The crowd’s roar faded into the background, the world narrowing to the taste of his lips and the solid warmth of his hands on my cold cheeks. The longer we kissed, the more Irealized Jace was worth everything I’d been too scared to feel. He made me believe in second chances.
Several minutes later, when the game ended, the scoreboard flashing victory as the band played the school anthem, my cheeks hurt from smiling. My voice was scratchy from all the shouting.
Jace helped me down the bleachers, his hand steady at my waist as we trailed behind others leaving the game or finding their kids on the field.
I grabbed Jace’s hand. “I’ll introduce you to Coach.”
We headed in that direction, winding through the groups of people chatting with excitement about the win.
As we neared Coach Perry, Jace slowed, the warmth of his hand slipping from mine.
I followed his gaze and spotted Mr. Lawson, Sabrina’s dad, talking with Coach Perry near the team bench.
Jace gave a low chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t expect to run into my flight commander on a football field.”
“Sabrina’s dad donates to the sports program,” I said.
“Of course he does,” Jace murmured, half amusement, half tension flickering through his voice.
Mr. Lawson lifted his gaze and smiled at us.
“Evening, sir,” Jace said to his commander. “I didn’t realize you were a football guy.”
“Hard not to be in Pine Valley,” Mr. Lawson said with a laugh. “Coach Perry and I were just talking about next season’s fundraiser.” He introduced Jace to Coach Perry, beating me to the punch. “This is Captain Callahan, one of my best pilots in the squadron. He’s also a former college football player.”
Coach Perry, a head shorter than Jace and Mr. Lawson, shook hands with Jace. “You’re the guy that Monroe told meabout. You were going to volunteer to help the team but got reassigned.”
“Yes, sir. Good game tonight. That interception in the fourth quarter was textbook.”
Coach’s grin widened. “The team did great. If you ever give up your wings for the field, come see me.”
“Easy now, Coach,” Mr. Lawson warned with a laugh. “I need this guy.” Then he turned to me. “Mrs. Blake, I’ll be at the parent-and-teacher conference coming up. But Sabrina just loves your class.”
“Thank you,” I said with a nod. “She’s a bright girl.”
Before anyone could add to that, Sabrina ran up, still flushed from cheering and bundled in her blue-and-white cheer jacket. “Dad! Oh, hi, Captain Callahan. Ethan said you would be here. I want to thank you again for your honesty at Career Day about your G-LOC. And also congratulations on being cleared to fly again.”
Her last line dropped into the conversation like a plane falling out of the sky, and a muscle ticked in Jace’s jaw.
Coach’s eyebrows rose. “G-LOC? That must’ve been scary.”
I’d remembered hearing Ethan jabbering about Jace and G-LOC but never attempted to probe further since I’d had other things on my mind.
Mr. Lawson cleared his throat, giving his daughter a look that saidenough. “Sabrina, we need to go. Jace, good to see you out enjoying the night. I’ll check in with you on Monday.”
Then Mr. Lawson excused himself, taking his daughter with him.
Coach said his goodbyes then began collecting his gear off the bench.
Once Jace and I were alone with the wind in our faces, I held his hand. “You okay?”
He let out a breath that sounded more like a grunt. “Yeah. Just forgot how small the world gets when the base and town overlap.”
“G-LOC?” I asked, very well aware of what it was since Ryan worked in aircraft maintenance around pilots and jets. “That’s why you got reassigned.”
“Grounded,” he said, then kissed me on the head. “But I don’t want to talk about work.”
I pulled away from him. “Jace, I want to know. Don’t shut me out. My ex did that, and I’m not up for another round.”
