Page 65 of By the Book

But adrenaline isn’t what I need. What I need is to focus, to calm down and center myself. Reflexively, my eyes travel up to the stands, and it doesn’t take long for them to land on one person in particular. After all, I’ve been stealing glances at her plenty in the last three quarters.

Ivy sits between her parents and my Pops, wearing her brother’s alternate jersey. Damn, what I wouldn’t give to see her sitting there in my number right now. But she’s here. And she’s staring back at me with such determination and trust. I find my center in her gaze, same as every other time I’ve looked up tonight.

With renewed determination, I jog back out onto the field. Getting into my stance for the face off, I let all the commotionaround me drift away. Fifteen minutes of play remain, fifteen minutes to prove myself.

The clock reads zero. And the scoreboard reads in our favor. I’m lost in the center of my team’s huddle, the sound of sticks slapping above my head, and every so often against my helmet. We won, and I scored two goals in a five-minute span. The first was a fast break off the faceoff and the second honestly had a lot to do with luck.

Our team disperses to head back to the sideline where family and friends have lined up on the rail of the stands above us. Wes throws his arm across my shoulders as we make our way over to his family and Pops. “Damn, that was impressive,” he shouts over the blaring air horns. “You killed it out there, good job.”

“Thanks,” I laugh, tapping my stick against his helmet. We break apart as he moves to his mother, and I remove my right glove to clasp Pops’s hand. My grandfather doesn’t miss the way my eyes drift to his left, though, landing on a beaming Ivy. He gives a subtle nod in her direction, releasing my hand.

I offer a nod back before turning fully to her. And the moment I do, she leans way too far over the rail for my liking, arms outstretched. “That was amazing, Tripp,” she shouts as I reach up and steady her. Caught up in the moment, I hold her in a tight hug, reveling in the feel of her hugging me back. From the way she is hanging, her hair falls forward over my face, and I steal a sniff as it envelops me in her heavenly scent. Yeah, this is way better than any trophy.

Chapter 26

Tripp

Iknow that it is never a good thing when a mayor decides to pay a visit toyouroffice. It should always be the other way around. And yet, Mayor Fitzgerald is here, crossing my threshold. Peering up through a furrowed brow, I watch him step in and close my office door. The second bad sign.

“Sheriff Forester, have a minute?” He’s oddly formal this morning, making that the third omen.

“By all means, come in,” I sigh, motioning to the worn chair across from my desk.

Damn, I’d rather be back in bed with Ivy. I could have stayed like that all day. It took more than ten years to get here, with her finally being mine. And I want nothing more than to make up for lost time. But instead of being at home, tangled up blissfully, I’m about to get some real bad news.

“I talked with a friend this morning, one of the Manchester County Commissioners. I’m sorry, Tripp. It’s official. The signatures started last night to recall you. I asked to be the one to deliver the news, a friendly face.”

This isn’t a surprise, but it hits me all the same. Leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms, I can’t help but think about Pops. He would be so disappointed. And how do I tell Ivy?

I find myself nodding as Fitzy rambles on about the recall process and that it is difficult to actually get a recall to stick. He tells me that I shouldn’t worry, this isn’t set in stone. All I know is that he uses the word “recall” a lot.

“And I’m thinking, maybe we should move forward with canceling Fall Fest, with everything going on.”

“I’m sorry, Mayor, but that’s bullshit. One thing doesn’t relate to the other.” It probably comes out harsher than intended, but I push on. Albeit, in a softer tone. “There’s no threat there. Why are you so determined to cancel it?”

“Determined to cancel it? I wouldn’t say that.”

“It seems like it from where I’m sitting. Is this a reputation thing for you? I can see how the town might try to pull you down with me. But tell me that then, don’t make it a safety concern that isn’t there.”

Fitzy drops his gaze, refusing to meet my eye. I’m on to something, then. I continue confidently, “If it’s not your reputation, then I need to start looking into your motivations. They might be more concerning.”

Shaking his head, a small smile stretches across the mayor’s face. “You know, I appreciate how you’re always a straight shooter with me. Just like your grandfather. And you’re right, I put too much stock in the people’s opinion of me.”

Interesting, he might truly think I’m right. Or I just called his bluff. Should I have been looking into Fitzy?

I push the thought from my head. It would make no sense if he was the vandal. The idea of looking closer at the people I’ve known my whole life must be getting to me. It may have something to do with why I was so eager to get Reid for this. Other than the fact that I wanted to tear him limb from limb for trying to make a disgusting bet about getting Ivy to bed.

“Then you’re done trying to pull the festival?”

“This is the last you’ll hear of it. Especially so soon, I’m not sure what I was thinking.”

“Well, I’m glad we see eye to eye on this, sir.”

We rise in unison and shake hands amicably. Fitzy sees himself out and then there I am, alone once again with a cluttered desk and a cluttered mind. I check my watch and see that I have an hour before I start my patrol. I know exactly how I need to spend it.

Grabbing my keys, I head for the door, running into Chuck on the way. “You good, son? I saw the mayor leave.”

“All good, just have to make a stop before my patrol.”

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