Page 132 of No Way Home
“Well, he never misses a game.” Why would he? We had season tickets. “I grabbed my clear bag—UVA policy—off the ground and stood. “I’m going to look for him.”
“No!” they shouted, making me jump.
“What in the world?” I said, hand over my heart, trying to get it to calm.
Abilene’s eyes were massive, like she’d swallowed a bug.
“I mean, yes,” Fletcher said, nonchalantly. “That’s a great idea. It’s almost halftime anyway.” Five seconds left on the clock. “We’ll come with you.”
We worked our way down the aisle, which wasn’t too hard since only the most diehard fans had hung around once the rain began. But the concrete was slippery, and our feet kept trying to come out from under us. By the time we reached the gate exit, the clock had run out and the teams were jogging off the field.
Under roof, the concessions area was packed. Looked like the fans hadn’t gone home. They were waiting out the rain here. We found an empty spot by the wall. I peeled my hood back, bent over, and wrung out my hair. But when I stood up, Abilene and Fletcher were gone.
“Maggie!” I heard Abilene holler.
I pushed up on my tiptoes to find her. Oh, they were by the opening to the football field, waving me over like there was something cool they wanted me to see. I really wanted to find Bowen, but they were insistent.
I wove through the crowd, in and out. “What is it?” I asked as I walked up to them.
Abilene was fighting back the biggest grin, her dark eyes shining with excitement. “Look!” she yelled, way too loud to be so close.
I turned my head to make her happy, about to complain that I’d probably go deaf early now, thankyouverymuch. But I never got the words out. Because standing there directly in front of me, midfield…
Was my dad.
My breath caught in my throat.
He was wearing his olive green dress uniform, looking right at me. When our eyes met, he broke into a grin and gave me a salute. I staggered back a step, feeling like I was in a dream. He was retiring in December, right before Christmas. Then, he’d move home for good. I’d been counting down thedays. But that was still two months away. What was he doing here? Now?
On reflex, I saluted back. But with my next breath, I screamed, “Dad!” and shot through the opening, sprinting onto the grass. Four steps in and my shoes were soaked. No wonder our running back slipped—the ground was waterlogged. Five steps in and I realized this was being filmed. By everyone in the stadium, and a couple of news crews. I’d almost forgotten this was a televised game.
But I couldn’t care about any of that. All I cared about was my dad, whose feet were planted, arms thrown open wide. For the first time tonight, I was thankful for the rain. It would hide my happy tears, as Bowen called them. I’d cried many in the past year.
I slammed into Dad with an oof. But he’d been ready.
“Dad?” I cried as his arms crushed me in a breath-stealing hug. “What’re you doing here?”
He chuckled and my heart was so happy. I loved his laugh. I hadn’t heard it nearly enough since Mom passed. “I thought a football game with my girl sounded like fun.”
I glanced around as cameras flashed. I laughed, not even caring that I was soaked. “Is this going to be on one of those TikTok reels of military families being surprised by their loved one in the armed forces?”
“Definitely,” Dad said, pressing a kiss to my cheek. His mustache tickled my skin the same way it had my whole life.
“I wish Bowen was here,” I said. “I can’t believe he’s missing this.”
“Maggie.” Dad’s eyes twinkled as he set me on my feet. “Bowen is definitely not missing this.” He gestured behind me.
I whirled so fast, I nearly biffed it in front of everyone. But Dad caught me.
And right there, thirty yards away, was Bowen, drenched and grinning like he couldn’t be happier to be…
Down on one knee.
His entire family was behind him—Abilene and Fletcher too—donning raincoats and holding balloons that spelled outWill you marry me?
My hands clapped over my mouth, and I felt stupid for not realizing what this was. But I felt special and so loved too.
I grabbed Dad’s hand and pulled him along. “I can’t believe he did this,” I said.
