Page 94 of Trapped and Tackled

“You too, Priest,” she manages as he waves us through the door.

When it closes behind us, we erupt in giggles, the same way we did in high school. A few people in the hallways grin at our reaction, and a few give us strange looks, which only makes us laugh harder.

“Hey! What’s so funny?” Dad asks as he walks toward us.

We shake our heads in unison, sputtering to come up with words that will make sense.

Dad grins and wraps his arms around us, kissing the tops of our heads. “Missed you, girls.”

“Missed you, too, Dad,” Lincoln says.

I snuggle closer and inhale.

Everything in my world feels right again. Real.

“Great game, Miller,” someone says, and I break away from Dad. My eyes dart behind him to find Talon.

Dad smacks a hand over his heart as if I’ve wounded him, and Lincoln snickers.

“She’s all grown up now, Daddy,” Lincoln jokes.

“Never,” Dad growls.

In the next moment, I’m swept clear off my feet as Talon lifts me up.

“Great game, baby!” I say, kissing him hard.

“I can’t watch,” Dad groans good-naturedly, turning away.

“I can,” Lincoln replies.

Talon laughs and hugs me for a moment before placing me on my feet. “Glad you could make the game, Lincoln. I know you’re only here for a few days.”

“As if this one would let me skip it.” Lincoln juts her thumb toward Dad as Talon hugs her hello.

“Welcome home, Linc!” Cohen says, passing by. He points at us. “You coming to Corks?”

“As long as Raia will be there,” Lincoln replies.

Cohen grins. “She wouldn’t miss it.”

“See you there,” I say as Talon slips an arm over my shoulders.

“I’ll get both your girls home safely, Coach,” he tells Dad who rolls his eyes.

Then, we leave the stadium behind, pile into Talon’s SUV, and head to Corks to celebrate another Coyotes win.

“I love that you’re dating Talon!” Raia Callaway says, hugging me hello.

“I love that you’re playing professional soccer,” I shoot back, smiling at her teammate who is in town with her this weekend. While I’ve seen Raia a few times at games, I haven’t had many chances to catch up with her this season. She splits her time between Knoxville and Chicago, where she plays for the Chicago Tornadoes.

“Me too.” Raia grins, her eyes dancing. “And you’re back home too, Linc!”

“Just for a few days,” Lincoln says. “Then, I’m off to London.”

“London!” Raia exclaims. “We need drinks. I want to know everything.” She clasps Lincoln’s arm and tugs her toward the bar where her teammate is ordering another round.

While they raise their glasses in a toast, I’m pulled into a conversation with Jag. Then, I stop to chat with Kiki, one of the sports reporters who regularly covers the Coyotes.

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