My mother’s voice in my ear.
Fisting my hand over and over to keep it from shaking as flags wave and someone draws out the final note toThe Star Spangle Banner.
Lake’s tears.
Drowning. Fucking drowning in her tears.
A coin rotating again and again in the air on its way to the turf.
The echo of my own voice shouting the play.
And then …silence.
LAKE
Please,God… thistime… just please don’t take him. I’ll do anything.
I had the card he left me in my purse:
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lake:Keep your head in the game. My premonition was just a moment of insanity. Enjoy this moment. You deserve it! Loving you is my life’s greatest pleasure. I cannot wait to be your wife. <3
I didn’t know if he’d see it before the game, but it took the edge off by pressing send.
“You good?” Jessica grabbed my hand before Flint escorted me to the owner’s suite.
“Luke told you.” I looked over her shoulder to the rest of the family alight with excitement. Luke had his back to us. We all owed Penny big time for watching the young kids.
Jess squeezed my hand. “I think you messed with his head too.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. I never meant to bring back bad memories for my brother. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Jessica stepped closer, squeezing my hand harder. “He’s strong like his father was… maybe stronger. But you…” She grinned. “You’re me… maybe even stronger. Survivors aren’t made. They’re born. You’re one of us.”
“He could get hurt.”
She nodded. “He could.”
“He could…” I couldn’t even say it.
She nodded. “He could.”
The woman I’d idolized since the day I met her believed in me. I didn’t feel deserving. I felt like the girl who built her dreams on a man—a mortal—and everything was ready to crash, taking me in its wreckage.
“He’s my everything.”
Jessica shook her head. “He’s a moment.”
“I’m not ready for this moment to end.”
She smiled, small, painful, and filled with her own lost moments.
“Ready?” Luke took Jessica’s hand.
I drew in a big breath and converted it to a smile for those who had held my hand my whole life. “Go, Minnesota! See you guys on the other side.” Grabbing Flint’s arm, I followed him to the owner’s suite.
Gretchen greeted me right away. “There she is!” She hugged me. “Get a drink and something to eat. Are you ready for this?”
