She’s wearing a blue dress with white sandals, and she looks absolutely stunning. My heart floods with joy as I make my way toward her, bouquet of flowers in hand.

“These are for you,” I say, offering them to her.

“Thank you.” She sniffs them. “They’re beautiful. But I know what you’re going to say.”

I grin. “You’re going to say you don’t want to walk around the festival holding flowers the entire time. So, I brought a special vase.” I hold it up. “I figured I’d leave it right here by the sign, and we can pick it up on our way out.”

“You have a lot of faith in strangers that they won’t take it.”

“I don’t, actually. I’ve got another set of flowers and a vase in my hotel room in case these go missing.” I smile. “But I wanted to give you these when I saw you.”

“Well, thank you. But you really didn’t have to.”

“I did. For many reasons.”

I stare into her eyes, wanting so badly to grab her face and kiss her. But I can’t.

“This is really cool,” she says. “Thanks. It’s my favorite festival in all of Coconut Beach. It’s even more fun than the summer festivals.”

“Oh, you’ll have to tell me about those.”

“Why? Will it make you want to build another hotel?”

I stare at her. She shrugs. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. And I wouldn’t be building another one; it would be the same one. But I’m not doing that either.” I smile at her.

“Okie dokie, Smokey. So… what do you want to do?”

Her voice is awkward, and I feel a pang. There’s never been this weird tension between us before. I want it back—the fun, the spark, the ease.

“I don’t know. Whatever you want.”

“I have an idea. I saw an apple-bobbing booth.” I glanc to the right. “You want to try?”

“We can.” She walks beside me, casual but stiff.

“How are Aria and Arabella? Are they here?”

“Somewhere around.” She nods. “I think they’re going to ride the Ferris wheel.”

“Cool. We can do that, too, if you want.”

“Maybe later.” She shrugs. “I’d like us to be seen by Maribel and Eloise first. And then… whatever.”

“Is that the only reason I’m here?” I ask, stopping to look at her. “Just so they can see you?”

“I mean, they’re busybodies. They’ll tell everyone. Maribel will stop thinking she’s better than Granny, and Eloise will stop thinking she’s better than me. And by the time they realize we’re not actually together, it won’t matter; the gossip will have already spread.”

“Or maybe…” I pause.

“Maybe what?”

“Nothing.”

We reach the apple-bobbing booth, and I hand a twenty to the young guy manning it.

“You want to go first?” I ask.

“We’ll go at the same time,” she says. “They’ve got two buckets. Whoever gets an apple first wins.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

We both kneel. Her eyes glitter as she looks at me.

“I’m going to take you down.”

“I hope you do,” I murmur, and she blushes.

“Okay, you guys ready?” the young man asks.

“Yep,” I say.

“Three… two… one… bob!”

I dunk my head, trying not to think about how many mouths have been in this water before mine. My lips brush an apple, but it slips away. I come up slightly to catch my breath, then go back in. Hygienic? Not at all.

Just as my teeth graze one, I hear Ava’s triumphant cry.

“I won! I won!”

I lift my head. She’s standing with a bright red apple between her teeth, her eyes twinkling.

“I beat you.”

“Wow. That was fast.”

“I’ve been doing it for years.”

“Guess you have. Good job.”

“Thank you. You want a bite?” She holds it out.

I almost say no, but I don’t want her to think I am rejecting what she’s offering.

“I’m joking. You don’t want this apple. It’s gross.” She hands it back to the booth attendant and turns to me. “Come on, let’s get some candy floss.”

“Candy floss?”

“Cotton candy. They call it candy floss in England. I heard it in a movie when I was young, and I’ve always called it that.”

“Cotton candy it is.” We head over in companionable silence. She is smiling now, humming some tune I can’t place.

“I’ll get a pink one,” she says.

“I’ll take a blue one. How much?”

“That’ll be ten dollars, sir.”

I pull out money, but Ava’s hand stops mine.

“No, I got it.”

“I’ll—”

She gives me a look.

“Fine. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Her eyes light with happiness as she pays. She hands me a stick. “Here you go.”

“It really meant a lot to you to buy that, didn’t it?”

“I like to contribute.”

I don’t say anything, though I think about the bookstore and her finances. Instead, I pull off some of the cotton candy and lick my lips. “This is delicious.”

“Yeah. I’m glad you like sugar.” She bites into hers.

“I like sugar very much.”

“Want to try mine?”

“I mean, it’s the same thing except for the dye. But sure.”

She hands me a piece, and I pop it into my mouth.

“Want to try the blue?” I ask.

“Sure.”

I break off a piece and press it gently against her lips. Surprised, she opens them, and I slip it inside. She swallows, then licks her lips, our eyes locking.

“It’s delicious,” she whispers.

“It is.”

There is a stray bit of pink fluff clinging to her mouth. I lean forward and lick it off.

“What are you doing?”

“Sorry. There was a piece there. And it was too good to waste.”

She blushes. She doesn’t yell or push me away. She just nods.

“Don’t look now, but I think I see a friend of yours.”

“Oh who?” She immediately looks around and I can’t help but shake my head. And to think she thought she’d made a good detective. “Eww, that’s Maribel and Eloise.” She rolls her eyes. “I can’t stand them.”

“I mean…you are here with me, right?” I give her a look and a wide smile crosses her face.

“You’re right. I am.” She reaches for my hand and squeezes. “Let’s make sure Maribel and Eloise see us together.”

“Your wish is my command.” I grin and then I make direct eye contact with the two women that are staring at us with their eyes wide and their mouths open.

They look like they can’t believe what they are seeing.

“They look like the cat has gotten their tongues.” I whisper in Ava’s ears and she giggles loudly.

I watch as she lifts a hand and waves to them both before turning to me with a huge smile.

Her eyes are happy and there’s a satisfied look on her face.

An old love song plays over the speakers next to us and I can feel a soft breeze on my face. A whistling bird flies past us and then a butterfly lands on some golden orange leaves behind us.

I take that as a sign. Before I can stop myself, I lean in and kiss her.

It is soft. Surprising. Electric. Fire shoots through me.

This is magical. Her lips are sinful.

She murmurs something before pulling back. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have done that.” She blinks rapidly as her breathing comes a little heavier.

“I know. I’m sorry. But you’re just… so sweet.”

“I’m not just sweet.”

“I know. You’re sweet and sunshine.”

“No.” Her lashes flutters. “There’s more to me than sweetness and pumpkin spice lattes and books.”

“I know.” I grin. “You think I forgot how you—” I lean to her ear and whisper. Her face flushes bright red.

“Theo!”

“What?”

“That’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

“But—”

“But what?”

“You shouldn’t have brought that up.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s never going to happen again.”

“And what if I want it to happen again, Ava? What if I want you to be my official girlfriend? What if I don’t want to leave Coconut Beach?”

She looks at me, confused.

“I’m telling you I love you. I’m telling you I’d give it all up for you. And I’m telling you this now because I don’t want you mad later, but your grandma told me about the donation box. I put in a million dollars.”

“You can’t do that! That’s way too much. I told you, I don’t want you buying me.”

“It’s not just for you,” I say softly. “It’s for all the businesses to share.”

“Okay…” She nods slowly.

“So I’m not just helping you. I’m helping everyone. You can’t feel like a hooker for being with me just because I made the donation.”

“You can’t tell me how to feel.”

“Are you really going to feel like everyone else on the street is indebted to me because of the donation? Are they all my hookers? Even Maribel Laribel?” She starts laughing.

“No, but what you did… that’s way too much money.”

“I should have, and I’m glad I did. I love you.

You don’t have to love me back. You don’t have to give me another chance.

You don’t ever have to speak to me again.

But because I love you, and because I know you love that bookstore, I want to help you save it.

I want to help the other businesses on the street.

And I’ve done something else, which you may or may not hate me for.

” She put her hands on her hips, glaring at me.

“I’ve hired a couple of strategists.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve hired strategists to come to town, meet with you and the other business owners, and figure out plans to make your businesses more profitable. To put Coconut Beach on the map. And it’s got nothing to do with my hotel. I’m not going to build a hotel—you were right. It would ruin the city.”

“It’s great here. Coconut Beach is a quaint small town, peaceful and unique.

My hotel would have destroyed that. I get that not every city needs skyscrapers, big TVs, and concrete, even if I like those things.

What fits here is what’s already here. I just want to make sure this town flourishes, stays unique, and keeps its charm. I’m not trying to upset you.”

“You’re not the most business-savvy,” she says softly.

“I am,” I say, “obviously. I’m a billionaire. That’s why I’m not doing this for myself. I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to take over.”

“So you’re not going to be a part of this?”

“No. I won’t be involved so as not to influence anything.

I’ll help if you want me to, but I won’t impose.

I know you love this bookstore, I know you love this town, and I just want to see you happy.

I want to see this town flourish. I want people to come for all four seasons, to make this place something everyone admires.

“I don’t want it overrun or ruined.” She smiles.

“It won’t be. That’s why the strategists will give you the best advice for what you want to happen. I spoke to your granny. She’s on a lot of boards and thinks it’s a great idea.”

“You spoke to her?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “I did. I hope you’re not upset with me.”

She lets out a low sigh. “I think it would be a waste of time if I were. Thank you… I guess.”

“No, you don’t have to thank me. There’s nothing to thank me for, Ava. I wanted to do this. I’ve actually thought about doing it in other towns.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve spent my career buying businesses and shaping towns into what I want them to be.

But there’s something to be said about preservation.

Something to be said about building up what’s already there.

I want to be the sort of person who doesn’t have to leave a mark, but can spend money to develop other people’s dreams. I have enough money.

I don’t need more. My ego isn’t important. ”

“So you’re not going to wheel and deal anymore?”

“It’ll be harder to do that now.”

“Why?”

“Because if you’re a wheeler and dealer, you usually have to be in New York, Chicago, or San Francisco. But I’m not going to be there. At least, I hope not. I want to make a little town called Coconut Beach my home.”

I grab her hands. “I hope the woman I love will forgive me for being a doofus and understand that I’ll do anything to make her forgive me. I’ll wait as long as it takes for her to become my official girlfriend… my fiancée… my wife… and the mother of my children.”

“You really want all that with this… nameless woman?” she asks, tilting her head.

“She’s not nameless. Her name’s Ava,” I say, staring at her. “I love her.”

“You love her… or you love me?”

“You goof.” I wrap my arms around her, and she presses herself against me.

“I shouldn’t forgive you so easily,” she whispers.

“I know,” I say. “But you’re the sort of woman who doesn’t hold a grudge forever.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because from the first time I met you, you always had an easy smile and a gentle word. You’ve always been happy, forgiving, and sweet. I know I don’t deserve that, but that’s who you are.”

“I won’t forgive you if you ever betray me like this again.”

“I would never. I promise, from this day forward, whatever I’m thinking, whatever I’m doing, you will know. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”

“Promise me, Theo.”

“I promise.” I kiss her.

“I love you, Ava. I’ve fallen for you so hard and so deep, and I’ll never do anything to ruin that. I can’t risk losing you.”

“Fine,” she says. “I guess I’ll give you another chance.”

“Really?”

“Really.” She laughs. “But only because…”

“Because what?”

“Because you wrote me that love letter, quoted my favorite line from Little Women , and your name is Theo. I’ve always liked that name.”

“You have? I didn’t know that.”

“You don’t know everything about me,” she says, grabbing my face and kissing me hard. Her hands run down my arms, squeezing my muscles as she presses against me, then leans back slightly.

“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I say. “Every part of you.”

“Oh my…”

“Ava, are you trying to seduce me?”

“Do I have to try?” she says with a wicked grin.

I shake my head. “Point me in the right direction, and I’m ready to get down and dirty with you right now.”

“I think I know a place,” she says, squeezing my hand. I follow her through throngs of laughing townspeople. Her long dark hair flows, and I see the love in her eyes. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have met her, to have been forgiven by her, to be here with her.

“You know what, Ava?” I ask.

“What, Theo?”

“You may be the fall queen, but I think I’m starting to feel like the fall king.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she says, grinning. “Because we’re about to have the best night at the fall festival anyone has ever had.”