Page 97 of Daring the Defender

Every touch from her, every kiss, feels like I’m stepping into something new. I thought I was the one teaching Shelby how to experience a bigger life, while she taught me that sometimes the best things in life just show up at your door.

You just have to let them inside.

EPILOGUE

Shelby

The crowdoutside the arena is so jammed that it makes it hard to navigate. Thousands of fans are here for the final game of the season against Milton. I can’t imagine what the Frozen Four in Chicago will be like in a few weeks.

Nadia said she and Twyler would wait for me by the side door, but I’m squished between the opposing red and black jerseys and I’m pretty sure I’ll never make it.

“Shelby! Over here!”

I push up on my toes, looking over the bushy haired teenager more interested in his phone than anything else.

“Hey!” I shout, waving when I see Nadia jumping up and down trying to get my attention.

It’s a struggle, but I manage to squeeze my way through the swarm and reach them.

“Sorry I’m late.” Nadia gives me a hug. “The plane sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes and wouldn’t let us off.”

“I’m just glad you made it,” she says. “Are you excited about your first game?”

“I am, actually.” Since Mike had already prepared for me not to be at work tonight, I could actually come. I look over my shoulder at the massive crowd. “Seems like I picked a good one.”

“It’s going to be intense.” Twyler already looks like her head is in the game. “But as long as no one acts like a dumbass I think they can take it.”

“All I know is that Axel gave me an update of everything that went down in Texas,” Nadia says, eyes rolling, “but I need a first hand account. He’s not a reliable narrator when it comes to gossip.”

“Can we do it inside?” Twyler asks, edging toward the building.

“No complaints from me. I already miss the warmer weather in Texas.”

“Tell me about it,” Nadia agrees. She’s from Florida, where it’s even warmer all year round.

“Here’s your wristband.” Twyler pulls the strip of waxy paper out of her pocket.

Reid told me that he’d leave me a ticket to the game, and I just needed to meet up with the girls to get it. I stretch out my arm and push back my sleeve, so that she can secure it for me.

“He also sent this.”

Nadia hands me a shirt. A Wittmore jersey. I hold it up. It’s one of the new designs and when I turn it around I see his name on the back. My belly flutters knowing that he wants me to wear this. Like he told me when we first met, how if he was my man, he wouldn’t be shy about claiming me.

“They’re revealing the new line of spirit wear tonight as a boost for the finals,” Twyler says. “They’re still moving forward even if they lose tonight, but they’ll get to skip to the top six if they win and the athletic department wants to capitalize on it.”

Twyler takes us to a side entrance where she knows the security guard.

“Twyler, come to see our boy pull off a win?” the guard asks.

“He better.” She holds out her arm and he scans her in. Nadia and I follow.

“I have no doubt they’ll pull through.”

“Thanks, Stan,” she says, giving him a wave.

“Do you know everyone on campus?” I ask, following her down the hallway. She’s always taking us in and out of back doors and no-access tunnels.

“The security guards work all of the games. The basketball games, too. But I know Stan from my time here. He’s cool.”

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