Page 287 of Wild Card

Oh my God!

Mom places her hand on my shoulder, her eyes already misty.

I scramble to get my phone out of my pocket, knowing this will be a monumental occasion. A text comes through from Talon.

Calm it, Princess.

I immediately respond.

You know?

Of course he knows…

Yeah, and so will everyone else if you and Stacy don’t reel it in.

Reel it in? I’m not doing anything.

Then I realize my hands are shaking and Mom is fidgety.

We’re the worst.

Slowly, I stand, getting in place to video.

A few minutes later, the game ends, and after the players high-five, Chase approaches the mound, Wyatt at his side.

Bex’s cheers slow as she watches in confusion.

Usually, Wyatt makes a beeline to her after a game.

“Rebecca!” Chase calls and the crowd goes quiet.

She tips her head.

“Can you join us out here?”

Talon opens the player gate and she goes still.

I forego my mission to record this moment and prod her forward. She’s trembling from head to toe, and when Chase hits his knee with Wyatt mimicking his actions, she lets out a cry.

He pops open a velvet box and crooks a finger. She takes off running, him barely getting to his feet before she launches herself into his arms. He whispers something in her ear and her head nods as her small sobs sound.

My own tears threaten, but I will them away, not wanting to miss a thing.

A movement at the edge of the parking lot catches my attention. Rylee stands next to the sidewalk, swiping at her face. We momentarily lock eyes before she dips into her car.

In that split-second, there’s a glimpse of devastation so deep it rocks me to my core.

A hand comes around my waist, caressing my stomach. “Want me to have her removed?”

I glance up at Talon, shaking my head. “Chase is sharing one of the biggest moments of his life with a bunch of strangers. She’s no different.”

“You ready for that nap?”

“I’m ready to throttle your neck for keeping yet another secret from me.”

“You got jittery as a jackrabbit in the two minutes before you found out. Really think you could have kept this to yourself?”

His arrogant grin proves he has a point.

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