Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

When I get to the sky box after the game, Sabrina rushes forward like she’s going to launch herself into my arms. I drop my bag and catch her the moment she does just that. She kisses me as I spin us around.

“You were fantastic! Amazing! Incredible! You won! I’m so turned on right now!” She says all of it in a rush, beaming at me and holding my face in her hands.

A chuckle tries to break free but then she’s kissing me again. Winning has never felt this good.

I tangle one hand in her hair, and I kiss her with everything I have. Today was because of her. Because I knew she was here cheering me on, loving me like no one else has. Because she showed me what it is like to stand up and fight for what you want.

She could have given up when Graham bought the studio, but she didn’t. She didn’t even consider it for a second.

Being with her has made me want to be a better man. She’s made me realize what’s important and what’s just noise.

I feel her go still in my arms and then she says, “Oops.”

I pull away from her slowly and finally look at the other people crowded around us. They’re all staring at us. Brogan hides his smirk by glancing down at the ground, and I feel my face heat as I smile at Sabrina’s parents.

Loosening my grip, I let my girl slide down my body until her feet are on the ground.

“Good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock,” I say, wrapping one arm around their daughter.

Her mom is a few inches shorter than Sabrina with short blonde hair and gray-blue eyes that crinkle in the corners when she smiles. The adoration as she looks at her daughter is hard to miss. Her dad too. He’s a big guy – tall and stout. He has a thick head full of gray hair and a beard that’s trimmed short. He’s wearing an old Mavericks jersey donning the name of one of my all-time favorite wide receivers to play the game.

“That was quite a game,” Mr. Whitlock says, extending a hand.

I shake it and thank him.

“I don’t know the last time I enjoyed watching football so much.” Sabrina’s mom steps forward and embraces me. She’s a hugger. I just met her last night, but I bet she hugged me a dozen times already. It’s nice. Makes me think of my mom and wonder what she would have thought of Sabrina. I know she would have loved her, but I still would have enjoyed seeing them together. I’m not sure how I feel about God and the afterlife, but I like to think she’s smiling at me wherever she is.

We linger in the sky box. Most of the stadium has cleared and the field is empty. Sabrina and I are standing with her dad while he asks me about the season and tells me stories about games he’s been to. He’s been a Mavericks fan longer than I’ve been alive.

I like him a lot. He’s different than my dad, older, more talkative and friendly. My dad, even at his best, was introverted and kept to himself. He liked being around people but was never the one doing a lot of talking. I don’t know if that’s who he is or just how I remember it. I guess I’ll never really know him.

Being with the Whitlocks doesn’t replace that small stab of pain of not having my own parents here, but it does make me realize that in five or ten years when I have my own family, I want to be a husband and dad who shows up and makes others feel welcome.

As we’re getting ready to leave, I find myself alone with Sabrina.

“Your brother found a new best friend,” I say and nod my head toward Brogan. He’s got one arm thrown over Mrs. Whitlock’s shoulders and she’s laughing too hard she can barely stand upright.

“I had an inkling that might happen. She always wanted more kids and Brogan is twenty-five going on ten.” Sabrina smiles and rests her head on my shoulder.

“You good?” I ask, moving so I can look into her eyes. She seems a little melancholy as the minutes pass.

“Yeah,” she says automatically and not at all convincing.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just worried about her.” She glances over to her mom and back to me. “I know it doesn’t make sense. She’s been healthy for months now and she looks great, but I just have this gnawing ache thinking about being away from her again.”

“Do you want to move back to Flagstaff?” Even asking the question has my gut churning. I can’t imagine waking up every day without her.

“No. I love it here. And I don’t actually think it would be any easier if I saw her all the time. I’m always just going to worry.”

“Can I tell you my biggest regret with my mom?”

She nods and gives me her undivided attention, even stepping another foot closer. “Of course.”

“I was younger than you when my mom was sick, so I know it isn’t the same, but I used to worry about her too. So much that it consumed me when she was around. I didn’t enjoy the good days that I had with her because I was so wrapped up in my own fear.”

She squeezes my hand. “I’m so sorry. That had to have been really hard to see your mom sick that young. Of course you were scared.”

“Thanks.” I squeeze her back. “The other thing I’ve realized as the years have passed is that she was scared too. God, she must have been so scared. She needed people to comfort her, and instead I was consumed with my own need for everything to be okay. I wish I had been one of those people for her more than anything.”

“Oh my god, I’m a selfish jerk.” She buries her head in my chest, and I feel her groan vibrate against me.

“No.” I chuckle softly and reach forward with one hand to tip up her chin. “You’re not selfish. You’re human. She’s your mom and you don’t want to lose her. But she doesn’t want to lose you either.”

“Thank you.” She lifts onto her toes and places a kiss on my lips, lingering there like she’s breathing me in.

“You’re welcome.”

We break apart and walk hand in hand to the rest of our group.

Brogan meets my gaze and smiles. Happiness practically radiates off him. I have a feeling he’s become an honorary Whitlock and I’m glad for him. He should have had a family like this instead of the shitty parents who left him to fend for himself.

“Should we have everyone back to our place and order some food?” he asks me.

I nod my approval, but Sabrina’s mom interjects, “We should probably go back to our place and get out of your hair.”

“But you leave tomorrow,” Sabrina says.

I smile and try my best to look as sincere as I feel when I say, “We’d love to have you come see the apartment and have dinner with us.”

Her dad shrugs. “Can’t say no to that.”

Sabrina and I walk behind the rest of the group.

She swings our hands between us. “Thank you for being so great with them.”

“I like them a lot. I can see a little of you in each of them.”

“You know…” She trails off and smiles at me hesitantly. “It might not be too late to repair things with your dad. Maybe you have more good days ahead of you?”

“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “We didn’t have a lot of good times even before he left us.”

“I wasn’t there, and I can’t imagine it. My parents have been hovering over me since I was a baby. But you’re a good man, Archer Holland. If any part of you wants some sort of relationship with him now despite the past, then don’t let the opportunity pass you by. Life’s too short. And if he still isn’t the father you need or want, then at least you won’t look back and wonder.”

I nod, knowing there’s some truth to her words, but not feeling any more compelled to reach out to the man who left me and my brothers. Opening myself up to that feels like knowingly stepping in front of a bus.

She stops and laces her fingers behind my neck. Everyone else is still walking away, but not us. I’d stand still with her and let the whole world pass us by.

“Either way, I’ll be here with you. Me and you, baby.”

“Me and you.”