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  “I felt safe the whole time we were there.”

  “You were.” He found her eyes again and wished with everything inside him they could go back, that her freshman year had only just begun and that he and Lisa had moved here a year ago. “You were safe because that was my job. Protecting you, my baby girl. My princess.”

  She dabbed the tissue at a few errant tears on her cheeks and listened.

  “But this year, when you needed me, I wasn’t around. I was out,” he gestured toward an unseen public, “out making movies so I could save the world, when…” he took hold of her hand, “when my daughter needed me more than any of them.”

  “You did what you thought was right, Daddy. I told you, it was my fault.”

  Keith brushed the back of his hand across his face and sniffed hard. “We can’t go back, I know that. But if I could…” He put his hand alongside Andi’s cheek. “If I could, I’d be here a year ago, and you would bring your questions to me and your mother. We would help you keep your faith and your foundation, and you wouldn’t…you wouldn’t be in this situation.” He hugged her once more. “I just want you to know I’m sorry.”

  For a long time Andi only looked at him, and he watched a number of emotions slide across her face. Shame and regret and sorrow…and finally forgiveness. “I have a question.” She waited until she saw he was listening intently. “Can I still be your princess, Daddy? Even now that I messed up?”

  Fresh tears blurred his eyes and he hugged her tight again. He couldn’t protect her from the consequences of her actions, but maybe he could protect her from the pain. When he drew back, he helped her to her feet, and he willed her to hear him all the way to her soul. “You will always be my princess, Andi. Nothing could ever change that.”

  As they walked back to the car, Keith felt certain they’d reached a breakthrough. Though he hadn’t been there to protect her, and though she would suffer for the choices she’d made during the past year, and even though he’d gotten angry at her, one thing was clear again: how much he loved her and desired to protect her. He’d told her the truth. She was still his little girl, his princess.

  Nothing could ever change that.

  Eight

  CODY HAD KNOWN ALL SUMMER DURING WORKOUTS that this moment would come and now it was here. Clear Creek’s starting quarterback had gone down in the first quarter with a knee injury in the game against their cross-town rival, Bloomington High. Which meant one thing for the team: Connor Flanigan was the new starter. Already Connor had thrown two touchdown passes, and now Clear Creek had the ball, down by just six points with three minutes to go. Bloomington’s head coach had called a time out, so Connor jogged off the field and headed straight for Cody. “What do I do?” His eyes were wide, his confidence not nearly as strong as his abilty.

  “Breathe.” Cody put his hands on Connor’s shoulders. The kid was six-foot-three now, an inch taller than Cody. “You can do this. We wouldn’t have you out there if it wasn’t a game you could win for us.”

  “But they’re blitzing every play. They know we’re gonna throw.”

  That’s another thing Cody loved about coaching Connor. He was one of the smartest players Cody had ever worked with. “We’ll contain the blitz. Let the line coach worry about that. Everyone knows their roles.”

  “So we’re throwing?”

  “On first and ten.” The spread offense was another thing Cody couldn’t get enough of. As the quarterback coach, it gave him a reason to work hard, presenting Connor with a number of options on every play. The receivers’ coach came up and the three of them conferred. They’d go with the spread. “This is your game, Connor. You’ve worked for this.”

  Connor’s eyes were still big, still wide with fear, but he nodded and took a few steps toward the field. “Pray for me.”

  “I am.” Cody watched the kid go, and he kept his word, silently asking God to give Connor protection and vision as he commandeered this last drive. The second he finished praying, he cupped his hands around his mouth. “Okay, guys! Hit someone!”

  Over the next minute and a half, Connor made the drive look easy. He connected on first and ten for twenty-three yards, and again on the next play for another thirty. He missed on just two passes over the next eight throws, and with fifteen seconds to go, Clear Creek had notched another victory—making four straight for the season.

  While the team celebrated, as the players jumped on Connor’s back and patted his helmet, Cody did what he’d been dying to do all night. He stole a glance up at the packed stands and found Bailey. She had her eyes shaded against the glare of the stadium lights, and when she saw him look at her, she jumped a few times, waving furiously. He waved back and then turned his attention to the team. But even while the head coach congratulated the guys and singled out Connor as the game’s most valuable player, Cody couldn’t keep his mind off the bigger picture.

  Tomorrow after the team met to watch game film on tonight’s contest, Cody and Bailey were taking her brothers to see a new football movie, one that figured to be a classic. Then on Sunday they were going to Indianapolis to watch Bailey’s dad coach the Colts. Mr. Flanigan had invited him to walk the sidelines as a stat guy, a temporary assistant of sorts. The idea that he’d be on the sidelines of an NFL game, helping the coaching staff, was more than Cody could fully grasp. He hadn’t been able to think of much else all week.

  He could still hardly believe this was his life, coaching Bailey’s brothers, and spending most of his free time at her house. He hadn’t asked her to be his girlfriend yet, but that would come this weekend. He wanted the timing to be right, and then he would ask her. And he would believe, as he wanted to believe here in this magical moment under the Friday night lights of Clear Creek High School, that this wasn’t only some crazy wonderful season when God was finally allowing everything to go right.

  Rather it was a glimpse of his future—the future he’d only dreamed about before this fall.

  BAILEY WISHED SHE HAD A CAMERA, but even that wouldn’t capture exactly how she was feeling right now—with Cody on the field helping coach Clear Creek to another victory and Connor playing quarterback. She remembered before this season how Connor had doubted his ability to even play football. He could’ve stayed with CKT, doing shows on a stage where he was more comfortable. But instead he’d taken this challenge head on, and now…now Bailey couldn’t be happier for him.

  They were sitting in the stands with most of the Baxter family, all of whom loved coming out to support the head coach, Ryan Taylor, Kari Baxter Taylor’s husband. Kari and Ashley sat in front of Bailey with their kids, and down the bench a little ways were Peter and Brooke and their girls. The patriarch of the Bax-ter family—John Baxter—was here with his wife, Elaine, along with Dayne Matthews—the Baxter family’s eldest son—and his wife Katy, and their little Sophie. The last Baxter daughter, Erin, wasn’t here because her family was sick with the flu.

  Dayne had said hello when they first arrived, and Bailey was dying to sit by him, ask him about whether they were interested in having her come back for a second audition. But Dayne’s attention was on his wife and baby, and Bailey didn’t want to bother him. It had only been four days, but still, if they were filming in a month she figured she’d have heard by now.

  During halftime, her mom had leaned close and whispered, “It’s out of your control.” She smiled. “So stop thinking about it, sweetheart.”

  “You’re right.” Bailey had determined again to focus on the football game.

  “Dayne couldn’t tell you now, even if there was something to say.”

  After that she kept her eyes on the game, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about it. At least if they would tell her they weren’t interested, she could move on. But the way it stood, there were moments when the audition was all she could think about. That and Cody. She was so proud of him, out there calling plays and acting like he’d been coaching for years.

  Later, when they were back at her house, Cody couldn’t
stop smiling. “Did you seem him? Your brother was incredible!”

  Bailey’s dad—who never would’ve forced Connor to play football and who was just as proud of Connor when he had the lead in a CKT play—gathered the family around the computer screen so they could all watch highlights of the game. “Look at that!” Bailey’s dad elbowed Connor. “I wish I could get my million-dollar quarterback to sit in the pocket like that.” He puffed out his chest, beaming and playing up the moment. “Yes-sirree, that’s my boy. Making everyone else look silly.”

  They all laughed, and the good times lasted for hours. It was a Friday night Bailey would always remember, marked by the smell of hot butter and salt coming from the kitchen as her mom made one cheese crisp after another for the hungry group. All the guys Bailey loved in her life were in one house, celebrating each other’s strengths and the lingering feeling of victory.

  Only one thing could’ve made the night any better. Bailey watched Cody, the way he hung on every word her father said as they analyzed game film and how he fit right in as part of their family—the way he had from the beginning. But why hadn’t he asked her to be his girlfriend? Ever since the Fourth of July he had to know how she felt about him, so why the wait?

  They’d kissed twice, both times were when they were alone. But Cody seemed to prefer being with her entire family around. Bailey chided herself for not being more patient. Clearly Cody respected her. He cherished her and now he wanted his actions to reflect the way he felt. That had to be it. Besides, she’d only been broken up with Tim for a few months. It made sense that Cody would want to wait a little while. She just wished they’d take more walks or hang out more often on her front porch. That way they could talk about how he was feeling, where this might be leading, and whether now was the time for them to be more serious.

  Bailey hung back in the kitchen, sitting on one of the barstools and watching the boys. As she did, she caught herself silently praying for this new relationship with Cody, that God would bless it and make it grow and that all things would happen in His timing.

  Her mom walked up, her sleeves rolled back, her forehead damp. “I think I’ve cooked a hundred cheese crisps.”

  “The boys each ate about twenty.” Bailey laughed. This was part of their Friday night tradition. They’d come back to the Flanigan house—sometimes with half the team—and Bailey’s mom would grab a Costco-sized package of tortillas, an enormous bag of grated cheese, and a couple sticks of butter. Then she’d set about making cheese crisps for the group until every last person was stuffed.

  “You sure you’re not tired of it?” Bailey planted her elbows on the granite countertop. “All that cooking on Friday nights?”

  “It’s better than eating out.” Her mom leaned against the counter and watched the boys, still hovering around the computer. “When we bought this house, your father and I promised God we’d use it. We’d fill it with people and feed everyone who came in, and put reminders of His Word on the walls.” Her eyes found Bailey’s again. “No, sweetie, I’m not tired of it.”

  “Good. Because I love it too.” She breathed in deeply of the smell and sounds around her. “Don’t be surprised if I show up here with my family every Friday night in fall. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

  Her mom was quiet for a moment, and her gaze shifted to Cody—at the center of the cluster of guys. “He hasn’t asked you yet.”

  It wasn’t a question. Her mom knew Bailey would tell her if anything that dramatic happened. Tonight her comment was more of an observation.

  “I think he’s waiting,” Bailey wasn’t frustrated, just antsy. Like a six-year-old anxious for Christmas morning. “Like the timing has to be perfect or something.”

  “You don’t need a title to tell you the obvious.”

  Bailey grinned, dizzy over her feelings for Cody. “Meaning what?”

  “That boy’s plum crazy about you. He’s loved you for years.” Her mom’s eyes danced. “Of course, I believe I told you that a while ago, yes?”

  “Yes.” Bailey felt her cheeks grow hot. “I saw it…I just couldn’t believe he cared when he never said so.”

  “That’s because Cody won’t settle for being your boyfriend.” Her mom’s look held a fondness for Cody. “He’s looking long-term.” She raised a single brow. “And whether that happens or not, only God knows.”

  It used to scare Bailey, thinking that far into the future about who she might marry and when that would happen—and how she would ever leave her family and start her own. But when it came to Cody, she never felt afraid at all. Just impatient. The same way she felt all of Saturday, the next day, when she and Cody took her brothers to the movies, and on Sunday when they went to her father’s game. The Colts won, and everyone was talking about how the team might actually become the first team since the Miami Dolphins to finish a season undefeated. They were that good.

  But the day wasn’t going to be perfect until she and Cody had time to talk.

  Her parents had both driven to the game, since her dad had to be there so much sooner. So the ride home had Bailey and Connor and Justin and BJ in the car with Bailey’s mom, and the rest of the boys and Cody driving back with her dad. The arrangement made sense. Cody had been on the field all day with her father. Bailey’s mom brought binoculars to the game, and the few times Bailey used them she looked down at Cody. Every time she saw that he was completely absorbed in whatever her father was saying or doing.

  When they finally reached the Flanigan house again it was after nine o’clock, and Bailey could hardly wait to be alone with him. The boys began heating up leftover cheese crisps, and before Cody could get caught up in game film or ESPN highlights, she tugged on his sleeve. “Can we go outside…sit on the swing?”

  As distracted as he’d been all weekend, suddenly his eyes were lost in hers. He reached for her hand and nodded. “I’ve been looking forward to that all day.”

  “Me too.” They walked outside, and once they were seated together on the swing, Bailey noticed how cool it was.

  “Are you cold? I can get you a blanket.”

  She pictured that, the two of them snuggled under a blanket, gazing at the stars and catching up on the last few days. “That’d be perfect.”

  He hurried back inside, and in a minute he returned with the softest, warmest blanket they had—a deep brown plush throw perfect for this chilly September night. “Wow,” Cody put the blanket over them, his arm around her shoulders. “I feel like we haven’t talked all weekend.”

  “We haven’t.” She giggled, savoring the way she felt small and protected next to him. “So what was it like?” She craned her neck a little so she could see his eyes. “You were helping coach an NFL team today. Has that hit you yet?”

  “Not really.” He looked a little dazed. “I mean it was surreal, Bailey. Standing down there next to your dad, gathering stats from the upstairs team of stat guys and passing them on to your father. I felt absolutely sure that someday that’s where I want to be. Walking the sidelines of an NFL game, making the calls or assisting some way.”

  “That’s how I felt about my audition. Like I was born to do this.”

  “Exactly.” He breathed in and leaned his head on hers. “Any idea when you’ll hear?”

  “No.” Bailey had let the issue go a little since Friday night. “It could be a few weeks, or I might not hear at all. I’ve put the matter in God’s hands. Otherwise it’ll drive me crazy.”

  “I know.” He took his arm from her shoulders and angled himself so he could see her better. As he did, he reached for her hand, weaving his fingers between hers. “The whole weekend, whether I was on the Clear Creek field or today out there with the Colts, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

  “Come on…you were thinking about football.” She was teasing him, loving that they finally were having this time together.

  “No, really.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I don’t deserve to be here. I don’t deserve any of this.” />
  Bailey cringed a little, because she hated when he talked like that. It was the same reason he hadn’t thought about telling her his feelings sooner. Because he thought she deserved someone better. “No one deserves anything good we have in life. Because all good things are gifts from God.”

  “True.” He touched the fingers of his free hand to her cheek. “And you’re the best gift of all.” The look in his eyes changed, and his expression deepened with a mix of passion and love—a love that knew no limits, because it had waited so long for this moment.

  Bailey could feel what was coming, she could feel it and she wanted to hold onto every beautiful breath they drew together. He was going to ask her to be his girlfriend, because what night could be more perfect than this one?

  He drew a slow breath, and she could hear his nervousness in the way his voice sounded a little shakier than usual. “Bailey…I wanted to wait until—”

  Before he could finish his sentence, his text message alert sounded. He reached for his phone, but before he could silence it, his ringtone went off. He looked like he might ignore the call or throw the phone into the yard, but as he pulled it from his pocket, his eye caught the caller ID window. Though he didn’t take the call, his face clouded. “Great,” he mumbled.

  “Who is it?” Bailey rarely saw Cody with this sort of expression. He looked almost distraught.

  A hard sigh came from him and he slid forward, staring at the text message. “It’s my mom. Her text says she’s in trouble. She needs me to come over.”

  Bailey felt her heartbeat quicken. “Is…is she sick?” He hadn’t talked much about his mom lately, and now she felt bad for not asking.

  “Maybe.” He looked at her and regret filled his eyes. “I better go. I’ll try to make it fast and get back here in an hour.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “You’ll still be up?”