The reality turns out to be far more surprising than anything I could have imagined, however. We take a cab to an address that sounds like nothing to me. When we get out, Hugh gestures at an ugly warehouse and says, “Voilà!”
There’s a sign out front that says “Coin Convention. Numismatists only.”
I start laughing so hard I almost fall out of my high heels. “Stay upright,” he says. “If you mess up that dress you’re going to miss the chance to blow these guys’ minds.”
I don’t know what he’s up to. I don’t even care. Every moment with him is surprising, and I know how rare that is.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: HUGH MADDOX
Earlier that morning, I couldn’t believe it when I saw an advert for the coin convention outside the gym. It was on one of those terrible circular pamphlets, tacked to a telephone pole next to ads for missing cats and vegan meetups.
My only plan tonight is to make her laugh, and that’s already going swimmingly. But I don’t want to make anyone feel stupid, so when we step onto the coin expo floor, I do my best to look respectful. We all need our obsessions. We all need something to keep us off the streets. These guys … need coins.
Then Sam grabs my arm and hisses. “Oh my God! That’s Owen!”
It’s too perfect.
“Where?” I say.
“He’s over in the corner at the table with the blue awning. Look! Not so fast! Be subtle!”
Being subtle isn’t working. Even in this crowd, it’s obvious that everyone knows who I am. My face is plastered all over building-sized billboards all over the city. The upcoming fight is getting even more press that my agent had predicted. It’s going to be huge.
Sam takes my arm and starts walking towards Owen’s table. He looks like a smart guy. A little rumpled. A little…little. Definitely smooth-handed, callus free, and probably decent, but I can’t forget that this guy made Sam question her worth and run all the way out to Washington to get away from her thoughts. Still, that led her to meeting me, so I owed him in that respect, I guess.
Sam surprises me when she strides right up to him. “Owen!” she says, putting a little snarl in her voice.
He looks up quickly.
“Sam, what are you doing here?”
I stop walking and observe. I don’t like the tone this dweeb is taking.
“I just, um,” Sam stammers.
“We’re not getting back together. You need to give me my space. That was always your problem.” Owen continues, “Well, one of your problems. Honestly, I don’t know where to begin…”
“That’s enough,” I say, stepping in between him and Sam.
His eyes dart to me and his mouth drops open. It’s like something you only see in comic strips. His jaw practically hits the floor.
“Hugh,” he mutters. He looks at Sam. “Did you bring him here to hurt me?”
Sam doesn’t know what to say. She’s baffled by the entire exchange.
“No, Owen. Of course not. I’m not mad at you,” she says.
&
nbsp; “Owen,” I begin, “I don’t want to kick your ass. I want to thank you. I would never have met the most amazing woman in the world without you,” I say with a big grin plastered on my face. “I honestly didn’t think a woman like Sam could exist,” I add, pulling her to me.
Owen’s mouth is still hanging open as he looks from me to Sam and back to me.
“Uh, sure,” he stammers.
And with that, Sam and I make our exit.
“I love you. That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”