Seven years ago

Pittsburgh

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SUBJECT: AWARDS DINNER

Charlotte,

My NY flight won’t land in time for me to make it to your Student of the Year dinner. I’ll have to make tonight up to you somehow. (I will. Trust me.)

Love you,

Grayson

PS—Did you get the flowers I sent today?

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SUBJECT: RE: AWARDS Dinner

Grayson,

It’s more than okay. The program for tonight’s ceremony looks like it will be a snore-fest anyway. I have no doubt you’ll make it up to me. (You always do)

Love you more,

Charlotte

PS—Yes. They were beautiful. All ten bouquets. Thank you so much.

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SUBJECT: FOUND A CONDO + My Final Lit Grades

Charlotte,

I just found a beautiful penthouse suite and I think you'll like it. I'm attaching the pictures, but I won't buy it unless A) You approve and B) You promise to see it in person on draft-night. Let me know what you think.

Love you,

Grayson

PS—I forgot to tell you about my final grades since I took all my final exams extremely early. All As.

I guess I had a pretty good tutor :)

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SUBJECT: RE: FOUND a Condo + My Final Lit Grades

Grayson,

OH. MY. GOD! That’s one condo? It’s huge! And I LOVE IT! A) I approve. B) I’ll definitely be there with you on draft night.

Love you,

Charlotte

PS—Congratulations on making all As.

I know you had a pretty good tutor. (But I also know that you didn’t really need one...you would have made all A’s anyway. : ) )

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SUBJECT: YOU’RE ON TV (again :))

Grayson,

I just watched your “Rookies to Watch” interview on ESPN. (It looked like you didn’t like the reporter, though. Something wrong?)

I love the way you look in a suit. (Love you)

Charlotte

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SUBJECT: RE: YOU’RE on TV (again :))

Charlotte,

Good to know you were watching. (She was flirting with me before the cameras rolled.)

Thank you. (Love you too)

Grayson

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SUBJECT: YOU LOOK SEXY as hell right now.

I’m watching Pitt’s graduation via Skype at the training combine and the camera just showed your face.

Call me when you’re free tonight,

Grayson

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SUBJECT: RE: YOU LOOK sexy as hell right now.

Sorry, I just saw this. My phone died after the third speech.

Thank you, though. :)

I called you a few times, but I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’ll call tomorrow.

Charlotte

Subject: Question (It’s Personal)

Nadira,

I feel like me and Grayson only email and text these days...

If this is what it’s like before he even gets drafted, do you think we should take a break when he goes to the NFL?

—Charlotte

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SUBJECT: RE: QUESTION (It’s Personal)

Charlotte,

I’m sitting at a table at the Buca di Beppo in Station Square with Eric, Kyle, and a few other people you know. We're all here waiting for you and him to walk through the doors because he's supposed to “surprise" you with some "make up” dinner tonight. (You should probably make sure you get dressed since he’s on his way to pick you up right now + I never told you this LOL)

I think it’ll be a bit of a transition-phase for you two when he goes to the NFL, but I do not doubt that he'll do his best to make it work. (He smiles every time someone says your name.)

Nadira

PS—They say he's probably going to net $20M in endorsements alone once he gets drafted. Please make sure he installs a bar in his condo, and please invite me over every weekend once it's complete.

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THE DAY AFTER GRAYSON surprised me with dinner at Station Square, he helped me make sure all my things were ready to be shipped to California.

He kissed me in the backseat of a cab when it was time for him to return to New York, and made me promise to call him when I made it Stanford the next day.

I called him the second I landed and got his voice mail.

He didn’t call me back until days later and our conversation was only five minutes. When we spoke again, it was a week later and we only had time to say, “I love you.”

And by the time I finished setting up my apartment for my first full semester, I realized we’d gone two weeks without any communication.