“Not yet, but I know they’d be thrilled.”
“So would mine. Which is why we absolutelycan’ttell them. The minute our parents find out we’re dating, they’re going to start pressuring us to get married. And then as soon as we’re married, they’re going to harp on us to have kids.”
“It sounds like our parents are thinking what I’m thinking.”
I frown at him.
Nat laughs. “Okay, I won’t tell my parents. I won’t allow anyone to hi-jack your dreams or your timeline.”
“Thank you.” A happy buzz fills my heart, and I resist the urge to plant my mouth on Nat. Having kiss stains all over his lips won’t look great on the evening news.
Max stalks on stage. I blink slowly, taken aback by his sheer size. If I remember correctly, Max used to be a hockey player until he got injured, which explains why he looks like a giant grizzly bear in a suit.
Nat sits straight up, listening to Max’s speech. I want to be as collected as him, but I can’t hide my nerves. With every name that Max calls, I squeeze Nat’s hand tighter and tighter.
Why haven’t they called Nat yet?
Jimmy’s words all those weeks ago when he labeled Nat a ‘liability to any team’ stabs at me. What if Max ignores Nat’s standout performance at the last game? Some other team will snatch Nat up, I’m sure. But then our lives will completely change. He’ll have to move away from Lucky Falls…
That’s when I hear Nat’s name and position coming from the microphone.
Both Nat and I freeze in place.
Max chuckles into the mike and calls his name again. “Nathan Campbell?”
Oh.
My.
Goodness.
Nat launches to his feet.
I do too.
Wrapping my arms around him, I give him a big hug as the room erupts in cheers and all the cameras swing our way. I’m drowning in happiness and on the verge of tears.
Nat’s hands are shaking as he slides a palm over his chest and makes his way to the podium. Despite his big talk about being calm, the relief on his face tells me that he wasn’t sure this moment would happen either.
In the middle of my celebration, a black cloud appears in the form of Nat’s gait.
He’s visibly limping up the stairs.
My jubilant smile disintegrates.
When Nat had just been released from the hospital, I called Chris to check in with him.
‘Nat will always walk with a limp,’ my brother told me, ‘but that guy… he’s going to find a way to hide it. I bet you’.
So far, my brother’s predictions have come true. I’ve never actively noticed Nat’s limp until now.
The room erupts with more applause, but I don’t join them.
Nat’s teammates stand to slap him on the back as he makes his way back to my row. Picking up his phone so his parents can see, I let Nat have his moment with them.
“Alright, guys. I’ll call you back. Love you,” Nat tells them. He ends the call and opens his arms to me.
I lean against him, hearing how fast his heart is beating. “I’m so proud of you, Nat.”
