“Nolan Lynn Lennox. I’ve got a plan, and I hope you’ll be on board with it. You see, I have to leave soon for San Diego. And I’m going to be far. And I’m going to be busy. And I’m not going to get to come see you anytime I want. And it sucks, and I hate it, and I’m so sorry it makes you sad. But I’d like to make you a deal,” his voice so warm and gentle, his words making my eyes water and my hands shake. He reached down to wipe away a tear, leaving his hand on my cheek for a second just to touch me.

“You wear this ring and promise me you’ll love me forever, and when you’re done with your fellowship next year, we’ll get married. That’s it. No more ups. No more downs. Just me and you—and our forever,” he said, pulling the ring from the box and holding it in front of me. Forever. Reed wanted me…forever.

My fingers tingled, and my eyes zeroed in on Reed’s, the smile still there on his face. It never left, not once all night. Through the shock, I managed to stretch my lips into a smile, and I reached to touch his hands, nodding yes.

“Yes? Is that yes?” he asked, our foreheads touching while he slid the ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit, and I’d wear it for always.

“Yes,” I choked, the tears falling a bit now. “Yes, I’ll marry you Reed Johnson. You’re worth the trouble, too.”

He stood and lifted me with him, swinging me around and knocking into the table a little, neither of us caring. “That’s a yes, everyone,” Reed shouted. “Drink up! She said yes!”

Sarah was the first to whistle, her fingers in her mouth so it carried loudly through the desert air. Everyone else joined in after, but all I heard were Reed’s words in my ear.

“You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make you just as happy,” he said, kissing me long and hard, his hands holding my chin and face.

“You already do,” I said, happy tears falling now.

“God I love you,” he whispered, hugging me tightly to his chest.

“I knew you did,” I said, holding my breath and staring into the eyes I’d just made a promise to love forever. He smiled at my words, the same ones he had said to me the first time we uttered those words to one another. He just held me tighter then, and never let go.

Epilogue

Reed

My body felt like it had been carried under a freight train. I’d taken beatings in college ball, and I thought practices had toughened me up enough, but I’d never been hit like I was out on that field today. I stood there like nothing was wrong, though. I’d keep it to myself until I got home, and Nolan forced me to soak in ice. Part of me thought she kind of liked torturing me with the freezing ice baths.

I’d finally gotten my shot at starting. Four long years as the number two, with a play or two here and there, but this year the starting gig was finally mine. I played well today. We won, and I threw two passes to the end zone. But that one interception was going to plague me. I caught Nolan’s eyes as she stood to the side on the field, waiting with my dad. She knew I’d be replaying the interception all day, too. She just gave me a thumb’s up and mouthed, “You were awesome,” her attempt for me to shrug off my error. I wish I could; it just wasn’t in me.

The San Diego media had been hounding me all week leading up to the game. The team was mine this year, and I was going to sink or swim. Today, at least, I’d get to live to another Sunday. I gave Nolan the sign for a few more minutes while one of the camera guys clipped a microphone to the front of my jersey. One more interview. I could do this.

The questions were always the same: What did you learn under Sampson? Do you feel ready? What do you need to work on? I rattled off my answers by rote, changing a word around here and there, just to make it seem as if I was saying something fascinating and new.

The reporter was just getting in the groove of his questioning, when I looked over and realized Nolan was gone. My dad was still there, so I wondered what had happened. I knew I was irritating the reporter, because I was so damned distracted, but I couldn’t help but search for her. I usually met her in the family area, because the field was pretty crowded after the game.

“I’m sorry. Can I just take a short pause? I just need to check on something. I’m all yours in just a sec. I promise,” I said, unclipping the mic and handing it to the camera guy while I slid through the crowd of reporters to my dad. “Hey. Where’s Noles?”

My dad just shrugged me off as I walked up. “She’s fine, she’s fine. It’s probably just that thing they get…what is it?” my dad was typing on his phone while he was talking to me, driving me nuts. “Morning sickness. Probably just morning sick…”