Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest Series Book 7)(56)

He was warning me.

I nodded. “I know,” I whispered. I’d watched him go through it. “I can’t believe it, but it might not happen. This was just the first race. It might’ve been a fluke.”

“Stop.”

“What?” But I knew what he meant.

“You know it wasn’t a fluke. You know the rest will be the same. The only difference now is that everyone else knows how good you are.”

Those damn tears. I felt them again. They were threatening to spill. “I heard your voice in my head.”

“Yeah?”

I laughed. “It was telling me to go.” It had also been my voice, and my mom’s too, but I kept that to myself. I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t want to give her any credit. She didn’t deserve it.

“I hear your voice in my head sometimes too.”

“You do?” I sat down on a bench. Some people had started to leave the restaurant, heading for their vehicles.

“I do. When I’m holding back, and I have to make a good play or something. You’re always yelling at me—why am I holding back? Why aren’t I going for it?”

“Are you messing with me?”

He laughed softly. “Kind of. I never hold back when I need to make a great play, but I do hear your voice. You’re always urging me on. You make me stronger. It means a lot to hear that I do the same for you.”

I fell silent. I just held the phone and listened to him on the other end.

“I love you,” he said.

“I know. You tell me often.”

“I feel it often. I mean it every time.”

“I love you too.”

The door opened, and I heard Logan’s voice.

“I should go. I think Logan’s looking for me.”

“Tell him I’ll be at the parking lot to pick you up. I want that privilege.”

“You’re still there?”

“I am. I’m waiting.”

He wasn’t alone. When the bus pulled up to the building, the entire football team was waiting. The family and friends who had gone ahead of the bus joined them, and they all started clapping as we got off.

I started crying. I couldn’t stop. I stepped forward and just stood there. I was dressed in the warm-ups the university had given us, and I held my bag in one hand. I covered my face with the other. I hated crying, but I hated crying in front of others even more.

Mason broke from the crowd and came forward. He lifted me up, and I wound my legs and arms around him.

Then I let everything go.





“Honey, your father and I are coming today for Mason’s big game. I only wish we’d known about your first run, or that you were even on the team. We had no idea. And that’s so exciting, hearing about how fast you ran. I’m not surprised at all.”

Malinda was gushing in my ear as I tried to dress and talk at the same time. I’d slept late since Mason didn’t wake me when he got up to go in earlier.

My stepmother kept going. “And don’t you worry about making room for us at the house or even cooking. We’ll get a hotel room. I already have it reserved, and we’ll be treating you to dinner. All of you.”

I paused. “Dinner?”

“Of course. We have to celebrate your run and Mason’s first game.”

I was scrambling, trying to remember if we had any set plans. Last night had been a blur. Coach Langdon and my track coach both mentioned celebrating with the team. I couldn’t remember when they’d said it was happening, but then again, I hadn’t known Malinda and David were coming to town until she called this morning.

Mason’s game was at two. I had to find Logan, Taylor, and Nate, and we all had to head to the stadium to get seats.

No—I jerked upright from reaching for my shoes on the floor.

That was it.

Coach Carillo had mentioned us joining him in a private box for the game. How did Coach Carillo have a private box? I frowned, trying to remember what I’d said in return.

Actually Mason had stepped in, saying, “She’ll probably be sitting with my brother and a few others. Can she get back to you tomorrow?”

Coach Carillo had bobbed his head up and down. “Sure thing. That’s understandable.”

And then we’d gone home. There’d been more celebrating, but Mason had to go to sleep right away. And since Mason had to sleep, Logan suggested going out for some drinks. But I declined. I wanted to be with Mason.

Now tonight was supposed to be the main celebration night. And Malinda and David were joining the festivities.

This should be fun.

After hanging up with Malinda, I finished getting dressed and reached for my phone. I needed to call Logan, but instead saw a bunch of text messages from my biological father, Garrett.