“Val!”
“What?” She snapped to attention, looking down and realizing what she’d done. “Oh. Sorry.” She handed the jacket back to him and looked away, trying to appear casual. She fluffed her hair, and I walked past her.
“Do I want to know?” Mason asked.
“Ask Nate.” I patted him on the arm.
We wove through the last of the tables before coming to the private room, but Mason took my hand and pulled me to the side. “You okay? Things seemed heated back there.”
“Yeah.” But I felt a headache forming, and I pressed a hand above one of my eyebrows. It hurt the most there. “She’s just . . . She’s not a good person. I’ll leave it at that.”
“Let me ask my dad about her family.”
“Mason,” I started.
“Let me help you. I’ll talk to my dad.”
Suddenly, and so completely, I was just thankful Mason was with me. I slid my arms around his waist and tipped my head back. I didn’t have to say anything. He knew, and his lips were right there, meeting mine.
MASON
“Mason.”
Garrett, Sam’s biological father, held his hand out as Sam and I stepped into the private room. Sam paused, looking up at me. She was silently asking if I wanted her to stay and be a buffer between us, but I shook my head. It meant a lot that she was even offering.
I shook his hand. “Mr. Brickshire. How are you? Thank you again for helping with that incident earlier this summer.”
“Garrett. We’ve been through too much for you to call me by my last name, but I admit, it’s a lot nicer reception than I used to get from you guys.”
And since he went there, I replied, “Yeah, but that was when you were a dick to your daughter. You haven’t been for a while, and you helped me out.”
Logan was sitting close by, and he snorted, looking back to watch us.
Garrett let out a soft sigh. “I guess I asked for that. I did disappear for a while.”
It was for two years, but who was counting?
I just smiled back. “Thanks for coming to the game.”
“Of course.” He seemed relieved to move on. “And it was a great one, especially for your first of the season. Two touchdowns. They were raving about you on ESPN earlier.”
I nodded. “Yeah, well, everyone at the university is raving about Sam’s race time yesterday.” I turned toward her. She had taken a seat at the end of the table and was conversing with some of her running friends, but she looked back to me. A warm glow emanated from her.
The buzz about her was small, so far. That wouldn’t last. I knew the other runners were talking about her race, and that would only spread. People would watch to see if she could continue that time. I was sure some thought it was a fluke, but I knew better. Sam had been running like that since I’d known her.
Thinking about it now, I hadn’t pushed her to join cross-country. I’d asked her once if she wanted to, but she’d said she was fine with just doing track. I was ashamed now that I hadn’t pushed her harder. I knew I was part of the reason she’d chosen only the spring sport. I should’ve done everything I could to make sure she wouldn’t regret not joining cross-country.
At least she was there now.
Sam didn’t like attention, and I knew a part of her was happy, but a part of her was freaked out. My job was to be there for her, and I would be, but as I gave her bio dad a look, I hoped he read between the lines. I wanted everyone to be there, including him.
It was her time to shine.
He coughed, narrowing his eyes. “Yes, that’s what I’ve heard. I was ecstatic when I found out.”
“She’s running pre-Olympic times. Did you hear that?”
He stilled, and his eyebrows stretched apart.
He hadn’t.
“It’s going to get crazy for her.”
“Yeah,” he murmured, his eyes falling thoughtfully to his daughter. “Yeah, I’m sure it will be.” He paused, then looked back to me. “Pre-Olympics?”
“Yeah.”
Was he getting it now? Did he understand?
“You know, I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without support,” I said. “Support. That’s really important. Support. From family and friends.” Did I have to say it again?
He shot me a look.
He got the message.
“Mason.” Malinda stood at the other end of the table, a glass of wine in hand. “Stop interrogating Garrett and sit down. Both of you sit down.”
She waved to the table, and I slipped into my seat next to Sam. Garrett returned to his at the other end next to his wife and David.
Malinda raised her glass. “A toast to Mason for his exceptional game today.” She beamed with pride. “And to Samantha, for making Cain U history yesterday and continuing to do so. And to everyone here.” She indicated the whole table. “If you’re here, that means you love and care for one of our kids, and that means the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To everyone!”