She patted my shoulder. “Then we’re set. See you on the field.” She dashed out the door, on to whatever she had to handle next.
I walked back to my seat, wondering. Was there the tiniest possibility that Anna might be at the game? And if she was, was there a minuscule chance that she’d partially come to see me?
But that was stupid. Anna had to know where I was and what team I played for. My face and my name were everywhere, and Silas watched all my games. She could’ve come to see me anytime she wanted. And yet, she hadn’t. Not a single time in the last two and half years since I’d arrived back closer to the East Coast had I noticed even a hint that she still wondered about me. I shook my head as I sat back in my chair. I couldn’t afford to let myself hope right before a game. I needed to focus.
Besides, if Anna wanted to see me, she would’ve by now.
CHAPTER 6
anna
Iwalked out of the rest area bathrooms and stopped on the sidewalk, letting the late September sun warm me. It was a beautiful day to watch some football, even if it was the University of Knoxville. We were almost there. Just forty-five minutes from the stadium. And if I hadn’t drunk so much caffeine, we would’ve been ten minutes closer. But here we were.
“Get your granddaddy long legs back on your side,” Tally’s voice carried from where Ashton had the car window rolled down. I had to give it to Stella. She’d done spectacularly. Not a hint of giving up and dying on the side of the road.
I turned back toward the bathroom looking for Brooklyn who’d been washing her hands. Suddenly, everything went dark. A large pair of rough hands covered my eyes. I screamed and sent my right elbow backward into somebody’s stomach as I also sent my foot up into their groin. Silas always warned me that rest stops were a breeding ground for sex traffickers. But the nerve of whoever this was, trying to abduct me right in front of my uncle…
“Uh, Anna,” a male groaned. His hands fell away and I whirled around, my heart in my throat.
I squealed, “Uncle Ford?”
“Geez,” he grunted, still doubled over. “What the world? I was trying to surprise you.”
I tackled him, hooting with laughter. “What’re you doing here? How’d you know where we were?”
“The app,” he croaked, trying to straighten. He slowly stretched back to a full stand. “I think you might’ve killed my chances at being a father.”
“Oh my gosh.” I chortled. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I patted him on his handsomely stubbled cheek. Then I pulled him into a better hug, squeezing with all my might. “How are you?”
“Geez girl. You’d think you hadn’t seen me in a while.” He swayed with me in his arms, and I wasn’t sure if the swaying was because he was happy to see me or because he was drunk. He smelled like beer and cigarettes.
I stepped back, beaming. “I just missed you is all.” He’d been home in July.
He gripped my shoulder. “Yeah. I’ve missed you too.”
“Well, well,” Ashton said. We turned to see him standing by Stella, arms crossed. His expression was split between happiness and wariness. “If it isn’t the enabler of bad choices.”
I cocked my head at Ash. “Don’t,” I said. “We get to see Ford. Be happy.”
But it seemed that Ashton had decided to go wary. “He’s going to blow it for you, Anna.”
“Wow.” Ford whistled. “Good to see you too, brother.”
Ashton rolled his eyes but walked up and hugged Ford. Ford pounded him on the back and it made my heart all warm and fuzzy. My uncles? They were the best part of my life. If a girl had to lose her mom at the age of thirteen, she should at least have four kick-butt uncles. And I did.
The difference between them was striking. Ashton was Holden, Granny, and Momma all rolled into one. Blond hair and fair complected. But he was tall like Silas and Gramps. Ford, on the other hand, took after Gramps and Silas—dark hair and dark complected. But he was only about six feet tall. Short for the guys in our family. He and Ashton had the same exact eyes though. And I was hoping like their eye color that they’d find some commonality today so we could enjoy ourselves.
“Are you ready for some football?” Ford said in an excited announcer voice.
A few feet behind us Brooklyn gasped. We turned to look. Her eyes were wide, fangirling at Ford. Good grief. “Hi.” She gave him a little wave.
“Hi, Brooklyn,” he said in an amused tone.
Then she jogged past us like she couldn’t get into the car fast enough.
I giggled. “It’s like you’re famous or something.”
Ford let out a cocky laugh. “Or something.”
