Page 9 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout

Tackled with embarrassment, Beau nodded.It’s not about me. It’s about her daughter.Beau’s heart squeezed.But it never was just aboutme. It always was aboutus.

The representative from the foundation approached Beau and Sienna. “Oh, wonderful. Beau, how about we get some photos with the Clarke family?”

It wasn’t until he heard the wordfamilythat it dawned on Beau a very prominent member was absent. But he had been too blinded by Sienna to notice that apart from team officials, foundation reps, Henry, Sienna, and Grace, there was no one else with them.

No dad,Beau thought, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

Grace pranced over with bags of candy, including one filled with Swedish Fish that she shoved at Beau.

“Save it for later, okay?” Grace motioned at the baggy before pushing it, along with a folded-up paper, discreetly into his hand. “Don’t open until you get home.”

Knitting his brow, Beau looked down, but the seriousness on Grace’s face forced him to nod, and he shoved both items into his pocket.

“Right here,” the woman called. “In front of the window with the stadium as a backdrop.”

Glancing at Sienna, who begrudgingly shuffled her feet, Beau waited for her to move before following.

“Stand there, Beau, if you don’t mind.”

Beau didn’t mind because the woman pointed to the spot beside Sienna, who pressed her hands to the top of Grace’s shoulders when Beau bumped into her side. He held his breath and could feel her doing the same. The tension palpable, the nearly invisible space between them holding an abundance of memories, of words said and unsaid, of broken promises and dreams, of everything Beau had done wrong and all he wished he had done right.

But good or bad, Beau wanted to hold on to all of it. He slid his arm carefully and cautiously behind Sienna, resting his hand against her back as she swayed.

The photographer stood a few feet in front of them, clicking away. “Lovely. Let’s do one last final shot. One, two... ”

By the time the photographer hit three, Sienna had leaned into Beau’s gentle and cautious hold, as if to bind the gap in their story, sealing all the memories safely between them where they had always been.

But Beau knew their story wasn’t done yet. And when he pulled back after the photo, his fingertips slid down her back, feeling the tremble that shook Sienna’s body beneath her jacket.

At that moment, Beau silently vowed he would finish their story the way it always should have ended—packed to the brim with happiness, so the chapter of heartache and hurt was an afterthought instead of the entire plot.

He watched Sienna try to look anywhere but at him, and Beau smiled when she failed.

Second chances don’t happen every day. And third, like miracles, almost never.Better not waste it.

* * *

After Grace had collected bags filled to the brim with Sparks memorabilia—signed balls, jerseys, photos, mugs—Beau hovered to the side, unsure of his place.

“The driver is on level three to take you home,” Janet told them. “I hope you had a special day, Grace. It was wonderful to have you and your family join us. I’m sure the Sparks would love to have you for another game next season when they get their act together.” She looked over her shoulder at Beau.

They left the suite, gathering in the hallway and waiting for Henry to return from the bathroom. Beau reached out and placed a hand on Janet’s shoulder and lowered his voice. “If I wanted to contact them, how would I do that?”

“I’m sorry?”

Beau grit his teeth. “How do Icallher?”

Janet’s eyes rounded, concerned. “Grace?”

“Her mother,” Beau corrected immediately. “I mean, if I wanted to send something. Season passes for next year, or I don’t know, something else.”

My heart on a silver fucking platter, he offered in thought.

Janet pulled out a business card. “Just arrange it through my office. We can send whatever you’d like. That’s kind of you, Beau.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled.Get Chase on it, Beau thought, but he could already hear the dozens of questions his agent would ask and decided it would be best if he figured it out on his own.

Sienna was quick to push the button for the elevator when Henry entered the hallway.

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