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FORD
I could hardly feelmy legs, because it seemed like I was floating as I walked up to the stage that had been built for the winners.
The Diamonds.
Confetti was still falling from the sky, and it felt like my lips were set in a permanent grin. Then I saw Krew coming up to the stage with me. I hugged him to my side, thankful that he was more than a teammate. He was a friend, and we were getting to share this together. With any luck, Trent would renew my contract and we could come back and do it again next year with Milo too.
Coach Hinkle was the first person to speak, talking about how hard we’d worked, what an honor it was to win this game. I stared out at the field, buzzing with people in purple and white, and I easily spotted Mia and my dad.
When the press aimed a microphone at me, they asked, “What do you have to say about tonight?”
I looked right at my dad and Mia, and I said, “I got my miracle.”
EPILOGUE
HAYES
Spring break meantmy family all went to Ford’s house in Dallas for a get-together. Bryce was off college for the week, and so were all my nieces and nephews.
The last several years, we’d all taken advantage of the break to spend time together. And it was fun seeing how things had changed over the years. Maya went from a little girl in diapers to a teenager, leading deviously her girl gang of cousins and sisters.
Knox and Fletcher were married. (Fletcher for the second time, but we didn’t talk about that.) Ford was stupid in love with Mia, hardly taking his eyes, or his hands, off of her.
My dad even invited his friend-not-girlfriend, Agatha, to today’s activities. And Mia’s parents were here as well.
Springtime was warming up, which meant we were all outside, swimming in the heated pool, playing hard games like cornhole and eating a never-ending stream of grilled meat. (Dad was trying not to act offended that Ford hired his private chef to grill, never mind the fact that it freed up time for him and Agatha to play with the grands.)
And even though it was a great time with music playing over a speaker system, there was an undercurrent of tension, worry.Ford’s contract with the Diamonds was under negotiation, and we had no idea of he’d get to stay in Dallas or not.
Needing a drink to ease the tension, I walked to the outdoor drink fridge and got a beer, dodging a few water balls on the way. Just when I thought I’d missed them all, one nailed me in the back of the head.
I turned to see who had launched the missile to find my three-year-old nephew, Jackson, with a shit-eating grin.
“You’re gonna get it!” I called playfully, beginning to chase him into the grass.
His peals of laughter made me smile the whole way, even with water dripping down the back of my neck.
“EVERYONE! EVERYONE!” Maya yelled.
I finally caught Jackson, lifting him over my shoulder and tickling his side. His swim trunks were just getting me even more soaked.
“EVERYONE!” Maya repeated. “OVER HERE!”
I followed the sound of her voice to see her and Emily posted up by Ford’s back patio doors. “PLEASE COME INSIDE FOR A PRESENTATION!” Maya yelled.
All the adults gave each other confused looks as we followed them inside. When I caught up with Knox, I said, “You know what this is about?”
Knox shook his head. “Knowing those two, it’s trouble.”
“True,” I replied.
We all went inside, settling onto Ford’s couches. Everyone who had been swimming was now wrapped in thick towels.
“Hayes,” Emily said, coming to get my hand. “You need to sit here.” She guided me to the couch so I could sit right in front of the TV, next to Ford and Mia.
“What’s going on?” I asked Emily.
She held back a smile. “You’ll see.”