“Really.” He claps a heavy hand on my shoulder, his teeth flashing white in the winter sun. “You’ll continue as captain next semester. But don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t, sir. I promise.”
He grunts and walks away, barking orders at the team to start packing up, but I barely hear him.
I passed. I actually passed. I get to stay on the team, stay as captain, keep working toward my apprenticeship with Alden in Faunwood.
And I have Poppy by my side.
I get to have everything.
Without hesitating for another moment, I sprint toward the stands, taking the steps two at a time, searching for familiar faces. And then I see them—Poppy, Alina, Raelan, Maeve, and Lyra, all standingas I approach.
“I passed!” I shout, probably louder than necessary. “I passed my classes! I’m still captain!”
Poppy’s face lights up, and she launches herself at me. I catch her easily, spinning her around while she laughs and clings to me.
“I knew you would,” she says, pulling back to look at my face as I set her on her feet.
“Couldn’t have done it without you, Brains.”
The others crowd around, congratulating me. Maeve pulls me into a fierce hug, and when she steps back, she’s smiling.
“I’m proud of you, Aric,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “You worked so hard for this.”
“Thanks, sis.”
She wrinkles her nose. “But you smell.”
Around Maeve’s neck, Isis flicks her tongue like she agrees.
“Group hug!” Lyra declares, and suddenly, we’re all tangled together, laughing and celebrating.
“Let me out of here!” Maeve cries, but Lyra just smooshes her tighter.
When we finally break apart, I notice two new figures approaching from the crowd. One is a woman with warm brown skin and kind eyes—Poppy’s mom, Layla, whom I met briefly at the Wandering Cup. The other is the man we caught her with when we arrived back at the café from Pepper’s grooming appointment—Lyra’s dad.
“Congratulations on the win, Aric,” Layla says warmly. She pulls me into a hug, then stepsback.
“Great game,” Mr. Wilder says. “That final shot was something else.”
I shake his hand, but I’m distracted by the way Lyra is staring at the two of them. Her eyes are wide, her mouth slightly open, and she’s looking between her father and Poppy’s mom like she’s trying to solve a complex alchemical equation.
“Wait,” Lyra says slowly. “Wait. Are you two... together?”
Layla and Mr. Wilder exchange a glance, and Mr. Wilder’s arm slides casually around Layla’s waist. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months now,” he says, a bashful smile pulling on his lips. “Surprise?”
“Months?” Lyra’s voice goes up an octave. “Months?And nobody told me?”
She whips around to look at Poppy, who appears to be trying very hard not to smile.
“You knew,” Lyra accuses, pointing a finger at her. “You knew, you little secret keeper!”
“I might have found out when Aric and I went into Wysteria this fall,” Poppy admits, her cheeks flushing.
“Unbelievable!” Lyra throws her hands up. “You’ve all been conspiring against me!”
Everyone laughs, but even Lyra can’t maintain her scowl for long. She crosses her arms and shakes her head, but there’s no real anger in it.
