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  “Now, tell me, are you okay… really?” he asks, looking into my eyes. The struggle is real to tell him everything or keep things to myself. I’ve had a lot to process today, and Daddy wants me to keep it to myself.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” he says, but I can see that he’s hurt.

  “It’s a lot to take in. What time is it?” I question.

  “Ten thirty.”

  “You’ve got curfew.” There’s no way I can explain all of this in twenty minutes.

  “But you have to be okay. I can’t go back to those four walls and wonder if you’re okay. Rilla, you don’t have to tell me, but your eyes tell me that you’re holding something back. I swear, you can trust me with anything. Remember when you said you wanted to be there for me? Well, I want to be there for you. It works both ways.”

  “I know, Tyke. I know. It’s just… it might take more than twenty minutes.”

  “Try me.”

  “Okay, you might want to sit down.” I give him the briefest version possible -- one that doesn’t include every detail, like the fortune I’ve walked into. It’s not that money matters, but let’s face it, sometimes people start to see green instead of what matters.

  “You mean to tell me that your mom set up your future without you knowing?”

  “Yeah.” I glance at the time. “You gotta go or you’re going to be late.”

  He shakes his head. “Coach will understand this, I promise. Tell me what you’re really thinking.”

  “I hated her, Tyke. I mean, I sometimes wished awful things on her, and hearing all of this, it made me feel the need to forgive her. Is that crazy? I’ve spent the majority of my life pushing her, and the sport we loved as a family, away only to learn that I’ve wasted so much time being bitter. You know?”

  “No, it’s not crazy. I’m not going to say I like the path she thought she needed to follow because it hurt someone I love, but I know that we have to forgive because if not, we’re the only ones that it’s hurting.” He pauses and I take his hand in mine.

  “It’s okay to forgive yourself, Tyke, and your dad too.” He holds my gaze as his eyes glisten but the tears never fall.

  “I gotta go,” he says, and I stand, not letting go of his hand.

  “I’ll get Daddy to follow me back and meet you for breakfast in the morning.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Rilla. I’ll be fine on the way back.” I look at him like he’s got to be kidding. “I swear.”

  “Fine,” I say with a little attitude because it worries me. He takes my chin and lifts it up.

  “I promise, I’ll be fine,” he says as he kisses my lips gently.

  Chapter 23

  Tyke

  As Rilla walks me to John’s truck I give her one last kiss before promising her I’ll text as soon as I’m back.

  Putting the truck in reverse, I wave as I back up and head toward the road. Turning out of the driveway, I turn up the radio and think about what she told me. Forgiveness is something you have to do for yourself, not the person you harmed. I know I’ve finally forgiven myself for the accident, but I know I haven’t forgiven my dad. Turning onto the highway, I know I’m going to be about five minutes late for curfew, but when I see blue lights ahead, my heart begins to beat out of my chest. Do I turn around or deal with it? If I turn around, I’m sure that they are going to chase me and that will not go over well.

  I take a deep breath, and pull up to the officer.

  “License and registration,” he says as he shines the flashlight around, looking inside the truck.

  “Here’s the registration. I borrowed my friend’s truck to check on my girlfriend, RJ,” I say and pray that her name gets me out of this. “I left my wallet in the dorm.”

  “James?” he questions.

  “Yes, sir.”

  He shakes his head. “How is she?” he questions.

  “Okay. She’s been dealing with some stuff since her mom passed.”

  “Yeah, I heard about that.” He walks to the back of the truck, checks the tag, and returns. “Looks like everything’s good here. Next time make sure you’ve got your license on you, TD,” he says with a smirk.

  “Yes, sir,” I state as I put the registration back in the glove box and roll up my window. Holy shit, I’m going to have to thank her for that one. I know he knew I wasn’t legal.

  Arriving back on campus, I lock the truck and hurry to my room. Walking in I see that John has made it back and isn’t trashed, which is awesome for tomorrow.

  “Dude, you look like you just shit your pants. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, you could say that. I had to go through a license check.”

  “You’re shittin’ me.”

  “Nope, thank goodness for my girl.”

  “’Aight, I’m gonna get a shower,” he says as he grabs a towel and walks out of the room.

  Grabbing my phone, I call Rilla. Forget texting.

  “Hey, what took you so long?” she asks.

  “You’re not going to believe this, but I had to go through a license check.”

  I hear the panic in her voice as she speaks. “You’re not calling from downtown are you?”

  “No, did you pay attention to the number on the screen?”

  “Oh, I didn’t think about that. What happened?”

  “Well, I might have thrown your name out there. I told him I had to check on you and that I had left my wallet at home. I totally thought he bought it until he called me by my name.”

  “Tyke! He just let you go?”

  “Yup,” I say with a smile.

  “Thank goodness,” she says.

  “I’ll see you in the morning at the arches.”

  “Night. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” I love that girl more than life itself.

  Rilla

  The moment that I hang up with Tyke, I run to find Daddy. I don’t care if he’s asleep or not.

  “Daddy, Tyke almost got arrested!” I almost shout.

  “Slow down, sugar,” he says as he takes his last bite of ice cream while watching the hunting channel.

  “Yeah, there was a license check. I’m pretty sure we’re the reason he’s not locked up right now.”

  Daddy begins to laugh. “I bet it was OT. He does most of those out there. I’ll have to thank him at church Sunday.”

  “So, while you’re in here. I got a question.” I wait for him to speak. “Did you tell him?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t give him all the details, but I couldn’t not tell him.”

  “I understand, but this is big, Rilla Dee, and I know y’all are hot and heavy. I don’t want to be negative, but what if something happens between you two and he knows all of your business?”

  I’m in disbelief. I’ve never heard him talk like this. He’s always a glass-half-full kind of guy. “Nothing is going to happen. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

  “I know and that scares me. The road he wants to go down is a hard one. There has to be so much trust and faith in the other person. That was a struggle for your mom. She couldn’t handle it and we argued about what tabloids would print and at some point she had her own dreams.” He takes a breath. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said all of that to you.”

  “It’s okay, I get it. I remember what it was like for you to be gone, but I’ve got one year left. After that, I can work from wherever.” Daddy looks at me, stunned. “I’m going to take over Tiffany’s Tiaras, and I’m going to run that business better than my mother did. I believe that everyone deserves a home, and I can handle those decisions no matter where I am.”

  A smile escapes his lips, “I knew that you’d come through.”

  “Are you kidding me! You were just messing with me?” He doesn’t say a word, but stands and hugs me goodnight. That man is one of a kind.

  Chapter 24

  Tyke

  Waking up, I can’t wait for my game day ritual to begin. I wake John up and we head towa
rd those arches.

  We order and I go ahead and order Rilla’s as well. She’s going to meet us here since she’s home. As I fill my cup with ice, I see her truck pull in the parking lot.

  “Get that grin off your face,” John says as he grabs a straw and lid.

  “Hell no. That’s the best sight I’ve seen all day.”

  “It’s barely nine o’clock,” he says as he takes a seat.

  Rilla pulls the door open and meets me with a smile on her face, and damn, she’s in my jersey again. She kisses my lips and whispers in my ear. “You win and you can take it off later.”

  “Can I watch?” John says, ruining the moment.

  “Hell no,” I say as I start to tear my pancakes.

  We talk about the game, what’s going on after, and share a few laughs about last night’s run-in with the law. That could have turned out so differently.

  The game is an easy one. We win by three touchdowns - next stop the bowl game. Oh and exams. I hurry to shower and meet Rilla outside the locker room. She’s leaning against the wall with a smile on her face.

  “You ready to keep that promise?” I ask her.

  “You mean you don’t want to go to the party?” she asks, pretending to be shocked.

  Tossing my arm over her shoulder, she bends her head toward me, and right now life is damn near perfect.

  Walking outside, she pauses and turns to me. “I want you to go somewhere with me.”

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  She shakes her head. “No silly, over break. I want you to go to New York with me.”

  “I can’t,” I state and the look on her face breaks my heart. “I was hoping you’d go to Atlanta with me.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it, but you think you could sneak away for a day or so? I know Porter isn’t going to give you much time off. I’ve got to go make the official changeover at Tiffany’s Tiaras. I got a call after breakfast from Mr. Knight. He said it needed to be done within the month.”

  “I wish, but I can’t leave without the season being done.”

  “I get it. I knew you couldn’t leave, but a girl can wish right? Oh and no worries, I’m not missing that game. Can you believe this semester is almost over? Exams are next week.”

  “I know. How about a little less thinking?”

  “What are you up to?” she questions.

  “Nothing, I thought we could worry about that tomorrow. What’s a few hours going to matter? Cabin?” I question and she smiles.

  “You read my mind. But just so you know, even if I have to fly straight to the game, I’ll be there. I will not miss it for anything.”

  “I know,” I say as I kiss her forehead before she climbs in the driver’s seat.

  As we make our way to the cabin, I can’t help but steal glances at her. She honestly is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. When we get there, I hurry around and open the door for her and take her hand in mine.

  I grab the key and unlock the door. I’m completely shocked when I open it. She must have been here earlier today. The fire is already burning and the counter is covered with my favorites. There’s Quick Snack sweet tea, chips and dip, pizza, cheese puffs, and peanut butter cups. This girl has thought of it all.

  “When did you do this?”

  “Ah, ya know? Just a little something I threw together,” she says with a wink.

  “I love it,” I say as I pull her to me and hold her close. “But I love you more.”

  She looks up to me and her eyes tell me what she wants. She takes a step back and raises her arms. Taking the hem of the jersey, I pull it over her head as her hands slide under my t-shirt and she does the same. We don’t rush, we go slow, and in this moment, I know that I’m going to marry this girl.

  Rilla

  As he kisses me one last time before lifting his naked body from mine, I can’t help but feel like my world is complete. I know we have some things to discuss. He hasn’t talked about it, but the deadline to declare for the draft is barely a month away. I know he’s going to, and if they don’t select him they are freaking crazy.

  “Whatcha thinking?” he questions as he looks at me.

  “January sixteenth is approaching fast,” I say, sliding the jersey back over my head.

  A smile spreads across his face. “You know that date?”

  “Hello! It’s the date that will change your life forever.”

  He shakes his head. “No, it will change our lives forever,” he says as he stands and goes to grab us each a drink and some pizza.

  He’s right. It will change our lives. If… no, when he gets drafted, choices will have to be made.

  Taking a bite of pizza, he pauses and looks at me. “Don’t do that.”

  “What?”

  “That choice has to do with both of us, not just me anymore.”

  “What if you have to move to Texas or something?”

  He places the pizza in the box and moves closer to me. “We will figure it out. We are in this together. It’s not just me anymore. It’s us. Now, let’s talk tiaras.”

  “I’m thinking if the bowl game is New Year’s Eve, I can go after Christmas and fly directly to Atlanta. What do you think?”

  “That would be awesome. I know Coach said we’ll leave that Wednesday night. Maybe I can get Mom to pick you up or something.”

  “Or maybe Laney can go with me? I’ll worry about that later. Let’s enjoy tonight.”

  He pauses for a minute. “I’ve got an idea. What if we celebrate Christmas after the bowl game?”

  “Porter isn’t going to let you stay in Atlanta.”

  “Why not?”

  “Really? It’s about the team. I’m sure you’ll head back. Why don’t we plan on a weekend getaway before classes start?”

  “Where are you thinking?”

  “What about Greenville?”

  “North Carolina?” he questions.

  “No, South Carolina, goofball. It’s not too far, but that place feels like vacation every time I’ve been there.”

  “Sounds good to me. Just us or do you want to see if Laney and Jacob want to go?”

  “I don’t know if they’ll be back yet. I’ll ask though. It’s going to be so much fun!”

  He shakes his head at me and then leans across the pizza box and kisses my lips. I. Love. Him.

  Chapter 25

  Tyke

  It’s exam week, and it’s freaking crazy around here. Between practice and cramming, I’m ready for a break. I cannot wait until tomorrow is over, then it’s only football. Coach has given us a few days off. We are allowed to go home as soon as the last exam is over, but we have to be back before Christmas. Not having a car sucks, and I’m not asking Mom to come and get me for a long weekend. Not that I really want to hang out with my dad, but I’m ready to see my mom. Hell, Dad can’t say too much. I’ve been doing everything he’s wanted on the field, and if all goes as planned this is my final season as a college football player. I know they’re coming to the bowl game so I’ll see them then.

  Walking into my final exam, I say a little prayer and get started. It takes me a little longer than I had planned, but when I turn it in I hurry to meet Rilla at her dorm. She’s been finished since yesterday, but said she’d wait to go home until today. Honestly, I’m thankful she’s right down the road.

  Arriving at her dorm, I send her a text that I’m downstairs. This place is a ghost town with almost everyone gone for break. She walks out the door, takes me by the hand and kisses my cheek. I don’t think that will ever get old.

  “How’d it go?”

  “Okay, I guess. Wanna go grab a bite to eat at the Quick Snack?” I ask her.

  “Sounds perfect to me.” We walk down Main Street and as we open the door, the smell of grease hits my nose. I can’t wait to have a burger.

  We take a seat, and enjoy lunch together. I know that she’s got to get ready to go home, and I’m hanging around the next few days.

  “So, I was thinking. Why don’t you come to
my house for a few days?” she asks.

  “Your dad’s not going to go for that. I mean I could come and hang out some, but stay over? Yeah right.”

  “You’d be surprised. He actually mentioned it to me this morning.”

  “Are you serious?” I say, looking into her eyes.

  “Yes, now you want to go or not?” she asks, taking a fry and popping it in her mouth.

  “Let’s go pack,” I say as a smile escapes her lips.

  Rilla

  Arriving at my house, I see that Daddy’s truck is gone and he must be working. Tyke grabs our bags as I open the door. Walking in, I show him where the guest room is, and then take my bags to my room.

  Tyke hasn’t really come to my house much. It’s either been later in the evenings or that crazy night when he drove himself out here. The fact that Daddy insisted I enjoy college life has helped since I don’t come home as often as I had originally planned.

  Once I put away a few things, I show him around. The house isn’t too big, but it’s bigger than most in the area. It also has Daddy’s barn, a hay shed, and a pasture that Daddy leases to the neighbors. Daddy enjoys the country, but farming isn’t his thing.

  As we make our way back to the house, we take a seat on the front porch swing. It’s something that I love to enjoy and something that never gets old.

  “Thank you for inviting me out here to stay for a couple days,” he says.

  “Did you really think that I was going to let you stay there alone when I’m right down the road?”

  “Maybe. I had hoped this would cross your mind. I wish I could drive. Getting around would be much easier.”

  “When do you get your restrictions removed?”

  “The next time I get home. I figured there wasn’t any use in that until after the season. I had hoped that I could do it over break if I was able to go home, but it’s no big deal. I’ve waited this long, what’s another month?”

  “True, but I could totally drive you across the state line if you like.”

  “Rilla, the Tennessee Department of Safety isn’t open on Saturdays and it’s too late today to make it.”