Page 47 of Ink Me Three Times

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…and drops through the hole.

Dead center.

Silence.

For half a second, the entire field holds its breath.

Then chaos.

Jesse screams. Karl tackles Leo. Penny blows her whistle like she’s officiating the Super Bowl. And the crowd, oh wow, thecrowd, erupts like I just scored a winning touchdown in a town that thinks ESPN is spelled C O R N.

People are clapping. Cheering. Someone throws a hat in the air.

And through it all, one voice breaks louder than the rest.

"Yeah, Ivy!"

I spin instinctively, scanning the crowd… and there he is.

Timothy.

Hands cupped around his mouth, eyes bright, grinning like a lunatic. He’s on his feet, shouting like he just watched a miracle happen.

Our eyes meet.

He throws both fists into the air and yells again, "That’s what I’m talking about!"

My heart does something it probably shouldn’t. I look away too quickly, face burning, but it’s already too late.

I’m smiling.

Not a smirk. Not my usualgrimace disguised as humor.

A real, teeth showing, chest squeezing smile.

Oh no.

Karl jumps on my back, nearly knocking me over. "You did it! You legend!"

Jesse’s laughing so hard he can’t breathe. "I take it back.Youare the weak link, Karl!"

Penny rushes over and grabs my hand like she’s going to lift it in victory. "Coach says we win! We beat the farmers!"

I blink at her. "Coach?"

She points to a golden retriever in a visor sitting under the scorekeeper’s table. "Coach says you’re MVP."

I nod solemnly. "Tell Coach I’m honored."

As the crowd starts to disperse and the adrenaline fades, I glance back toward Timothy.

He’s still smiling.

And this time, when our eyes meet, I don’t look away.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ivy

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