“And the band?” he asked.
His dad smirked, wrapping an arm around his mom. “I’ve been friends with Randall for the better part of twenty years. He didn’t hesitate to gather up the band and pass out sheet music this morning. Except ‘Bust A Move’ — that one they already knew.”
Tyler laughed. “What are the odds?”
“Apparently pretty good in the marching band world. Crowd favorite, and all. But it was Cam’s idea, all of it. I just made some phone calls. After talking to you, Tyler, there was no way I couldn’t help. I knew she’d come around, and you needed to know how she felt. I’m just glad I could help.”
“Me too.” Tyler shook his head and looked down at me in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”
“I’m here,” I said, leaning into him, relieved and elated. “You deserved something big after what I put you through.”
“Well, you provided.” He tightened his arms, bringing me closer. “I missed you. When you didn’t answer my text, I thought …”
“I know. I’m sorry. I really was busy. Packing.”
He chuckled.
“I thought about messaging you this morning, but my flight left at like six in the morning and I wanted to die. Plus, you were sleeping.”
“I don’t even care now. Not when you’re here.”
I smiled up at him. “What do you want to do now?”
“Nothing I can do in a football stadium or with my dad present, that’s for sure.”
I laughed.
He turned to his dad. “We working out?”
“Not unless you really want to.”
Darryl walked up.
“What about spending the day hanging, Darryl?”
Darry laughed and waved a hand. “Man, don’t be crazy. I’m signing with you — I’m not even entertaining any other offers. You’re the most honest agent I’ve talked to, and Coach is the best man I’ve ever played under. It’s a done deal. You go get your girl.”
Tyler smiled. “Seems she came to get me. Who would have thought? She was running from me the whole time.”
“Not anymore. I’m sorry I’m crazy.”
“I told you. I like your crazy.” He bent down and picked me up, and I wound my arms around his neck, burying my face in his solid shoulder. “I want to get you alone, Cam.”
“Take me anywhere, Tyler,” I whispered. “I’ll follow you.”
And his arms flexed, bringing our hearts closer together than I ever knew they could be.
We left the stadium after thanking the band and chatting with everyone, heading back to his parents’ house with his dad. He sat in the back seat with me, holding my hand, his arm around me like I might disappear if he let me go. But I wasn’t going anywhere. Not this time.
When we pulled up to his house, I almost shit myself — it was a legit mansion, a sprawling, beautiful house with a circular driveway. Not like I didn’t figure they’d be rich, but somehow I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.
His sisters and mom were all sitting around in the kitchen, waiting for us. They smiled and hopped up, rushing us for hugs and congratulations in the foyer.
I felt like I was caught in a tornado of rainbows.
“Come on in, Cam,” his mom said. “You hungry? I just made chicken salad for sandwiches.”
“Starving.”
Tyler trailed a hand down my arm. “Let me go change, then maybe we can take a walk?”
I nodded, smiling, sensing he wanted to kiss me, but he didn’t. I didn’t take it personally in the slightest — I knew I’d have all the kisses I wanted soon enough.
He made for the stairs in the gigantic foyer, and I followed everyone into the kitchen to sit at the bar. Meg saddled up next to me, smiling.
“Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep all that a secret from Tyler?”
I laughed. “How did you guys find out?”
Meg chuckled. “There’s no such thing as a covert op in this house. Jamie is the eavesdropper of the family. She heard Mom and Dad plotting last night and told Grace, and the two of them bombarded me at seven this morning. They’re lucky I had the good sense not to get tanked last night.” She scowled dramatically and held up a fist to her sisters, who giggled.
I looked around at the happy family, all turned to look at me with smiles on their faces, and was overcome with emotion. “Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Knight. I probably could have just waited until he came home, but I hurt him, and I just … I wanted to make it up to him, and I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
Mr. Knight laughed. “You don’t have to thank us. We’re happy to help, and anyway, that was more fun than I’ve had in a long time.”
Meg sighed. “I wish I could have seen it.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “Darryl recorded it with my phone. Here.” I handed it over, and the girls all huddled around to watch. Funny that it was only a couple of minutes long. That a couple of minutes could take me from despair to elation.
They laughed when the band broke it down, and I rolled and thrust my hips in time with my arms and shoulders. I might have watched a lot of rap videos from the 90s to prepare. There also may have been some practice living room pajama dancing to Kid ’n Play.
No one could say I wasn’t prepared.
I thought over the moment. Wondered what would have happened if he’d said no, if he’d been too hurt to forgive me. A shock of fear burst through me, wondering if he’d only said he forgave me because I’d put him on the spot.