Page 84 of Wild and Wrangled

Near the end of the game, Riley got her hands (feet?) on the ball, and I stood so I could see. She dribbled it between her feet like a pro.

She was able to break away from the little amoeba that was following the ball and started heading toward the goal.

“Oh, shit, she’s going,” I said louder than I intended. Gus, who was next to me, stood, too.

“That’s my girl!” Gus yelled. “Go, Sunshine, GO!” There was one player who was gaining some ground on her, but Riley was gearing up to try for the goal. I watched her take a big step and swing her right leg back before letting it rip.

The ball went straight into the goal.

“Let’s fucking go!” I yelled and heard Gus’s victory cry next to me. Without thinking we grabbed each other’s hands and did one of those sports bro hugs. I don’t know what came over me. I heard Cam and Teddy laugh.

“Are they okay, do we think?” Teddy asked, but Cam never got a chance to answer because I pulled her close to me and kissed her temple. I heard my mom squeal behind me.

“Terrance Tucker!” she yelled. “Have you been keeping this from me?!”

I went still when I heard my full name and looked down at Cam, ready to apologize for not thinking, but she was smiling. She laced her fingers through the hand of the arm that was hanging over her shoulder—keeping me there. When our eyes met, she shrugged.

“Wait a second,” Teddy chimed in. “Your real name isTerrance?”

Oh my fucking god.

Cam burst into laughter next to me, and my mom joined in—hugging both of us over and over again.

I didn’t have a chance to bask in the moment because Riley came tearing toward us.

She went directly to Gus, and then to Cam. Her parentswere both beaming. Cam shrugged out of my arms to hug her daughter, and my mom took another chance to hug me.

“Don’t screw this up, Dusty,” she said in my ear. “Not everyone gets a second chance at their first love.” I was about to tell her that I didn’t have any intention of that, but then Riley called my name.

She was blushing under everyone’s attention. Teddy gave her a squeeze, and when it was my turn, Riley threw her arms around my neck. She held out her wrist to show me that she was wearing her bracelet—I didn’t notice it when we got here.

“Do you think it’s good luck?” she asked me.

I grinned. “Yeah, kid. I do.”

Chapter 37

Cam

Eight Years Ago

Ash,

Every time I write one of these notes, I feel so stupid. What’s the point of writing to you when you’re never going to read it? I don’t know. But I think it helps. I don’t think it makes me miss you less, and I don’t know if it makes me feel closer to you, but for some reason, it does make me feel closer to home. And today, I just wish I could be home.

My dad died. He went peacefully in his sleep. My mom is heartbroken. I’m heartbroken. I feel guilty. I haven’t seen him in over a year. I canceled my last visit. I told my parents I would fly them and Greer out to the next place I landed, but I never got around to it.

I wish we were in a different place—where I could call you on the phone, and you’d answer. I wish I could talk to you about him. About me. About all of it.

My dad loved you, you know. He’d keep me updated onyou. He told me you grocery shopped on Thursdays, so every Thursday, he made sure the Pink Lady apples were stocked. I think he wanted me to know that you were okay—that you had people taking care of you and that he would always be one of them.

I haven’t written this down in a while because when I write it down, I remember how real it is. But I miss you. I miss you all the time. I don’t even know what it feels like not to miss you.

I miss my dad, too.

Dusty

Ididn’t even know why I was at the Devil’s Boot—especially on a night like tonight. It was busy. People were packed in here like sardines. Five minutes ago I saw Teddy Andersen try to pick a fight with a guy who looked like he was closely related to the Jolly Green Giant.

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