Even if they’re offering more money?
Uncle Holden
It’s peanuts compared to what he’ll make if he goes pro. And he’ll burn major bridges with UK. So unless he knows for sure that he’s okay with that, I wouldn’t. Besides, just because he got a concussion, doesn’t mean he won’t get picked in the draft this spring. If he signs that contract, it’ll look like he’s scrambling for a backup plan. He needs to wait and give it time. See what happens.
I glanced over at Blue who had just finished reading the message.
A look of resolve crossed his face, and he smiled as he put an arm around my shoulder. I flinched, and I hated myself for it. But I couldn’t relax around him. Not until he remembered everything. It felt like a time bomb was ticking right above my head, and until it went off, I wouldn’t let my heart get more involved. For now, I would be his friend. But that was it.
As we pulled into the parking lot, my phone buzzed.
Uncle Holden
Send me a snapshot of the contract and let me look over it really quickly just to be sure.
I did as he asked and hit send.
Twenty minutes later, I was standing in the recesses of Smoky Mountain Stadium behind Blue, donning a UK shirt, like I belonged there and knew anything about any of this. I was wishing with all my heart that Missy and Colt hadn’t left the day before to head back to Seddledowne.
Shane walked up, a stern question in his eyes. Blue handed the contract back to him.
As Shane flipped it open, Blue said, “I’m not signing that, Dad. I’m making a full recovery and going pro.”
Shane’s glare narrowed on me. “You talked him out of it, didn’t you?”
I shuffled back a step.
A muscle in Blue’s jaw pulsed. “Leave her out of it.”
Daisy motioned us forward into a huge room full of camera people, reporters, and at least a hundred fans. She hadn’t been lying. Sweatshirts and T-shirts printed with Rocky Top Me, Team Blupree, and Love at the Fifty Yard Line were scattered in between all the orange and baby blue attire. My heart punched at all the curious faces looking right at me. Blue reached back, fumbling for my hand. Once he found it, his shoulders relaxed and we moved forward together.
I had no idea how this was going to go. Blue was about to tell the world that he had amnesia but he planned on making a full recovery, as if he had control over such a thing. And I was supposed to hold his hand like we were a couple. Not because that’s what UK or Daisy Foxhorn wanted but because Blue had asked me to.
People smiled at me like I was their granddaughter, sister, and best friend. I got a few thumbs up.
“Marry me, Blue!” a teenage girl yelled, tears streaming down her fangirling face.
“No, marry Anna!” an older lady yelled.
“Geez,” he muttered over his shoulder to me. “Is this for real?”
We were almost to the front when a pretty blonde about my age slithered out of the crowd.
It took a second for me to place her. But when I did, I blanched.
Lacy. Blue’s ex. And she was eyeing me like I had something she wanted and she was going to take it back.
The way Blue was looking at her, I knew she looked familiar to him but he hadn’t put two and two together yet. His eyes widened and the recognition was evident. I tugged, trying to free my hand from his, but he tightened his grip.
“Blue, what are you doing with her?” Lacy gave me a withering stare. “You hate her. She dumped you because you werepoor.”
My blood turned to ice.
Blue dropped my hand and turned his body sideways between us. “What? No. That’s not true.” He looked like he wanted to pick her up and throw her out of the way. Then he swung his nervous eyes to me. I could see he wanted her to be wrong. “Is it?”
I shook my head. “No.”
His angry expression relaxed a bit.
