The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (109 page)

W
e all gather at the Chateau after the game.  Evan’s parents agree to stop for a while before they continue their drive up north.  Our home is about halfway between Atlantic City and their home in Cedar Grove.  Callie, Reese, and I busy ourselves putting out food for our guests while Marcus and Derek begin making drinks. 

Emmy and Adam have disappeared.  Emmy made some remark about wanting to give Adam the grand tour of the Chateau, but I suspect they slipped away for some private time.  I swear, those two are always going at it like rabbits and if they’re not careful, they’re going to have lots of baby bunnies running around.

“It could take a couple of hours for Evan to get home,” Callie explains.  “He has team meetings and post game interviews to give.  He’s got to shower, turn in his uniform, and then drive home.”

“Now, Juliette, I have to warn you.  He’s going to seem fine today, excited and exhilarated even,” Jill warns.  “But come tomorrow, his body will be feeling the pain from the hits he took today.  He’ll be sore and grumpy.  Don’t take it personally.  It doesn’t last long.”

John, Marcus, Derek, and Dean are all gathered around the television watching the game highlights on Sports Center.  It’s interesting listening to them dissect the plays and critique each call.  Of course, the calls made against Evan were solely due to bad decisions made by the refs or coaches.  And the calls made in the Sentinel’s favor were all spot-on and well made. 

But as I listen, I learn a little more about the game and their limitless respect for Evan.  They mention his improved footwork and how he hasn’t lost any of his reflexes or grip since his hand surgery.

The ESPN sportscasters announce the postgame team conference is about to start and we all gather around the television, waiting to see Evan appear on the screen.  When they queue up the conference, sitting at the table are the head coach and Wide Receiver extraordinaire Carlo Rivera, but noticeably absent is quarterback Evan McGuire.

My mind immediately goes to that dark place.  He’s hurt.  He’s with the team doctor.  Something happened.  But why didn’t my phone ring?

I ask my brother-in-law for his thoughts, “Dean, why isn’t Evan there?  You said he’d be at the postgame conference.  Do you think something’s wrong?”

Dean looks puzzled, “He might be with the trainer or getting checked by the team physician.  I remember this one game against San Francisco when Evan took a helmet to the ribs.  They taped him up and sent him for x-rays.  He had a hair-line fracture and was on the disabled list for a week.”  The thought of Evan becoming disabled terrifies me.  “It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Dean clarifies.

“The hell it’s not.  It hurt like hell.”  All our heads twist towards the front door, and there is Evan standing in front of us, fresh as a daisy.  Standing beside him is Shaun Marise.

We all bombard Evan with questions.  Why is he here?  Why isn’t he at the press conference?  Is everything alright?

“He’s fine,” Adam exasperates as Evan takes long strides directly towards me.  “Didn’t any of you watch the game?”

My feet are frozen in place as Evan reaches me, my eyes tracing his every move and my heart bursting with joy.  Evan wraps his strong arms around me and I throw my arms around his neck, showering him with adoring kisses all over his beautiful face.

“What are you doing here?” I demand an answer.  “You’re supposed to be there,” I remind him, pointing at the press conference still going on.

“Baby, last time I celebrated a victory on the field, you were fighting for your life.  I wouldn’t be any good answering their questions.  All I could think about was running home to you.  All I kept thinking about was you.  I’m not able to concentrate when you’re not with me.  I can’t think straight unless I know where you are.  If you ever want to see me do a postgame interview again, we’re going to have to come up with a plan for you to wait with me at the stadium, or I’m just going to keep running home to you again and again.”

“I think we could work something out,” I gloat, grateful that he’s okay and overjoyed that he loves me.

Evan makes his way around the room, greeting everyone and getting more than his fair share of admiration.  Evan and Shaun are hungry, thirsty, and tired.  Reese and I make sure to take good care of our men for the rest of the night. 

Evan’s parents and sister leave shortly after Evan arrives.  They still have a rather long drive ahead of them. 

One by one, we all find our way out onto the Veranda.  There’s a cool breeze and it’s still early, just a little before nine o’clock.  There’s a full moon and an eagle soars high overhead, joining its mate in a nest atop a dead tree by the river.

Emmy and Adam reemerge from their rendezvous, looking slightly flushed with satisfied grins on their faces.  Evan pulls me onto his lap and whispers in my ear, “Have they been upstairs this whole time?”

“They have.  I guess we don’t have to worry about breaking in the guest room,” I giggle.

Emmy demands everyone’s complete attention.  “Okay, nerds, listen up.  I have the final plans for the most amazing Gender Blender Pre-Wedding Party for Marcus and Camilla.”

Derek doesn’t look pleased.  “No way.  Marcus is getting the best bachelor party ever.  If you think for one minute that we’re going to follow you girls around all night and hold your hair while you puke like last time, guess again.”  He looks at Reese, but she refuses to make eye contact with him.  “Am I right, guys?”

Marcus responds first, “I don’t know, man.  I’m not crazy about the idea of having my girl out there drinking without me.  Just doesn’t feel right.”  Adam and Evan chime their agreement.

“Exactly what I thought you would say,” Emmy agrees.  “That’s why I booked us all a one-night cruise to nowhere.  Evan’s game is Friday night in East Rutherford, so he’ll be home at a decent hour.  Saturday morning, we all report to the dock in Bayonne at nine o’clock.  The girls spend the day at the pool or the spa.  The guys can join us or go rock climbing or to the tennis courts.  We’ll all meet up for dinner and go clubbing.  The ship has dance clubs, bars, and even a piano lounge.  We could see a show together or split up and do our own thing.  We sleep it off in our cabins and return to the port after breakfast.”  Emmy looks around the group, waiting for a reply.  “It’s going to be epic.”

Everyone is excited about Emmy’s plans.  She’s absolutely right, it’s going to be epic.  Marcus and Camilla deserve the most amazing party, and this certainly fits the bill.

With the wedding just one month away, Camilla and Marcus give us the final details.  Emmy and Derek will be the maid of honor and best man, but other than them there is no wedding party.  They are paying for the wedding themselves and wish to keep things simple and intimate.  They are getting married at a vineyard in Cape May and the reception will be in a tent right on the property. 

Natalie and I will be making the wedding cake.  The vineyard will be handling the food and spirits, including a wine tasting.  It sounds perfect and wonderful and my mind drifts to my own wedding sometime not too far away. 

I look over at Marcus and Camilla and how happy they are together and how honored I am to be included in their special day.  Camilla smiles contentedly as Marcus wraps a loving arm around her.

On the other side of the veranda, tucked away in a corner are Adam and Emmy.  She’s sitting on his lap and Adam is putty in her hands.  I know that look, I’ve seen it before on Evan’s face.  I think the two of them might just make it work for the long haul.  I certainly hope they do.  At the rate the two of them seem to be moving, they just might beat Evan and me to the alter.  And if they do, I’ll proudly stand beside them both.

Evan and I sit together, fingers entwined, listening and observing.  “You look very starry-eyed, baby.  What are you so deep in thought about?” he asks.

“Weddings, showers, and honeymoons.  How happy I am and how lucky we are.”  I look up into his sparkling blue eyes, and he rewards me with the most amazing smile and dimples that still make my heart flutter.

“It’s really been a perfect day,” Evan gloats.  “What do you say we make it even better?”

“Not possible,” I chuckle.

“I think I can.  There’s only one thing that could make this day better.  Want to know what it is?” he persists.

“Sure, chief.  What do you have in mind?”

“Let’s pick our wedding date.”  Evan leans closer to me, placing his lips upon my cheek and whispering in my ear.  “I cannot wait to make you my wife.  How does Valentine’s Day sound?”

“How do you keep doing that?  Day after day, you find a way to sweep me off my feet.”  I kiss him with all the love and devotion I have to give.  When we break apart, I give him my answer.  “Yes, Evan.  I will marry you on Valentine’s Day.”

Evan stands up and announces to our friends, “Hey, everyone.  We just picked our date.  We’re getting married on Valentine’s Day.”  Evan takes me by the hand, helps me to my feet and spins me around in circles. 

Everyone rushes around us to offer their congratulations.  Derek walks right up to Evan and shakes his hand offering his own little wisdom for the occasion, “Good choice, Mac.  You’ll never get in trouble for forgetting your anniversary.”

As it begins to get late, the girls and I start to clean up the mess before everyone leaves.  The men bring us their dirty glasses and dishes, and then gather around the television to see how some of the other teams did today.  Emmy, Reese, Camilla and I are filling the dishwasher and discarding the leftovers when suddenly, everything grows eerily quiet. 

A news bulletin flashes across the screen.  The crawler at the bottom of the screen reads, “Deadly helicopter crash in Alaska.  Pilot and all passengers killed on impact.”  The image above shows the wreckage of a helicopter at the base of a snow-covered mountain.  In the top right-hand corner of the screen, the location of the crash is identified as Bear Glacier National Park.  The plate in my hand goes crashing to the ground.  “NO!”

Running Away With You

By Suzanne Sweeney

Prologue

In the Blink of an Eye

T
he world stops spinning on its axis.  It stops so abruptly that I fall to my knees.  Has something happened to the air?  My lungs are no longer able to find oxygen.  There’s a God-awful ringing in my ears.  I imagine this is what it feels like just before someone passes out.

Immediately, Evan is at my side.  “Juliette, look at me.  Breathe, baby.  Breathe.”

I focus on his face and take a few deep breaths.  Evan helps me to my feet and guides me to the living room, where we all gather around the television to watch and listen.

The screen shows a map of Alaska with a dark red line beginning in Seward, Alaska.  I grab my phone and check my old messages from Auggie. 
Fuck.  Fuck.  Fuck.
  His shuttle was leaving from Seward.

Maybe they do more than one shuttle a day.  Maybe.  I say a silent prayer that they do.

The red line stops just short of Bear Glacier National Park.  There is a yellow burst, labeled,
Crash Site
.  I listen carefully to the newscaster’s voiceover.