Page 79 of The Save

I opened the door and let the phone cord retract. “I love you, Mom.” Somehow, while he hadn’t come to any conclusions, I felt lighter.

“Love you, too.”

I hung up and rushed back to grab my sweatshirt. I would’ve loved to wear Chase’s, but half the guys would recognize it. Plus, I didn’t want it to get smoky.

“Ready?” Crystal stood grinning on my step as I swung open the door. “Because she’s ready.” Crystal held her hands out like Vanna White, and I squealed.

“You didn’t tell me it was red!” I grabbed my purse from the side table and ran out to inspect her new car. After a full walk about with appropriate “oohing” and “aahing,” I settled into the passenger seat.

Shania Twain thudded through the speakers of Crystal’s cherry red 1991 Pontiac Sunbird as we pulled away from the curb. The inside smelled faintly of vanilla air freshener. It had only two working windows and a radio with the tuning knob missing, but Crystal had installed a flower-patterned steering wheel cover and seat beads that clicked when she moved.

“It’s amazing!” I called out over the chorus.

She grinned back at me, her hair blowing in the breeze from her cracked window.

It was dusk when we arrived at Nick’s family ranch. Our headlights bounced as the sunbird crunched over gravel, spitting up dust. We were fifteen minutes past the last strip of Calgarydevelopment, and now it was all wide fields and barbed wire fences.

When we pulled up next to the barn, the yard was already full. Trucks lined the dirt drive, their tailgates down and stereos low. The smell of grilled burgers mingled with smoke from the bonfire roaring in a pit out back. Strings of mismatched lights were draped between fence posts. Someone had even hauled out a couch.

This was one of many events someone on the team would be hosting over the summer. A night like this is what pulled me into the Outlaws circle in the first place. Shar dragged me to play shinny on Nick’s frozen pond during the winter of 1993, and I’d been hooked.

I walked with Crystal toward the fire where Rob and Shar were tucked into a pair of lawn chairs, her feet on his lap.

As soon as Shar saw us, she swung her legs down and hopped up to greet us both with hugs.

“Your boobs are bigger.” I laughed, pulling back to inspect her.

“They totally are,” she whisper-laughed. “I told Rob to enjoy it before I have the belly to go with them.”

Crystal scoffed. “Whatever, he’s going to love that even more.”

I glanced over to see Rob watching Shar. He was smitten. Completely and totally wrapped around her finger.

The rest of the night buzzed with games and laughter. The guys got into a heated competition playing tailgate flip cup using a broken hockey stick as a baton. Someone dared Axel to race Bear down the gravel drive on foot, which resulted in a spectacular wipeout and Bear carrying him back fireman-style while everyone howled. Crystal and I dominated at horseshoes, which was really the only important thing to remember.

It was past midnight when the chatter quieted and the group began to thin. Shar stood talking with a friend of Bear’s, and Crystal was curled up in the bed of someone’s truck with what looked like three other people watching the stars.

Rob and I jumped in to help Nick gather empties and fold up chairs. The fire had dwindled to embers. Bugs whispered in the grass, and the air had that soft chill that meant dew was settling in.

Rob tossed a crumpled paper plate into a garbage bag and nudged a bottle cap with his foot. “You’ve been busy.”

I picked up a folded paper plate. “I know, sorry I haven’t been by to help with the nursery set up.”

Rob waved her off. “Almost done. You just need to come over and see it.”

“No way! I bet Shar’s thrilled.”

“That she is.” He held out the trash bag for me to drop in an empty pack of gum. “What did you end up deciding?”

I blinked, not understanding the question at first. When it clicked, my eyes widened. “Oh, did Shar not tell you? I decided to submit.”

His eyebrows shot sky high. “She didn’t. When do you find out?”

I grinned. “Found out today. It’s approved. I haven’t even had a chance to tell Shar yet.”

Rob smirked. “Finally. I get an update before she does. When do you start?”

I laughed and picked up a crushed can of Dr. Pepper from under the picnic table. The approval was real. The project was real. The excitement was real, too, but underneath it all, a familiar pressure had settled in the base of my chest.

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