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Bruce gasps and puts a hand to his chest. “I’m hurt, Emma.”

Emma and her mom giggle. Bruce grabs the duffle from me and takes out an eagle with his number on it, thrusting it into her lap before she can choose a different one. “Number thirty-nine. That’s me.”

“Thank you,” she says, picking up the bird and snuggling it to her chest.

Bruce looks back at me and grins. I shake my head but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips.

We take a few minutes to talk to Emma and her mom before nurse Becky grabs our attention and takes us to the next room.

We do this for two hours. It’s fun and sad… and emotionally exhausting. I feel selfish even thinking that, because I can’t imagine how hard cancer treatment is on these kids and their families. Being a bright spot in their day is an honor.

When Bruce and I walk into the parking lot toward our vehicles, our duffle bag now empty, he turns to me. “What are your plans for your birthday?”

“Finally have a date with Noel.”

He stops in his tracks and gasps. “No way!”

I shimmy my head back and forth. “Well, kind of… sort of.”

“Explain.” We come to a stop in front of Bruce’s pickup, and he slumps against the driver’s side door.

I tell him about the auction that Coach Young wrangled me into and how Gram bid on me. By the end he’s laughing so hard his face is bright red.

“And now she has to go out with you?” He breaks into another fit of laughter. “That’s brilliant. You owe Gram a favor.”

I laugh along with him. “Don’t I know it.”

“Where are you taking her? Are you heading straight to the courthouse and sealing the deal?”

Bringing my thumb and forefinger to my chin, I thoughtfully say, “Great idea. I could kidnap her.”

He snickers. “Actually, isn’t that a plot from an audiobook Mitch accidentally listened to?”

“Accidentally,” I say with air quotes. We both laugh at Mitch’s expense. “Anyway, since it’s my birthday I’m taking her to dinner, and then to do one of my favorite activities.”

He snorts. “We all know what your favorite activity is, and there’s no way Noel is going to be down for that. She’ll slap you for even mentioning it.”

“That’s not my favorite activity! Do you even know me at all?”

He arches an eyebrow, appearing unconvinced.

“When’s the last time you saw me with a woman?”

He opens his mouth to answer then closes it. Opens it again, then closes it. He bites his bottom lip as he thinks. “You know what, it’s been a while since I saw you with anyone.”

“Exactly. So, stop slut-shaming me.”

He punches my shoulder. Hard. “Well, look who’s growing up! Proud of you man.”

I roll my eyes. “We’re all young and wild at some point.”

He laughs. “What’s this favorite activity you speak of?”

“Bungee jumping,” I say, throwing my hands up in frustration. He’s even gone with me before.

“Oh! Right. Yeah, sorry.” He smirks. “You think she’ll be down for that?”

“I think she likes to look tough, and with the publicity team there… she won’t be able to chicken out.”