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Raven

I ’ve nearly chewed a hole in the side of my finger. The Wisconsin team is killer, and the Tigers don’t progress much when they have the ball.

“It’s hard when the defense is this good.” Jack patiently explains to me what’s happening on the field. “We have a strong offensive line, but it’s hard to break through that wall.”

“Oh!” Half the stadium echoes my groan as Tyler is forced to run out of bounds.

“They’ve got to do a better job covering him.” Garrett’s arms are crossed, and I remember his position was offensive lineman.

“That big guy’s keeping Hendrix in place.” Liv is right beside me, bouncing Gigi on her hip.

We’re all wearing our jerseys and the babies are wearing royal blue and yellow pom-pom headbands. They’re adorable, but the game is stressing us all out.

I know how much it means to Hendrix to win, and it’s the last and biggest game of the season. My stomach is in knots and my blood pressure is spiking.

My phone goes off, and I jump, looking down to see a text from Star. Frowning, I take a step away to read it.

Star

Can you talk? I know it’s the biggest game of the year, but major 911!!!

Walking up to Allie, I give her a nudge. “Would you mind holding her for just a second?”

“I won’t mind at all!” Allie cries, taking Haddy off my hip. “Hello, Haddy-boo! Remember me?”

Haddy pats her shoulder, holding Axel and blowing bubbles.

“That’s right!” Allie laughs. “Books.”

“I just have to make a call, but I’ll be right back.”

“Is everything okay?” Allie studies my expression.

“I think so? I got a text from the news manager back in LA. I’m sure it’s no big deal.”

“We’ve got you covered, lady.” Rachel puts her hand on my shoulder. “Take your time.”

I wave to Dylan, who’s sitting in the back of the box away from the windows, watching with Thomas on his tiny, portable black-and-white television. I’ve been told it’s his lucky TV, and he watches all the games on it.

Going into the breezeway outside the box, I quickly return Star’s call. She answers on the first ring.

“I’m so sorry to bother you!” She’s speaking high and fast. “I can’t find Wilt, and we just got a report that a private, two-seater plane went down in the hills. EMS needs us to use the mapping software to help find them, but I don’t know how.”

My heart drops. “Star, oh my God, were they killed?”

“We don’t know, but the clock is ticking. Can you talk me through it?”

Blinking fast, I try to visualize the console. The stadium erupts into cheering, and I walk away, doing my best to find a quiet space where I can think .

“I’ve got her on the line now.” Star is on the radio talking to emergency crews, and I chew my lip.

“Pull up the Scout Master software, and you’ll need to draw a radius around the area. Are you able to do that?”

I hear clicking on the other end of the phone, and Star speaks softly to herself. “Let me ask if they can give me an idea…”

She moves the phone away from her mouth, and I wait as she returns to the EMS workers. “He said it’s somewhere between Bell Canyon and Hidden Hills.”

I’m still learning the area, but I’ve sat beside Wilt several times as he showed me how to pinpoint locations. He said it was for wildfire detection, but I don’t see why it won’t help us now.

“All planes have a black box. It should transmit a signal.” I scrub my fingers across my forehead, trying to think. “It’s something megahertz. Wilt has the number written on the desk. Look beside the keyboard.”

“Give me a second. I’m not at his desk.”

More cheers erupt in the stadium. I’m missing the game, and I know Hendrix will wonder why I’m not there with Haddy cheering him on. I don’t want him to worry or be distracted.

“I found it!” Her voice is high. “Hang on!”

She’s back on the line with the EMS guys, and I’m chewing the side of my fingernail, blinking at the door to the stadium.

“That’s it. It’s got to be them!” Star’s voice goes high. “We found them. Raven! You helped me find them!”

“That’s great, Star. That’s great. Can you guide them how to get there? I really need to get back…”

“I’ll text you.” We disconnect, and I dash across the concessions area, heading to the box entrance.

“Shit!” I forgot my key card, and I have to bang on the door. “Guys—let me in!”

They’re all facing the field, and I slam my palm against the glass repeatedly. More cheering breaks out. They’re all jumping and hugging each other, and I almost scream, fumbling for my phone so I can text Dylan to let me in .

Her head turns and her eyes widen. I see her yell my name and she runs to the door to let me in the box. “Where have you been? You’re missing everything!”

“Life or death situation.” I hold up my phone. “What did I miss?”

“Okay, you’re going to have to explain that. Tyler dodged a sack and was finally able to get a decent pass off to Hendrix, but that 53 guy pulled him down. Now they’re lined up, and Jack says they’re going to do a tush push.”

“Tush push?” I wrinkle my nose.

“It’s exactly what it sounds like.”

We run to the window in time to see all ten guys in a tight huddle. The snap goes, and they shove forward as a group, literally pushing Tyler’s butt over the line for the touchdown. The guys laugh and slap hands. Dylan and I exchange a glance and blow a laugh through our lips.

“Here you are!” Rachel scurries up to me holding Haddy. “Hendrix keeps looking up here, and I know he’s trying to find you. Get out there!”

I rush past her to the window, and sure enough, my husband is standing on the sideline looking up. I wave both hands before blowing kisses, and through the helmet I can see the smile spread across his face.

We’re in the last quarter, and the score is so close. One touchdown will cinch it. Reaching for Haddy, I hold her on my hip, bouncing as I watch.

“She’s my little security blanket,” I say to Dylan.

“Thomas is mine,” she replies, and I see Logan standing with the brothers.

They all have their arms crossed, brows lowered, and they’re watching intensely.

“Sacked!” Garrett yells, and both Gigi and Haddy jump, twisting around to look at him.

Gigi starts to fuss, and Garrett takes her from her mother. “It’s okay, baby. That was a good thing. ”

Logan gives him a high five, and they’re back to watching the field so hard, I imagine them burning a hole in the glass. My phone buzzes, and I pull it out quickly to see Star’s text.

Star

They just found them!!! EMS says we saved twenty minutes of searching. He has a head injury and is bleeding. They said we saved his life! Raven!!!

My eyes heat as I read her words, and I almost forget to watch the game.

Really???

Star

It was a student flight. He was only seventeen.

I’m so glad!!! Tell them I’m so glad.

Star

Now get back to that game. We need Hendrix to do one of his magic plays and win this thing!!!

It feels like an emotional roller coaster. My mind is a whirl, thinking I helped save someone’s life two thousand miles away.

“Are you okay?” Liv is beside me, rubbing her hand up and down my back.

“Traffic reporting does save lives.” I sound as stunned as I feel.

“Okay?” Her brow furrows, and she doesn’t understand.

It doesn’t matter. The guys break into yells, and we hurry to the window again. Garrett tosses Gigi in the air, and she lets out a loud belly laugh.

“What did we miss?” Liv yells.

“Hendrix just caught a forty-yard pass,” Logan explains from the other side of the box.

“This is it!” Allie bounces up and down beside me, hands clasped. “They’re about to do it! Dylan, get over here!”

She complains, but she runs to stand with the four of us. I’m holding Haddy, and we’re all holding hands as the guys line up in what Jack said is goal formation.