Chapter 3

Peyton Meyer tossed his phone across the room. It landed facedown on the couch, the lock screen still lit up with Genevieve's name. She'd declined his call again.

Across the living room, his manager raised an eyebrow. "Still ignoring you?"

"She said she had family scripture study tonight," Peyton muttered. "But I know she was with him."

"You mean Brandon Richards?"

Peyton didn't respond. He didn't need to. The frustration in his eyes spoke volumes.

"It's probably just a fan interaction," his manager offered. "She was in the front row. You know how the media twists stuff."

But Peyton didn't believe that. He knew Genevieve better than anyone—or at least, he used to. The moment she'd chosen to attend Brandon's game instead of his, he felt it. Something had shifted.

And now, she wasn't answering his calls.

Something was definitely happening.

Back in San Francisco, Genevieve Hannelius stared out the window of her hotel room, the soft city lights casting a glow across her face. In her lap sat the signed football Brandon had given her, and on the nightstand beside her, her scriptures lay open.

She hadn't been able to sleep. Not since the game. Not since the prayer.

She had always believed in following the Spirit, but now that it was pulling her away from everything she thought she wanted, she didn't know what to do with it.

Peyton was her fiancé.

Brandon was her fan.

And yet… when she was with Brandon, she felt peace.

When she prayed with him, she felt heard.

When she looked at him, she felt safe.

Her phone buzzed again. Peyton.

This time, she didn't silence it. She blocked the number.

Then, she reached for her scriptures again and turned the page.

Brandon Richards had returned to his apartment late that night, the game-day adrenaline still slowly wearing off. He set down his duffle bag, kicked off his shoes, and collapsed on the couch.

But sleep didn't come.

Her smile. Her words. Her presence.

Genevieve had stayed with him for that scripture study longer than he thought she would. She had even turned off her phone. She had chosen to be there with him.

He closed his eyes and thought back to the moment she had taken his hand as they prayed. It had been so simple, so quiet. But for him, it was everything.

He opened his Bible and Book of Mormon and began to read.

He wasn't sure what this was yet, but he knew one thing:

Genevieve was different.

And he couldn't get her off his mind.

The next morning, Genevieve stepped out of her hotel wearing dark sunglasses and a simple hoodie, trying to avoid attention. But when she reached the car waiting out front—Brandon was already there, leaning against the passenger door with an herbal tea and a Book of Mormon in hand.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"You came," she said.

He smiled. "You said you wanted to study together again."

Genevieve opened the car door, slid inside, and said, "Let's go somewhere quiet."

They ended up at a little overlook that Brandon knew well—away from the city, where you could see the bay stretch all the way to the ocean.

They sat on the hood of his truck, scriptures open, hearts slowly opening too.

"Do you ever get scared?" Genevieve asked suddenly.

Brandon looked up. "Of what?"

"Everything. The games. The media. Letting people down. Letting yourself down."

Brandon nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get scared. Especially when it comes to… people I care about."

Genevieve looked at him, waiting.

"I care about you, Genevieve."

There it was.

Simple. Honest.

She didn't look away. "I care about you too."

And that's when she said it.

"I broke off my engagement."

Brandon's breath caught. "You did?"

She nodded. "Last night. After I prayed."

A moment of silence passed between them—holy, electric, real.

Then, she reached for his hand. "I don't know what comes next. But I know this… I want to walk that path with you."

Brandon smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then let's walk it together."

And as the sun rose higher behind them, Brandon Richards and Genevieve Hannelius sat side-by-side—two hearts slowly falling in love, rooted in faith, grounded in truth, and ready for what came next.