By the time my parents and I approached the old abandoned community center, I realized something was going on. First off, there was no parking anywhere near the facility. Balloons in a myriad of colors had been strung from lampposts around the entire block. Then I noticed that the parking lot of the old warehouse had been repaved and repainted. New trees and shrubbery planted. Beautiful landscaping, really. The building had been renovated, it's formally white sheet metal slides refurbished, a number of windows now gracing every side.

It had taken some doing, but I finally convinced my parents to come with me. They wanted to know why I told them they needed to come, and of course I wasn't even sure, but I wasn't about to tell them that Wyatt had requested our presence. Instead, I had told a white lie. "Sadie wanted to meet here at seven o'clock." I wasn't exactly lying, because I had called Sadie after I'd talked to Wyatt and asked her if she could be there as well. As a backup, because I really had no idea what to expect or what Wyatt was up to.

I finally found a place to park a couple of streets away, and by the time we unloaded Mom's wheelchair from the trunk and settled in her chair and making our way to the center, I saw Sadie rushing toward me. She gave my parents a kiss on the cheek, nearly jumping up and down with excitement. She looked at me, her eyes shining, a brilliant smile on her face.

I frowned at her, curious and dying to know what she was so excited about. I let my parents get ahead a little bit, with Dad pushing Mom carefully along the now crowded sidewalk as I whispered to Sadie.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary." I commented. "What's going on? Do you know? He didn't tell me anything."

She looked at me and nodded. "I do, and it's going to knock your socks off!"

I let my parents get a few steps further ahead as I grabbed Sadie's arm. "What do you mean? What's happening?"

"You haven't been listening to the radio or the news lately, have you?"

I frowned. "The news? No, you know I don't pay much attention to the news. What's happening?"

"You have noticed the improvements going on around your neighborhood, haven't you? The refurbishments, the renovations, the clean up?"

Come to think of it, she had. She nodded.

"It's Wyatt. Wyatt and his mom. They've been playing an instrumental role in the gentrification of the Southside community. And that's not all… the crème de la crème, it's just up ahead. You ready?"

I stared at Sadie, my mouth dropping open, trying to process it all. We arrived at the structure at the end of some type of ceremony, balloons being released into the air, the mayor or somebody important standing in front of a cut ribbon brandishing a large pair of pretend scissors, the ends of two pieces of ribbon fluttering to the ground. The mayor was speaking into the microphone.

"… and thanks to our benefactors, we'd like to announce the opening of our new community center, one that will enrich our neighborhood for generations to come!"

At that moment, the tarp over the signage along the front of the new community center fell away. I stared.

"What's going on?" Mom asked.

"I'm not really sure," I admitted. There, across the center of the renovated building, the words emblazoned in the signage: The Hunt Community Center -Working toward Tomorrow.

"What's going on?" Dad repeated, turning to me as if I had known about this all along. I shook my head in dismay. "I have no idea—"

Sadie spoke up. "Wyatt and Iva Cross have done all this, Mister Hunt. For the community. They've put their money where their mouth is—"

"But why—"

Sadie gave him a knowing smile and tilted her chin toward me.

"Do you really need to ask?"

Dad stared at Sadie, then at me, then at the new community center, a myriad of emotions crossing over his features. Confusion. Amazement. Followed once again by confusion. He glanced down at Mom.

"Did you know anything about this, Lorene?"

Mom looked up at him, just as dismayed as he. "Now why would I know anything about this?"

She turned to me, eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "Did you know about this, Riley?"

I choked up as tears of affection, of pride, and amazement warmed my eyes. I shook my head, so touched I couldn't speak.

Just then, a voice from behind, a voice that prompted my heart to jump, a sensation of serenity rushing through me.

"Hello, Riley."

I turned as Wyatt nodded to my mom and dad.

"Mister and Missus Hunt, I'm glad you came. I—"

My dad turned to Wyatt, glanced around at all the people waiting their turn to get inside the community center to see the services and renovations that had been completed and dropped his voice.

"What game are you playing, Wyatt?"

"No game, Mister Hunt. I love Riley and this is the only way that I could show you how devoted to her… to you and your neighborhood. A way to show you just how serious I am, how devoted I am to her. This is the only way that I could show you that I wasn't going anywhere."

My heart skipped a beat. More than one, to be honest. He looked at me and winked. My heart melted.

"I love you, Riley. I don't want anyone else but you."

He turned to my Dad, serious. "I love your daughter, Mister Hunt. All this?" He swept his arm out. "This is just the beginning."

"Is that so?" Dad said, still wary.

Wyatt nodded, glancing at me and offering a smile before turning back to my dad.

"I purchased a number of apartment buildings in your neighborhood, and we've started renovations, hoping to get them finished in another three weeks. But I only have one problem."

"What's that?"

Dad, Mom, myself and Sadie stared at Wyatt, waiting.

"Actually, I've had trouble finding a landlord to manage them. It's a lot of work, and a lot of people aren't up to the task." Wyatt grinned. "I'd like to offer you the job, Sir, managing the apartment properties." He cleared his throat. "Your mortgage has been paid off." He turned to Mom. "Your medical bills as well, but—"

"Now wait just a minute—"

Wyatt held up his hand. "It's not charity, Tony. It's my way of making amends, of proving to you how devoted I am to your daughter. Yes, we got off on the wrong foot, but I'm hoping we can start over."

My Dad said nothing, rendered speechless. Wyatt continued.

"As manager, if you accept of course, you're going to have to go through some training – about six months' worth. You'll have to learn everything about codes, lease agreements, how to evict while still staying inside legal guidelines. Plus everything there is to know about every property. We're talking about three hundred apartments. It's hard work, believe me. It'll get frustrating, time-consuming, and downright aggravating at times, but I need someone that I can trust."

My heart swelled. Mom looked up at me and smiled. My dad stood stunned.

"Can I count on you?" Wyatt asked. "Will you join my team?"

I waited with bated breath as I watched my dad. My dad's expression softened and I saw a grin slowly appear. My heart clenched when my dad extended his hand and shook Wyatt's. The deal was done.

Sadie squealed softly in delight as I turned to Wyatt, who wrapped me in his embrace with one arm, still shaking my dad's hand. I felt like I'd come home, like I was where I was supposed to be. Mom looked up at me, tears in her eyes as she nodded. They had both seen Wyatt's devotion to me - not just words, but in actions.

He turned to me. "I sold my mansion, bought a nice place just outside of the city limits. Would you like to see it?"

I glanced at my parents, both now turned and staring with amazement at the community center that had been named after them, and then at Sadie, nearly bursting with excitement showing them the way. I turned to Wyatt and smiled.

"You bet I would."

I hope you enjoyed Selling My Virginity.

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