Faking It with My Bossy Ex (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

25. Amy

Chapter 25

Amy

I must have heard wrong.

There’s no way that someone paid fifty thousand dollars for my painting. My chest squeezes and my breath comes in short bursts. What is going on?

I’m elated and overjoyed that it sold and at such a generous price. Why is there a tiny poke of sadness in my heart? Maybe because that painting has been where I can see it at all times for the past eight years. It’s a part of me, and letting go of it was part of my journey.

“Would the new owner of this painting put their number up, please? Leo? There’s no last name.” Mr. Anthony clutches the microphone and gazes out across the crowd.

My heart pounds. I must have heard wrong. Leo? He can’t mean my Leo.

“Leo? Are you here?” Mr. Anthony shakes his head. “It seems Mr. Leo is not here at the moment. As for all of the items that are not verified, they can be paid for and picked up from the donors at the end of the event.”

Movement at my side makes me turn. Dylan starts to stand with a wink.

“There's something I want to say before the end.” He smiles that smile, then hurries past me to the stage. I can't help but follow him with my eyes.

Goodness, keeping my distance from him has been absolute torture lately. When he's not around, there's this silly little ache in my chest that just keeps growing. It's like he's the only one who makes sense in this crazy world.

He asks Mr. Anthony for a moment with the microphone while I watch someone whisk my painting off the stage.

Who bought it? Curiosity is killing me. I pull out my phone and open my email.

Urgent

Are you here in Snowfall Springs?

No answer. He’s probably working, in a meeting somewhere, and of all the people that decided to come to this event, someone else must be named Leo and purchased my painting for a ridiculous amount.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dylan’s confident voice fills the space, quieting the soft murmured conversations and chattering. “Planning this event was a real pleasure. Especially considering that not only did we come up with the planned amount of money, but we went over by sixty thousand dollars.”

A collective cheer goes around the room, and I clap along with them.

If Leo was here, why wouldn’t he just talk to me and finally meet me, instead of keeping his identity a secret? Why go through all of the trouble to buy my painting?

“I also want to say I couldn’t have done it without my trusty helper, Amy. Let’s have a round of applause for her.” He holds his hand out toward me, and everyone claps and cheers. I think I'm going to die of embarrassment.

“She's a lot more than a pretty face and a killer assistant.” Dylan takes a deep breath. “She’s the love of my life. Eight years ago, I made a horrible mistake and let her walk away. I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I ran into her again.” His eyes find mine, holding me in their orbit, staring into my soul.

My cheeks are burning so hot they could roast marshmallows. I’m pretty sure my heart just skipped a beat—or five. Did he just say ...? In front of everyone? Every nerve in my body is short circuiting. Is this real life or a romcom? And why is he staring at me like I’m the only person in this room?

“You might be wondering, why did she leave in the first place? That was on me. I made a terrible mistake. I thought I was doing the right thing, but actually did the worst possible thing.” Everyone is watching Dylan with all of their attention.

“I broke her heart. Working with her has made me realize that I can’t stay away and regret losing her for the rest of my life. All I can do now is accept my mistakes and hope that, somehow, she can find it in her heart to forgive me.”

He’s up there, taking the heat for everything he did. He owned up to it. No excuses, no blame. Just … vulnerability, laid bare for everyone to see. I’ve spent so long resenting him, thinking he didn’t care, and now here he is, spilling it all. I didn’t know he had this in him. Part of me wants to run, but another part wants to run straight into his arms.

“One more thing. Since I am so infatuated with Miss Amy Bennett, it only makes sense I am also in love with her art. She donated several great pieces to the auction, though one of them was certainly far superior to the rest, and I had the honor of purchasing it. Could someone bring it back out here, and could I get a chance for a picture with the artist?” His eyes find mine again, urging me to come up and join him.

Should I? Can I not?

My legs have a mind of their own as I stand and make my way to the front. I feel like I am a spectator of my body as it walks forward. The room blurs as I walk. My gaze locked on Dylan. My heart’s pounding so hard I’m half-afraid it’ll drown out whatever he’s about to say next. Everyone’s watching, but it’s like he and I are the only two people in this room. How am I supposed to process this?

What painting did he buy? It makes me wonder what painting he considers the most beautiful. Mr. Anthony comes back on stage with the painting. As he turns the frame around, my breath gets stuck in my throat.

There’s no way …

Glistening white snow. Two pairs of skates, to young kids in love. The skating painting. He bought it. For fifty thousand dollars, and he called himself …

“Leo?” My voice is barely a whisper. I’m barely a foot away from Dylan, and yet it feels too close and too far away all at once.

“I know you have a lot going on right now and a lot to figure out, but the truth is, I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you. Being back near you, you’re like a magnet, and as much as I knew I probably should, I can’t let you walk away again. This doesn’t make up for anything, but I hope it shows how much you mean to me.”

He turns back to the rapt crowd. “Thank you everyone, for donating to the fundraiser, and for giving me this moment.”

He leads me off the stage in a daze, off to the side door of the room, and out of the hall. The noise fades until it’s just us, lost in a quiet bubble where nothing else exists.

“You’re Leo?” My voice cracks.