is exactly what I’ve visualized every night since I injured my shoulder. It’s the perfect moment.
Except it’s not.
I search the stands to find my people. Duke is holding my mom, who’s crying. Joe and Nan are kissing, big surprise. Jared, Cam and the Twinkies are screaming, jumping around, and hugging each other. Elva and Kayla are slapping a high five. Finally, I see Tiger. She smiles, but it’s not celebratory, it’s full of sadness and resignation. Her hand raises in a wave, then she turns, and all I see is her retreating back.
She’s leaving.
What and where I want to be become laser clear in that moment. It’s not on the shoulders of my teammates or having seventy thousand people chant my name.
I want to work with the kids at the rec center, drink sweet tea on Elva’s front porch, and fill Wayland Estate with lots of children for my mother to spoil.
But more than anything else, I want to be with Tiger.
Tiger is home for me.
A safe place where I’m loved for just being me.
Forty-Eight
Tiger
“We need a new sign, too, don’t you think?” Maggie asks me as we walk the perimeter of the rec center with a pen and paper. We’re making a list of the things that need to be fixed or added. “New lighting would be good. And I’ve decided to leave Donny to become a showgirl in Vegas.”
“Sounds good,” I say as I stare at my empty pad.
“Earth to Tiger.”
“Huh?”
Maggie shakes her head. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Sorry.”
“Want to talk about it some more?”
“No, it won’t change anything.” I rub my forehead, hoping I can erase the image of Cash on the shoulders of his teammates from my brain. I knew the moment they hefted him into the air that I’d lost him. There’s no way he’d give that up for me, and I wouldn’t ask him to. He was magnificent in that game. There’s no doubt that on that field is where he belongs. “You should’ve seen him, Maggie. He was so happy, and he should’ve been. He played an unbelievable game.”
“I did see him. We watched the game on TV, and what I saw was him looking into the stands where you were sitting every chance he got.” She wraps one arm around my waist and leans her head on my arm. “Have you heard from him?”
“I texted him after the game to congratulate him, and he texted back and said we need to talk. But that was two days ago.”
“I’m sorry. I’m also sorry about the billboard.”
I shake my head. “I should’ve taken you with me on my last graffiti field trip. You’re the better artist.” My grand plan to humiliate myself with a giant penis backfired and now the town is debating if it is in fact a penis or a rocket ship, which has sparked debate about aliens being the vandals. I swear, this town. It’s a good thing I love it. “It’s all right. I think I’m done. I’ll just have to learn to live with it. It’s not the worst thing to happen to me.”
She laughs. “No, it’s not.”
I look up at the façade of the rec center. “I think you’re right about the sign, and I want to add ‘Family, Community, Unity’ under the name.”
“I love that.” She points at my pad. “Write that down.”
“Yes, ma’am.” My phone buzzes, and I check the screen. It’s a text from an unknown number.
Your presence is required at the billboard located at the Ryder city limits.
“Oh, crap.”
“What?”
“I think I’ve been caught.” I try and fail to calm the frantic pounding of my heart.
Maggie yanks the phone from my hand. “Let me see that.” She reads the message, then peeks up at me with bugged eyes. “Who is this?”
“No idea. Is that the sheriff’s number?”
She hands the phone back to me like it’s diseased. “Why would I know the sheriff’s cell number?”
“I don’t know, but I better go see what this is about.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. “No. If I am in trouble, you need plausible deniability.”
“Okay.”
“Plus, I might need bail money.”
“You can always count on me for bail money and body disposal.”
In spite of everything, I laugh. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
I race to my car, trying to place the phone number, but it’s not one I recognize. What am I going to do if I get arrested? My stomach revolts at that thought. Surely, that won’t happen.