An Accidental Family Ch. 03

When I finished the first outline for An Accidental Family, Lisa and Sneaky were minor characters who shared one bullet point and added some color to Jason's 7-on-7 football team. As I began working on the story, however, they took on a life of their own. Suddenly, Lisa had two younger sisters, and Sneaky became Jason's best friend.

It's taken me over a year to write the final chapter of this story, with several false starts along the way. Now that it's finished, I hope I've done justice to two of my favorite characters (and, if your comments are to be believed, yours as well). Perhaps I can even earn back those two stars a commenter docked me for not giving Lisa and Sneaky a happy ending in An Accidental Family, Chapter 2.

Although this chapter takes place about a decade after An Accidental Family, Chapter 2, it may not make much sense unless you've read the first two chapters, both of which I recently re-edited.

Cheers,

CGN

An Accidental Family, Chapter 3

PROLOGUE

Lisa

The dream is always the same. I'm sitting on a grassy hill overlooking a house--our house--my childhood home. It's night, and the sky is filled with stars. For some, the night sky inspires wonder, a glimpse of God's infinite beauty. But for me, it offers loneliness without end. The stars remind me that love exists--just not for me. Not anymore.

If I listen closely, I can hear Mom and Dad shouting--then silence, when my father ends the fight with his fists.

I'm trapped. I can wait on the hill until the darkness takes me or try to slip back inside before he realizes I'm gone. But he'll know. He always knows. Then his anger will come for me, and I'll know I deserve it. I'm the one to blame.

A voice calls to me from the darkness.

"I want you to beg for it--or I can make your sisters beg instead."

I want to run to my father--but I can't. If I do, I'll lose him too. But I can't stop myself. I'm scared, and it hurts so much.

I just want it all to end.

CHAPTER 1

Lisa

I awoke from my dream, exhausted and sweating. And single--again.

It was my choice. It's always my choice.

The night before, she told me she loved me, and I ended things. If I deserved to be loved, I'd still be with Sneaky. But he doesn't know what I've done. If he did, his love for me would vanish, taking with it my last faint whisper of hope. He deserves better, and he found it in L. A.

The memory of the night I ended things is seared in my mind. Sneaky was getting ready for his first training camp. It was remarkable that a tight end was chosen so early in the draft, but pundits agreed he'd still have been a bargain five picks earlier. I felt so proud of him. While some players squandered their signing bonuses on champagne-fueled parties in Vegas, Sneaky used his to pay off his grandparents' mortgage and help three of his younger cousins pay for college.

He'd have done even more, but his Abuela insisted he spend some of the money on himself. So, he bought me a ring. The diamond wasn't huge, but it was flawless, set in a practically indestructible titanium band. He didn't want me to worry about breaking or losing it while I played.

He planned the proposal down to the last detail. Everyone was there, including our extended families, both accidental and blood. He asked both of my fathers for permission: my biological father, who was in a federal penitentiary outside of Atlanta, and my adopted father, JT, who, along with his wife Jennifer, rescued us when we were younger and gave us a home.

It was perfect. And I said, "No."

The darkness whispered that I wasn't worthy of his love. That I should save him from a lifetime with me. That he would leave me, because they always do.

I fled--from him and from them all. I couldn't face them for months, not even my family. Soccer became both my punishment and my escape. Eventually, my sisters wore me down with their daily texts and calls, and we reconnected, but I knew Sneaky would never forgive me.

I couldn't imagine his pain. I'd have done anything to save him from that heartache, but I knew it was for the best. Eventually, he'd have heard the voice in my dreams and learned what I'd done. Then he'd have left me, and I'd be all alone.

Again.

Our friends rallied around Sneaky, and I was grateful; I didn't deserve their comfort or support. Cindy Stanley, my oldest and best friend, was the only exception. She kept faith with me even in my darkest times.

I was laser-focused on my career, playing in the pros and then with the national team, only going home to see my sisters. My love life, such as it was, revolved around the women on my teams. No man would ever take Sneaky's place--but it was nice to have a friend, at times, to keep the darkness at bay, if just for a little while. I was too much of a coward to face the darkness alone.

I was so lost in thought I almost missed my phone ringing beneath a pile of last night's clothes. I grabbed it just in time to see my sister Isabel's face light up on the screen.

"Hey, Sissy Superstar! How's the best sister in the world doing this morning? I can't wait for you to come home this weekend!"

I had to smile. If there was one person in the world who could chase the darkness away, it was Isabel. While her older sister, Lucy, was an outgoing, outspoken athlete, Bel took after our adoptive brother, Jason. Like him, she was quiet and thoughtful; her gift was making those around her feel loved. On weekends, you'd find Bel sitting under a tree, lost in a book, while Lucy did her best to dominate the local boys at whatever game was on tap for the day.

"Right back at you, Bel of the Ball! You and Lucy must be counting the days until school's out."

"School's already over; the stupid teachers just won't admit it yet. But they're giving us a half day off on Friday, so Lucy, Shelby, and I'll be there to meet you at the airport when you land."

I shook my head at the news. I loved my sisters, but they could be a bit over the top. The last time I came home, they greeted me at the airport with an enormous sign that read, "Welcome Home from the Convent, Sister Lisa." When I saw them, they were laughing so hard they nearly peed themselves, while JT tried to ignore the concerned stares of onlookers.

"I can't wait to see you all. How's Shelby doing? Is she getting any better?"

My youngest sister, Shelby, was born about a year after my parents married. She was the sweetest girl, but she'd always been painfully shy. So much so that when she started school, her anxiety took over, and she developed selective mutism. She had always found it difficult to speak in public, but over time, it got so bad that she'd only talk with one or two family members at a time or her teacher once all the other students had left.

"I don't know, Sissy Superstar, but I sure hope so. I spend most afternoons with her after school, just letting her talk about her day. When it's just the two of us or when she's with Mom, she's the same old Shelby. But as soon as anyone else joins in, she freezes."

"She's lucky to have a big sister like you, Bel of the Ball. As long as she has you, I know she'll be okay."

"As long as I have you, I know I'll be okay. I've got to go, or I'll be late for school."

The screen went blank, and I lay back on the bed. I opened the location tracking app on my phone but hesitated, as I always did, before looking for Sneaky. After we broke up, I blocked him everywhere I could, but for reasons I could never fully articulate (or even admit to myself), I never stopped sharing my location with him, and he continued to share his with me.

Checking his location became my daily ritual--a final lifeline to the man I loved. I set a strict limit, though: I'd only check his location once a day or sometimes twice when things got bad. Occasionally, I'd just sit and watch his dot as it moved through L. A., wondering what he was thinking and how he was doing.

I tried to let go once he started dating that influencer, Britney Whatshername--the one the press called "Britney Barbie"- but I couldn't. My ritual became another way to punish myself, watching his dot move from the team's practice facility to a fancy restaurant and then back to her place in the Hollywood Hills for the night. I didn't think she'd be his type, but I was once his type, and look where that got him.

That morning, he was back in his apartment, which was unusual. Maybe he needed a night off to rehydrate. If the tabloids were to be believed, Britney was a real tiger between the sheets. Before I closed the app, I prayed he was doing okay and that he would find someone to love him like he deserved to be loved.

I'd see him soon enough. Cindy was marrying Jason in two weeks, and I was the Maid of Honor while he was the Best Man. I'd see him, and my heart would ache, and when it was over, he'd be gone for good.

Hernando "Sneaky" Jiminez

Well, that sucked.

I had just returned from a promotional tour for my sponsors and was ready to kick back and relax for a week before heading to Jason and Cindy's wedding when I received an urgent request to meet at my team's training facility. My agent, Gerardo Ramirez, called while I was in my car.

"Hernando, my friend, we have a serious fucking problem."

Gerardo is one of the top sports agents in L. A. and a straight shooter. He didn't sound too pleased with me.

"That's news to me. What did I do this time?"

"Dude, you can't just leave your dick hanging out online for everyone to see. It might seem like harmless fun, but your contracts all include morals clauses. You could lose everything because of this."

"What are you talking about? My junk is just as private today as it's been my entire life. Did someone get some locker-room pictures of me or something?"

Gerardo paused briefly before he replied.

"So, you didn't have anything to do with Britney's new subscription page? It's everywhere on social media, so it's been pretty hard to miss."

I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I didn't even know she had a subscription page! The last time we spoke, she assured me she wanted to stay completely aboveboard and legitimate."

"Well, I guess she must have changed her mind, and it looks like you are playing a starring role. Or at least parts of you are."

"Why would she do something like that? It must be a mistake or some kind of AI deepfake. We can sort this out when I get to the facility."

"I'll see you there. Please don't say or do anything until I arrive. Hernando, this is very serious."

Gerardo met me in the players' parking lot, where we were greeted by the team's top brass, including the President, General Manager, Coach, and Vice Presidents of Communications and Human Resources. We were escorted into the large conference room, and the GM kicked things off with a bang. He clicked his pointer, and an image appeared on the screen of Britney with her hands around a very large and very erect penis.

I sat there, too stunned to move.

"What were you thinking, letting Britney post pictures of you like this? You know how large her following is; the league will come down hard on us for this. And believe me, when they do, we'll come down hard on you."

Gerardo adopted his signature let's-all-be-reasonable expression and raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this... isn't that right, Hernando?"

He paused, and everyone in the room turned to look at me. I was in shock and could barely respond.

"That's not me."

The room fell silent before the team president leaned over and spoke in a low voice.

"What do you mean that's not you? There's a naked man on the screen with your girlfriend, and you're telling me that's not you?"

I paused as I took in the sheer horror and embarrassment of what I was seeing.

"Yeah, I can definitively say that isn't me. I'm quite familiar with... well... look, I'm sure. Can we leave it at that?"

The following 48 hours of my life were a complete nightmare. When I asked Britney what she was thinking, she responded very matter-of-factly.

"My stats have been unbelievable since we started dating! They're way too good not to start posting subscription-only content. A girl can make some real money with those kinds of numbers!"

She was also surprisingly forthcoming when I asked who the man in the video was.

"I didn't think you'd have time to film content with me, given all your commitments and everything. So, I found a stunt cock. But don't worry; I made sure his equipment would make you look good."

Evidently, she believed I would be excited about this development. I certainly was not.

We broke up, and the increased publicity drew even more viewers to her site. It seemed like this had been her plan all along, and she was surprised that I didn't understand or support her. Here I was, just going about my business, trying to be a good boyfriend and fall in love. I hadn't felt that kind of pain since Lisa rejected my proposal, and it had taken me years to recover. Now, Britney was gone, too.

As the scandal continued to dominate the tabloids, I tried hiding out in my apartment. I spent my time reading and trying not to dwell too much on my life. Eventually, however, I took out my phone and checked my shared locations, as I often did when I was feeling upset or lonely. When Lisa broke up with me, she blocked me on everything, but somehow, she'd forgotten to stop sharing her location. It was my last connection to her, and I couldn't seem to let it go. So, after a moment's hesitation, I pulled up her location and saw that she was at my Abuela's house.

I didn't need to ask what she was doing there; she loved my Abuela as if she were her own grandmother, and Abuela loved her back. When the rest of my family wouldn't even look at Lisa because of what she'd done to me, Abuela tried not to take sides.

"Sneaky, I know you're in pain. But Lisa is suffering, too. If you want, I'll cut her out of my home and life, but you know that she needs me as much as you do."

Abuela became my lifeline to Lisa. Although I never asked, sometimes, when I visited home, she would give me small updates on Lisa's life.

"She's safe. She's doing well."

CHAPTER 2

Lisa

I had decidedly mixed emotions as my flight began its final approach to Atlanta. I knew my sisters would be waiting to welcome me, but I was that much closer to the places that haunted my dreams. I texted JT to let him know we were on the ground as I made my way through the pedestrian tunnel to the main terminal. If I hadn't been so distracted, I might have marveled at the nonchalance with which I now traveled. I'd never been on a plane before leaving for college, and now flying felt so routine that I hardly noticed it.

As I rode the escalator up to the main arrivals hall, I began searching for my sisters. There were so many people that I didn't see them at first, but I heard the unmistakable theme song from Jurassic Park playing over a Bluetooth speaker. Then, I spotted two inflatable T-Rexes swiftly making their way through the crowd toward me, accompanied by high-pitched roars and teenage giggles.

I braced myself for impact.

Fortunately, my fellow travelers had the good sense to give me plenty of space and step aside for the charging theropods so they could barrel into me unimpeded while shouting a distinctly un-dinosaurian, "Sissy Superstar!" Both girls' arms got tangled in their costumes, but they still tried to burrow into me as I lay on the ground. Despite my embarrassment at the public spectacle, I couldn't help but laugh with them and hug them back.

"God, I've missed you monsters. You know this will be all over the internet tonight, right?"

They responded with hearty roars and more giggles.

Looking around, I spotted JT standing off to one side of the hall. I knew that these kinds of pranks weren't exactly his cup of tea, but he was dutifully taping it to show Mom when she got home that evening. My youngest sister, Shelby, was hiding behind him, watching our other sisters' antics with a shy smile. I freed a hand to wave at her, and she waved back. I knew she wanted to see me at least as much as the others did, but her anxiety was too overwhelming for her to come to me.

"Alright, monsters. Let me go; I need to see JT and give your sister a big hug."

Shelby might have been the only person on this planet who could have made them stop their assault, but they quickly rolled to the side to let me get up. As I walked over, I noticed a proud smile on JT's face. I didn't feel like I deserved it, but I did my best to return his smile and hide my shame as he pulled me into a hug.

"It's great to see you, Lisa. Jen wanted to be here, but she's in court all day. I'm sure she'll enjoy the footage of your Jurassic ambush when she gets home."

"It's great to see you too, JT, but I can't believe you went along with these hooligans' scheme."

JT gave me a look that was part amusement and part deep and abiding love. He never fussed when I called him by his name instead of 'Dad,' like my sisters did. They were too young to think of their biological father as their dad. But, long after Jen became Mom, I still couldn't help but think of him that way.

"I doubt I could've stopped them if I had wanted to. They saved up their allowances for months just to buy those costumes. They've missed you so much. We all did."

Shelby peeked out from behind JT's waist as he finished and gave me a big, gap-toothed grin.

"Hi, Angel. Can I give you a hug?"

When she nodded in agreement, I pulled her into my arms, and it felt like home. Shelby wrapped herself tightly around my neck and buried her face in my shoulder. After a moment, I heard her whisper, "I really missed you."

"I missed you too, Angel. I missed you too."

******

The ride back to the acreage was chaotic, with Lucy and Bel talking over one another, eager to share their latest adventures. I couldn't decipher much of what they were saying, but I gathered that the youngest Simpson boy had a crush on Lucy, which she pretended not to care about, even though she blushed a lot when Bel teased her about him. I also learned that Balthazar the Cat had kittens, many of which they had given away, and they were excited to be junior bridesmaids at Jason and Cindy's wedding.

Shelby didn't say a word, but she sat beside me the whole way, holding my hand with her head resting against my arm. Whenever Lucy or Bel made a particularly outrageous comment, she'd look up at me and make a funny face, like we were sharing an inside joke.

The acreage was every bit as beautiful as I remembered. Despite the demands of her successful legal career, Jen loved working in the garden, and it was even more spectacular now than it had been before JT's mother passed away. When I was home, Jen and I would spend hours tending to it, working together in quiet companionship. The Southern Magnolia we planted in memory of JT's mom had bloomed for the first time this year. Although it was too late in the season for it to be in full bloom, I could still catch a hint of its rich, citrusy fragrance in the air.

As soon as my bags were in my room, my sisters wasted no time pulling me outside to show me their new tree fort, kick a soccer ball, discuss the annoying boys at school, and generally catch up on everything that had happened in their lives since Christmas. Shelby tagged along with us, just happy to be included with the older girls. I made sure I spent some time alone with her, sitting together on the garden swing while Balthazar purred in our laps.

Later, I helped JT prepare dinner because Jen would be getting home late after a long day at court. That was one of the most shocking changes after I left home--since Jen had been in law school and then building her legal practice, JT had taken over much of the cooking. Even more surprising, after a shaky first few months, he'd become an excellent cook.

Jen arrived just as dinner was being served, and we enjoyed a raucous family meal as Lucy and Bel recounted their airport ambush, complete with video. Despite the warm welcome, however, I felt restless, so I slipped outside after dinner to sit in the garden. After a while, Jen came out to join me, and we sat together in silence as night slowly descended on the yard.

"Is it getting any better?" she asked as we watched the sun set behind the trees.

"Not so you'd notice. I still miss him so much, but I fucked everything up."

She put her arm around my shoulder, pulling me close.

"Maybe you could talk to him, Lisa. You know he'll be in town for the wedding."

"I know, Mom. But what would I even say? 'I'm sorry for tearing your heart out of your chest and stomping on it in front of all our friends and family. Can you forgive me? But be careful, I'm still just as broken, so I'm just going to hurt you again.' I'm not worth it."

"Isn't that for him to decide?"

When I was younger, Jen would spend hours telling me we all deserve to be loved. I wanted to trust her, but I just couldn't feel it. The darkness whispered to me, saying that it was just words.

"Have you tried talking to anyone about it?"

I let out a bitter laugh. Mom and JT had begged me to see a therapist for years, and during my last year of college, I had finally taken their advice.

"I spoke with the team psychologist, but all they were interested in was how to channel my anger and pain to score more goals."

We sat for a while longer, and I could feel the tears trickle down my cheeks.

"If... if the darkness wins, I need to know that you'll love them and keep them safe."

I knew how much it must have cost Jen to stay silent in that moment when every fiber of her being longed to protect me, to keep me safe from myself. But she just pulled me closer. I could feel her tears slipping through my hair.

"I pray every night for the Lord to cradle you in His arms, to keep you safe, and to bring you home to us. You are deeply loved."

******

The first Sunday I was back in town after being away, I had a longstanding commitment. From our earliest days together, Sneaky's Abuela insisted that Sundays were for her. Even after we broke up, she made it clear that she still expected to see me every Sunday when I was in town. When I arrived, she took one look at me and then called over to her husband, Hernando.

"Why don't you go and see if Manny needs help with his roof this afternoon? I'll let Camila know that you're staying with them for dinner."

Manny was one of Sneaky's uncles, and he owned a small chain of hotels across northern Georgia and parts of the Carolinas. Apparently, he was either planning to repair his roof or would be once Abuela finished speaking with his wife. I felt guilty that she was sending Hernando away, but I was deeply touched that she would make time for me in that way.

After Hernando left, Abuela invited me into her kitchen, where she made a Café de Olla for each of us. With our drinks in hand, she settled into a chair across from me and asked what was wrong. As I considered how to respond, I began to feel overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry, Abuela. It's all my fault."

"What's your fault, Mija?"

"All of it. It's all my fault."

"Why don't you tell me about it."

I'd never spoken to anyone about my failure and shame, but sitting in that kitchen, one of the few places I had ever felt truly safe, the words began to flow.

"I don't remember much from when I was very young. We were always poor, although I didn't understand what being poor meant back then because we didn't know anyone who wasn't. Other kids' fathers had jobs, but I never knew what mine did. We had money--at least enough for smokes and booze. Dad would sometimes come home with bruises on his hands or face.

"Looking back, I'm sure my dad was an enforcer for one of the gangs in our neighborhood. Even as a child, I could sense that people were afraid of him. They'd see him coming and cross the street. My mom feared him, too, but she tried her best to hide it.

"We managed when it was just the three of us, but then Lucy came along, followed by Bel, and soon we didn't have enough money to make ends meet. Dad grew angrier, drank more, and was more violent, while Mom started hiding in her drugs. One night, things got really bad. So bad that I climbed out of my window to escape.

"We lived on the outskirts of town on this big property, and I ran up the hill behind the house to escape. But sound carries when there are no houses or people to muffle it, and I could still hear them fighting. I sat there crying, listening to them yell at each other and then hearing my dad hit my mom until she stopped. I was so scared and didn't want to go home, but I was even more afraid of being alone in the dark, so I crept back down to the house and tried to sneak back in.

"Dad was waiting for me in my room, red-faced with anger. That was the only time he hit me, but it was enough. The next day at school, the teacher noticed I couldn't sit down without wincing in pain, so she called Child Protective Services. The three of us were placed with a foster family while my dad was sent to jail, and my mom was told she couldn't get us back until she got clean. Less than three months later, she died from an overdose."

I couldn't go on. I could feel the darkness closing in around me. But Abuela just held me, shielding me with her body and love until it receded enough for me to continue.

"We were fostered by a successful couple, the Winters, who couldn't have their own children. Mr. Winters was a deacon in the local church, and we prayed to the Lord for his blessings and forgiveness before each meal and before going to bed. But Mr. Winters had his own bedtime rituals that he strictly enforced."

I shut my eyes as tightly as I could, and my body started to tremble.

"He'd take me into the room where Lucy and Bel were sleeping and make me beg to do things to him. He said that if I didn't beg well enough, he'd wake the girls up and make them do those things instead. It hurt so much, but he never woke the girls. I always gave him what he wanted."

I could feel Abuela hugging me tighter and tighter, trying to ease my pain.

"What about his wife? She must've known what was happening, or at least suspected?"

"She was a quiet, haunted woman. She never said anything, but after the first night that he came to me, she couldn't look me in the eye. I've thought about her over the years. Maybe it was me or her; I just don't know.

"When my dad got out of prison, he vowed to turn his life around and take good care of us. But by the time he got us back, I was broken. I cried myself to sleep every night and couldn't stand to be alone in the house. As an ex-convict, he was working minimum-wage jobs, and we couldn't afford therapy. Heck, we didn't even know what therapy was. But one night, when I just couldn't take it anymore, I told him what Mr. Winters had done to me. He was charged with murder the next afternoon."

I felt Abuela tense up before she spoke in a hard, cold voice.

"Good. I don't blame him at all."

"If I could have just been stronger when my dad hit me that first time, none of the rest would have happened. Mom would still be alive. Dad wouldn't be in jail. I never would have met the Winters. It's all because of me."

"None of it was your fault, Mija. None of it."

"It's easy to say that, but I know it's not true."

Abuela withdrew a bit, gently grasped my chin, and tilted my head until our eyes met.

"You were just a child, Mija. You were younger than Shelby is now. If someone hit Shelby, would you blame her for being hurt? If someone did awful things to her, would they be her fault?"

"Of course they wouldn't, and I know you're right. But deep down, I just can't believe it. There's a darkness inside me; it's a part of who I am. That's why I said 'No' to Sneaky. If he knew what I had done, who I truly am, he would never be able to love me."

Abuela held me in her arms for a long time.

"You feel how you feel, Mija. I won't say it's right or wrong. But I know my Sneaky. If you can open your heart to him, you might be surprised by who he can love. And, who he still loves."

Sneaky

It was always a long day when I traveled home, but usually, I didn't mind. Smiling for pictures and signing autographs had been part of my life since I started as a freshman in college, and they came with life in the pros. This time, however, the constant half-hidden smiles and snide comments about my breakup with Britney grew old very quickly. Some people might have reveled in their notoriety because, as P. T. Barnum once said, "There is no such thing as bad publicity." As true as that might be, I just felt sad and heartsick, and I wanted to go home.

I got off the plane in Atlanta after signing autographs for the pilot's nephews and made my way to the arrivals hall, where I was greeted by a veritable swarm of family who surrounded and shielded me from the waiting media. I was sure they still got some pictures that would feature prominently in the next day's tabloids, but I managed to escape without any confrontations or unpleasantness. I had nothing against the reporters, who were just doing their job; I just wanted to spend some time with my family and lick my proverbial wounds.

By the time we left the airport, it was already mid-afternoon, so we headed straight to my grandparents' house for a carne asada to welcome me home. Abuela and my mom and aunts had been cooking all day to prepare a veritable mountain of marinated flank steak, chicken, chorizo sausages, and countless sides and salsas. I was sure my dietitian would lose her mind when I told her what I ate that evening, but Abuela's food was an expression of her love and was not to be denied.

I could feel the weight of the last few days lift from my shoulders as I spent time with my family. Various aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and long-time friends who were considered family came and went all afternoon and well into the evening. I took my turn manning the grill alongside Abuelo and even spent some time throwing a football with my younger nieces and nephews, who liked nothing better than to let me catch the ball before swarming me in a wave of giggling bodies.

As the evening came to a close and the crowd began to thin, Abuela sat beside me on one of the many folding lawn chairs arranged in the yard.

"So, how is my Sneaky? You must be tired after all the excitement from last week."

Abuela was one of the few people I could confide in completely, even more so than my mother and father. Don't get me wrong--I loved them, and they were good parents--but when you're one of eight kids, individual attention and care are hard to come by.

"I'm tired, Abuela. Tired and a little sad."

"This Britney woman, she was not good for you?"

"I thought she was," I said, but I second-guessed myself before I finished the sentence. "Or maybe I just hoped she was. It's been pretty lonely since Lisa... since she... since we broke up."

"Did you love her?"

"Lisa? I loved her with all my heart."

Abuela smiled and rested a hand on my forearm.

"Britney, did you love her?"

I paused to consider my answer, but Abuela continued speaking before I could respond.

"If you have to think about it, then the answer is no; you didn't love her. So, she did you a favor. You're a nice boy, Sneaky, and you would've stayed with her, hoping you would fall in love while she took advantage of you."

"You're right, Abuela, I know that. But I can't help but wonder why I'm never enough. I wasn't enough for Lisa; now I'm not enough for Britney. What's wrong with me?"

Abuela's eyes crinkled as she offered me a warm smile and softly squeezed my forearm again.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Mijo. And don't ever think you weren't enough for Lisa."

"But I wasn't enough, Abuela. I wasn't enough to fix her or take away her pain."

Abuela pursed her lips before she replied, which was never a good sign.

"Are you saying that Lisa is broken? That she needs you to fix her before she is worthy of being loved?"

"No, Abuela, she isn't broken, but I can't bear to see her in pain. She doesn't have to be with me, even though that breaks my heart, but I'd do anything to take away her pain."

Abuela's mouth tightened further as she made a soft clucking sound with her tongue.

"What I hear is that you love Lisa, but only the parts of her that are easy to love. But what if her darker side is part of her? Can you love that part of her as well?

"I can tell you that girl loved you and still loves you with all her heart. It's herself she can't love or forgive."

I felt my frustration mounting as I responded.

"She broke up with me, Abuela! What am I supposed to do, just stand by and watch her suffer? Of course, I want to help her feel better!"

Abuela settled into her chair and closed her eyes but kept her hold on my arm.

"Do you still love her, Mijo?"

"You know I do, Abuela. But I'm still so angry with her. And she doesn't love me."

"Before you can help her, you must heal yourself--let go of your hurt and anger. She already despises herself and carries so much shame that your anger would be too heavy for her to bear. I understand it's not fair; you were the one who was wronged, but if you love her, that is the only way. You have a choice: let go of your anger and embrace all that she is, or let her go."

"But it's not fair, Abuela. She abandoned me! She rejected and humiliated me in front of all our family and friends."

"Love isn't fair, and that's the truth. I know you have your pride. What she did hurt you and wounded that pride. You are a handsome young man who is rich and famous. Countless other women like Britney are waiting for you just over the horizon. By choosing them, you can soothe your pride and show Lisa and the world that she made a mistake--that you can have your pick of beautiful women.

"But there is only one Lisa, Sneaky, and you still love her. Show her that you see and love all of her. Her pain will always be a part of her, but it doesn't have to define her. If you can embrace that in her, maybe she can too."

I reflected on what Abuela said, and it filled me with sadness.

"Maybe that was true when we were together, Abuela, but it's too late for that now. Lisa was clear with me when she left; she doesn't love me anymore, and we are finished."

Abuela gave me a gentle smile.

"It's never too late, Mijo. For many generations, the women in our family have been curanderas. The powers of divination and healing have been passed down from mother to daughter through the ages, though they are weak in me. My dreams are seldom touched by fate. Last month, however, I had a vision as clear as you are sitting here in front of me. In it, I saw immense pain and suffering but also profound healing and love.

"Visions are never certain; they only hint at what could be. But I know this is true, Mijo. If one of you is brave enough to take the first step, the other will follow."

CHAPTER 3

Lisa

One of the best things about my week at home was spending time with my sisters. On the first day, they all gathered around me, vying for my attention. By the second day, they were just happy I was back. On the third day, it felt like I'd never left.

I particularly enjoyed spending time with Shelby since she was too shy to do much talking during our video calls. At home, however, she taught me the names of all her stuffed animals and shared details about her teacher and favorite subjects at school. I spent an entire afternoon in the tree fort JT had built for the kids out back, reading her books while Balthazar rested on our laps.

For most families, the Friday before a wedding is typically filled with last-minute errands and commitments. For mine, it was occupied by the first playoff game of JT's 7-on-7 football team. The entire family planned to watch before heading to Shelly's Diner for dinner, followed by the bachelor and bachelorette parties later in the evening. While Cindy's old cheerleading squad planned to take her out dancing until the early hours and had booked a suite at a local hotel, Jason's friends were gathering at the acreage to play video games and work on his Challenger.

If given a choice, I would have much preferred to spend my time with the guys, but as the Maid of Honor, I knew I had to endure a night out with the girls. Cindy was my oldest and best friend and my brother's fiancée, and I would do almost anything for her. However, a night out dancing with her former cheerleader friends was pushing it. It mystified me how Cindy could be such a lovely, down-to-earth girl while her former cheerleading friends were mostly shallow, vapid, and mean-spirited.

In most years, the 7-on-7 team did alright. They were well-coached by JT and his best friend Ted and benefited from NFL-quality play designs courtesy of Jason. The team adhered to the same philosophy that had been in place since its inception: everyone gets a chance to play as long as they put in the work. They'd done better that year, however, than they had in a long time--since the year they won the league championship with Jason and Sneaky, in fact.

Sam Johnson, a freshman starting cornerback for the varsity team, played a big part in their unexpected success. After playing for a rival team for most of the past decade, he'd asked if there might be a spot for him on our team. Initially, JT worried he might be a prima donna, but Sam proved to be a respectful, hard-working young man and a force of nature on the field. At 15, he was already as tall as JT, who stood well over six feet, and had the kind of explosive athleticism that couldn't be taught. Although JT still didn't understand why he'd switched teams, he was glad to have him on board.

This was Lucy's third year playing with the team and her first as captain. She had all my fire but none of my anger. She played with a ferocity and joy that the team found infectious. She was the first to congratulate anyone on a great play, regardless of which team they played for. I could tell that some of her teammates were infatuated with her, but I knew from our late-night conversations that she had her eyes set on the youngest of the Simpson boys, who was playing for the team they were up against.

I watched from the sidelines as the teams warmed up while Shelby and Bel sat quietly under a nearby tree, reading their books. Somehow, while I was away playing soccer, both Lucy and Bel had grown into beautiful young women. While Lucy commanded attention on the field with her magnetic personality, Bel was equally captivating but in her own quiet way.

I might have missed it if I hadn't been watching, but I noticed Sam stealing glances at Bel a few times when he thought no one was looking. Maybe his reason for switching teams wasn't so mysterious after all.

Jason and Cindy pulled up in their old, beaten-up Subaru just before the game began. I knew Jason's football analytics consultancy was raking in millions of dollars a year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at him. He wore the same basic athletic wear, drove a nine-year-old car, and he and Cindy still lived in the same small apartment they had rented when they first moved to Atlanta.

"There's the couple of the hour," I exclaimed with a grin as I jogged over to greet them. I gave my brother a big hug and planted a kiss on Cindy's cheek. Cindy looked gorgeous as always, but her smile seemed especially radiant that evening.

"Less than 48 hours until you marry my brother," I said, squeezing Cindy's hands in excitement. "And less than 48 hours until you prove beyond a doubt that you are the luckiest guy on the planet for marrying this beautiful girl," I teased Jason.

"Do you know if the team has scripted their plays for the first half?" Jason asked me as if it were the most natural thing in the world to focus on a high school spring football game two days before his wedding. I shook my head and replied, "Why don't you go over there and ask JT and Ted while I catch up with Cindy."

In some ways, Cindy Stanley and I were an unusual pair. She had been a member of her college's most exclusive sorority and a cheerleader for the four years she was there, while I had been (and still was) a jock. She was a loyal friend, however, who was always upbeat and saw only the best in the people around her. As Jason jogged over to his dad, Cindy sighed.

"I'm so glad you can join us for the bachelorette party tonight. I know you aren't the biggest fan of some of my former cheerleading friends, but they insisted on taking me out for one last night of dancing before my big day."

She got a slightly worried expression on her face before she continued.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but would you mind staying sober tonight and keeping an eye out for me? The girls can get pretty wild sometimes, and I don't want to feel sick or hungover on my big day."

Cindy was right; I didn't like or trust many of her former cheerleading friends. In college, I had seen how they looked down on Jason as if he weren't good enough for Cindy. At least half of them would have struggled to graduate without his tutoring, and he had helped them in numerous other ways, both large and small. But they still made nasty little comments about him when they thought no one was listening.

"Of course, Cindy. Your friends already see me as a stick in the mud, so I would hate to disappoint them."

******

The game was close throughout the first half despite their opponents being heavily favored. The highlight was when Lucy lined up against the youngest Simpson boy, Devlin, late in the second quarter. Just before the ball was snapped, Lucy winked at him, causing him to stumble over his own feet as she ran untouched into the end zone for the score. Afterward, she jogged back up the field to help him to his feet, and he was the subject of some good-natured teasing from his teammates.

Things took a turn at halftime when a couple of older boys from the opposing team started goofing around near the tree where Shelby and Bel were sitting. I noticed that Shelby was getting nervous, and I began to head over to help her just as one of the boys tripped over Bel, seemingly on purpose, knocking her book from her hands. Bel was annoyed since she'd lost her page, but Shelby looked scared. I sped over, but Lucy got there first.

"Hey, watch where you're going, Jackass!" she shouted as she confronted the boy. As easygoing as she usually was, Lucy was implacable when protecting her sisters. I quickly positioned myself between her and the boys. I'm sure they thought I was trying to protect her, but far from it. I knew they were in way more danger from her than she was from them.

Fortunately, Devlin and the opposing team's captain came over to help calm things down, and the incident passed. Or at least I thought it had until I noticed Sam watching the teen who had bumped into Bel with a look of steely determination. If he was crushing on Bel, as I suspected, the kid who ran into her would be in for a long second half. Sure enough, Sam covered him almost exclusively, shadowing him wherever he lined up on the field.

By the end of the game, Sam had intercepted two passes thrown his way and made half a dozen spectacular defensive plays, the most impressive of which involved diving over his opponent's shoulder while at least five feet off the ground to knock the ball away. He didn't smile once during the entire half; he just throttled the player he was covering with ruthless efficiency until they stormed off the field and kicked a water bottle.

Sam may not have smiled much, but I noticed that Bel was turning the pages of her book much more slowly than usual, and she had a shy half-smile on her face whenever he made a big play. Our team won by two touchdowns, and Lucy invited Devlin to join us for our traditional post-game dinner at Shelly's Diner. I saw Sam hanging around after the game, looking shy and awkward, so I asked him if he would like to come to the diner as well, along with his mother and younger sister.

"Bel!" I called out when they said they would join us, and she came running over. "Sam's going to join us for dinner, but he's never eaten at the diner. Maybe you could sit with him at the counter and let him know what's good. I'll even buy you a chocolate milkshake to share since it's his first time."

They both blushed so deeply that I thought they might melt. However, they were quietly talking together when we reached the diner, and the rest of the world seemed to have faded away. In contrast, Lucy was holding court at a booth filled with Devlin and her teammates, happily replaying the highlights from the game with sugar packets and salt and pepper shakers. Devlin didn't say much but seemed mesmerized by Lisa's energy. I tucked myself away in a corner booth with Shelby and Sam's little sister, and we spent our time reading and coloring on one of the paper napkins.

After an hour, Cindy and I left to get ready for our evening out. I drove us back to the acreage to change, and we packed overnight bags since we would be staying at the hotel. Before we left, Cindy gave me a hug.

"Thanks for looking after me tonight. I really appreciate it."

I hoped that there wouldn't be too much 'looking after' required, but I was ready for anything.

******

"It's getting late, so we're going to head out!"

I could barely hear as the last of Cindy's childhood friends informed me they were leaving. I felt both sympathetic and envious. We had been at a nightclub on the outskirts of Atlanta for three hours, and it was getting late. Throughout the night, the former cheerleaders had been doing their best to ply Cindy with drinks and encourage her to hit the dance floor near the frat boys and investment bankers who seemed to fill the upscale club.

They'd also prepared a number of 'games' that they wanted her to play as the night went on, most of which involved asking men to do embarrassing or overtly sexual things with her, but she refused. Anyone who knew her well would have known that she hated those kinds of games and couldn't stand cheaters, but most of her former cheerleader friends didn't seem to care. Even though they had long-term boyfriends or husbands back home, it didn't stop them from grinding on random men out on the dance floor.

Cindy looked embarrassed and laughed awkwardly at their antics, politely but firmly pushing away any men who got too close to her. However, things got worse as the evening went on. Finally, I had enough after manhandling a particularly aggressive gym bro who thought he was God's gift and wouldn't leave Cindy alone.

"Cindy and I are heading back to the hotel," I shouted, loud enough to be heard over the thumping dance music.

"We'll come too; I'll call the limo."

That was Madison Whitmore, the "queen" of the former cheerleaders and an entirely unpleasant individual. I noticed a brief exchange between Madison and two of the other former cheerleaders that put me on high alert. It seemed the night was far from over.

******

The drive back to the hotel felt more than a little strange. Everyone was friendly enough, and the former cheerleaders made an effort to include me in their conversations, even though I felt hopelessly lost when it came to fashion and reality television. As they chatted, my mind drifted, and I wondered what the guys were doing at the bachelor party. I remembered my childhood dreams of marrying Sneaky and starting a family. I never cared much about weddings, dresses, and all that nonsense, but I had to admit that Sneaky would look amazing in a tuxedo. As my mind wandered, I lowered my guard for a moment, and that was nearly my undoing.

Madison noticed the distant look in my eyes and seized the opportunity to distribute bottles of water to everyone. I paused to make sure that the seal on my bottle was intact before drinking it in one long gulp. A few minutes later, I couldn't keep my eyes open. As I drifted off, I glanced over at Madison, who was watching me with a nasty little grin on her face. I knew I should be panicking, but I drifted off to sleep instead.

I woke up briefly as we entered the hotel lobby, supported by one of Madison's lackeys, and I can remember stumbling into the suite. I could barely stay awake, but Cindy seemed to be almost bouncing off the walls; she had so much energy. I knew something was wrong because she was sweating profusely, and her eyes looked glassy and unfocused, but I couldn't seem to force myself to speak. I had just about drifted back to sleep when I heard Madison talking to one of her friends.

"Put that bitch in the bathtub and make sure the curtain is drawn in case one of the strippers needs to take a leak. I'm going to get the camera set up in the bedroom. It'll be too late for her to do anything by the time she wakes up. Operation 'Save Cindy from Herself' will be over, and we will be long gone."

The other former cheerleader seemed a bit uncertain.

"Is this going to work? What if Jason never sees the video of Cindy with the stripper?"

Madison got that same cruel gleam in her eye.

"Let me take care of that. I'll make sure the video gets posted to our socials 'by mistake,' and I've set up an anonymous email account to send Jason an "I just thought you should know..." message. He'll dump her for sure."

"Are you sure this is what's best for Cindy?" the friend asked, with concern in her voice.

"Cindy's a great girl, but she's too soft for her own good. If we don't save her from herself, she'll marry that freak and have his little freaky babies. She's too nice to cut him loose, so we'll have to do it for her. She might be mad at us for a while, but she'll eventually thank us once she's had time to think about what it would have been like to be married to that freak."

"Well, if you're sure."

The next time I swam back to consciousness, I felt the cold bathtub on my bare shoulders. I could feel something moving across my face and arms and hear giggling. I tried to open my eyes but could barely make out two blurry shapes around me.

"Nothing like a little body art to give this bitch something to remember us by."

I heard a knock on the door in the main room, and the shapes turned to leave.

"It's time to get this party started."

My mind drifted off for a final time; I knew I needed to warn Jason about what was happening, but I just couldn't focus. I cast around for anything that might keep me lucid long enough to act, but I felt helpless. Like I'd felt helpless my entire life. Like I'd felt helpless when Mr. Winters woke me up at night... and there it was. My helplessness turned to white-hot rage. And that rage held off the drugs I had been given just long enough for me to make a single call and say a single word.

I hoped it would be enough.

Sneaky

It was getting close to one in the morning when Jason's bachelor party finally wound down. It wasn't the drinking or wild antics that kept us there; truth be told, it was probably the tamest party I'd been to since before I was drafted. Rather, the genuine love and affection woven through the gathering made us reluctant to call it a night.

The girls, who were too young for the bachelorette party, wandered in and out of the garage where the festivities were taking place during the early part of the evening. Lucy even challenged Ted and me to a game of Madden, and she almost beat us before we took matters into our own hands (she might have faster reflexes than we do, but not when her Uncle Ted is tickling her). After about nine o'clock, however, they went inside with Jen while the rest of us continued to enjoy the evening.

The rest of the party was filled with jokes, stories, and memories from high school and college. I'd never seen Jason as relaxed as he was that evening, surrounded by his friends and family. Even Cindy's father, who was usually a very serious man, relaxed and joined in the fun. However, as the clock struck midnight, the guests began to filter home until only Jason and I were left. He wasn't a demonstrative person by any stretch of the imagination. Still, with the emotions of the day and his upcoming wedding, I saw his normally stoic demeanor begin to crack.

"Thank you for everything, Sneaky. Tonight was perfect, and I'm so grateful that you'll be standing beside me when I marry the love of my life."

"It was my pleasure, Jason. Now, let's get stuff cleaned up before we crash for the night."

A half-hour later, Jason was moving his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, which he had restored with JT (much to the horror of the guys at the shop, who'd sooner rebuild a rusted-out Pinto than be caught working on a Dodge), back into the garage when my phone rang. I figured it was someone from L. A. who didn't realize I was home for the week or didn't remember the time difference.

It was Lisa. I'm not sure if a heart can swell with excitement and then shatter in a single beat, but mine certainly tried. I answered because... well, I'll always answer when Lisa calls.

I heard loud noises and muffled thumping.

"Lisa, is that you? Are you okay?"

There was a lengthy pause before I heard a soft "Help."

The phone remained connected, but Lisa fell silent. Adrenaline surged through my body as I ran toward Jason, who was just stepping out of the Challenger.

"Lisa and Cindy are in trouble!"

One of the things I admire most about Jason--and that drives me crazy sometimes--is his coolness under pressure. I'd seen him being pursued out of the pocket by two unblocked linemen while delicately feathering a pass up the sideline without breaking a sweat. If he was worried or upset by my news, you wouldn't have known it by looking at him.

"Do we know where they're staying?"

I didn't. Damn it. Then I remembered that Lisa still shared her location with me.

"It looks like they are at that new hotel past the highway."

"Try calling Cindy. I can get us there in 15 minutes."

It was a good 25 miles to the hotel, but I trusted Jason more than anyone else on the planet to get us there safely. Jason slammed the Challenger into reverse and did a J-turn, flinging gravel into the front yard as he sped down his parents' driveway.

Cindy didn't answer when I called. After trying a second time, I gave up.

"She's not answering, Jason."

I had known Jason for over a decade, making me one of the few who understood that his calm exterior masked intense mental focus. Most people become overly emotional when faced with a crisis, which clouds their judgment. Being on the spectrum, Jason could put his feelings aside and process the facts of a situation more quickly and accurately than anyone I had ever met. He began doing what he does best: solving problems.

"Call your cousin, the deputy sheriff, and tell him to meet us at the hotel. Offer him whatever he wants, but we need to get him there now."

I managed to reach my cousin, and to his credit, he didn't ask why we needed him or what was happening. He just asked if he needed backup and got rolling. I knew Jason was processing different scenarios in his head, so I sat silently as we sped through the night, with the howl of the Challenger's engine marking our progress. As we got close to the hotel, Jason spoke once again.

"We don't know what we'll find when we arrive, so please call 911 to report a medical emergency at the hotel. Keep the details vague, but ask them to send an ambulance right away. I'll handle the fines if they aren't needed."

I made the call. I'd trusted Jason implicitly since we were teenagers, and I wasn't going to start freelancing on him now.

We skidded into the hotel parking lot, leaving a trail of melted rubber in our wake. I tried Cindy's phone again, but there was still no response. To my frustration, I could confirm that Lisa was at the hotel but not much else. Fortunately, fame is a fungible currency, and I planned to spend it liberally to find out where she was. I put on my biggest I-am-a-famous-athlete-and-local-hero smile and walked up to the front desk. When the girl behind the counter looked up, her eyes widened so much they nearly popped out of her head.

"Hey there... Cheryl," I said, glancing at the name tag on her shirt. "I could use your help. My friend's fiancée is having her bachelorette party tonight, and they booked a room here at the hotel. He organized a big surprise for them, but they must've gotten caught up in their evening and forgotten to send us their room number. Is there any chance you could help us out?"

Cheryl looked unsure, so I decided to sweeten the deal before she had too much time to think.

"Are there any football fans in your family? Would a signed jersey help you to make the right choice here?"

The girl's eyes widened even further, if possible, before responding.

"I can't give out room numbers unless you're a registered guest," she said, glancing around the lobby nervously. "However, there may have been two noise complaints in the last half hour about the guests in Suite 517."

"That's so rude of them, Cheryl. I think we should go ask them to keep it down. Why don't you write down your full name and contact information? I'll pick it up on my way out and make sure you get that jersey with my thanks."

As Cheryl quickly jotted down her information, I noticed my cousin pulling up outside in his cruiser. Since he was off duty, he wasn't running with his lights or siren, but he'd taken the time to throw on his vest and sidearm. We headed to the elevators while I updated my cousin on the situation. After hearing about Lisa's distress call and that we hadn't been able to contact either her or Cindy, he radioed for backup.

We could already hear the music as we stepped off the elevator on the fifth floor, the deep thumping bass resonating down the hallway. When we reached the door to Suite 517, the noise was overwhelming. I walked up and knocked as loudly as I could. After half a minute, the door opened slightly, and I saw one of Cindy's former cheerleader friends just on the other side. When she saw me, her eyes widened, and she tried to close the door, but I had just enough time and leverage to throw my shoulder against it and force it open.

The hotel room looked like something out of a bad rap video. Cindy's former cheerleader friends were spread out around the suite while two very muscular and mostly naked men entertained them. At first glance, I couldn't see Cindy or Lisa, but there were several closed doors to other rooms.

The music was coming from a small Bluetooth speaker and was so loud that I could hardly think. I picked it up in frustration and hurled it against the back wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The sudden silence that followed was punctuated by the awkward giggles of the inebriated women until one of the strippers stepped toward us.

"You jokers can't just waltz in here like this; we aren't doing anything illegal. We have rights, you know!"

He would have been more intimidating if he wasn't completely naked with his rapidly shrinking member hanging in front of him. My cousin wasn't impressed in the least.

"We've received a report that two women are being held in this suite against their will. We're going to take a look around. If we don't find anything, then you can get on your high horse and start making some noise; until then, maybe you should sit down, shut the fuck up, and, for Christ's sake, cover yourself."

As the three of us ventured further into the room, Jason approached Amanda Fairfax, a petite brunette who seemed less drunk and more anxious than her friends.

"Where's Cindy?" Jason asked, his voice chillingly cold and devoid of emotion.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Jason; we didn't..." Her eyes darted toward one of the closed doors as her answer trailed off.

In two steps, Jason crossed the room. As he opened the door, I could see Cindy sitting at the edge of a bed while a third stripper danced in front of her. She was sweating profusely, and her eyes seemed unfocused. Madison Whitmore was sitting in a chair opposite the bed, leaning forward while recording what was happening. She looked over at Jason with a look of pure venom.

"You're too late, you fucking weirdo. Now that Cindy's with a real man, she's never going to marry you."

"Jason?" Cindy asked in a slurred voice, looking confused. She glanced back and forth between the stripper and her fiancé, growing increasingly agitated and repeating his name over and over.

"Cindy!" Jason yelled, his voice filled with almost visceral pain as he crossed the room, pushing the confused stripper aside.

"Jason?" Cindy said again with a smile as he knelt beside her.

"Why are there two of you?" she asked, slurring her words. As I got closer, I could see that the stripper looked a lot like Jason.

"I love you so much, Baby," Cindy slurred, her eyes increasingly unfocused. "But I'm not sure I can handle two of you," she concluded with a giggle before slumping into his arms.

"I think she's been drugged, Sneaky. We need to get her to the hospital."

I knew he was right, but we still hadn't found Lisa. I focused all my fear and anger on Madison as I moved across the room.

"I'm only going to ask this once. Where's Lisa?"

Given Cindy's condition, I knew I didn't have time to be gentle. When Madison didn't respond, I lifted her out of the chair and pressed her against the wall, her feet dangling six inches above the floor. I growled at her in a low, menacing voice.

"You have one chance to tell me where Lisa is before I throw you out the window."

Her eyes widened, but she was so accustomed to getting her way that she chose to push back. "You wouldn't hurt a..." she began to say as I pulled her off the wall and towards the window.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to keep Lisa safe, so you've got one more chance to tell me where she is before things start to go very badly for you."

She glanced out the window, and all the fight seemed to drain from her.

"She couldn't handle her liquor. She's passed out in the ensuite."

I knew Cindy had asked Lisa to stay sober, but I didn't have time to argue. I opened the bathroom door and froze in horror. Lisa was passed out in the bathtub, her dress disheveled and torn with a trail of vomit down its front. Most of her visible skin was covered in a continuous scrawl of slurs and insults. As I got closer, I could see her phone underneath her, still connected to our call. Pushing back my rage, I reached down and gently lifted her, but she didn't regain consciousness, and her limbs felt alarmingly cold.

"What did you give her?" I asked Madison as I carried Lisa out of the room.

"We didn't give her anything; she's just a cheap drunk."

"I'm sure that they'll run a full drug panel at the hospital, and if the results are positive, God help you all."

Amanda Fairfax looked physically ill upon seeing Lisa. At least one of the former cheerleaders appeared to have a conscience. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"There was something in the water that Madison gave Lisa in the limo. She handed each of us a bottle, but the one she gave Lisa was a different brand from the rest. I saw her take it with her when she got out of the limo; it's still in her purse."

Madison glared at Amanda, her face flushed with rage.

"Shut the fuck up, all of you. We're in this together. Nobody says another word until we speak to a lawyer."

With that, Madison grabbed her purse and headed for the bathroom, but my cousin intercepted her before she got there.

"If it's all the same to you, I think we're all just going to stay in this room, nice and friendly-like, until my backup arrives. When they arrive, we'll head to the station and see if we can sort things out."

At this point, the stripper who had spoken up earlier stood up.

"We were not involved in whatever these ladies were up to and had no idea that anyone had been drugged. We were just paid to show these ladies a good time. If it's all right with you, officer, we'll be on our way.

My cousin stared at him until he sat back down, then turned to Jason and me.

"I've got things covered here. You better get your girls downstairs to meet the ambulance. The sooner you can get them to the hospital, the better."

CHAPTER 4

Lisa

I awoke to a crushing headache. I could have sworn I stayed sober at the club, but I had no memory of anything that happened after we got there. Cindy!

I sat upright, a jolt of pain shooting through my head. I opened my eyes, only to discover that the light was almost unbearably bright.

"Lisa, baby, you're okay. You're in the hospital."

Mom's voice. The hospital. Last night. I lay back in bed, my head spinning.

"Where's Cindy? Is she okay?"

"She is, thanks to you. Well, you, Jason, and Sneaky, anyway. Those bitches were trying to split Jason and Cindy up. They drugged you with something that made you pass out and Cindy with something that caused her to lose her inhibitions. But you called for help, and the boys came and got you before things went too far."

I wasn't sure if I had ever heard Mom swear like that before. Someone was in the deepest of deep trouble. My head kept spinning, but I focused on one thing Mom had said.

"Sneaky came for me?"

"Yes, Baby. When you called him, he was still with Jason at the bachelor party, and they came as fast as they could. They must have set some kind of land-speed record, and Jason will need a new set of tires for the Challenger, but they got there in time. Sneaky followed the ambulance all the way here. He wouldn't leave your side, even when JT and I arrived," she said, looking fondly toward the side of the room. I followed her gaze and saw Sneaky asleep on the floor, with only a tattered hospital blanket and a tiny pillow for comfort.

"Sneaky came for me... after I treated him so badly..."

It was all too much, and I started to cry. Mom leaned over to comfort me.

"Everything will be okay, Baby. Cindy's safe, you're safe, and those awful girls will be in county lockup over the weekend until a judge can see them on Monday."

I shook my head and replied, "I know those girls from college. Their families have money and connections; I bet they're already out on bail."

Jen gave a hard smile.

"You know that Cindy's family pretty much runs this county. Once her daddy found out what they'd done, their chances of making bail before Monday plummeted to zero. They're not entitled to a phone call before speaking to a judge. Generally, that must happen within 48 hours of your arrest, but they can make an exception if it's the weekend.

"Now that you're awake, I'm going to step next door to check on Cindy and Jason. I'll leave you in the care of your sleeping knight-errant."

I sat watching Sneaky as he twitched in his sleep. The years had treated him well--I could still remember the chubby boy from when we first met, but now he was lean and strong. After a minute, he rolled over and opened his eyes.

"Hey there..." he said in a gravelly voice as he sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"Thank you," I said softly and hesitantly.

"For what?" he asked, confused, as he gradually stood up.

"I don't remember much from last night. But I knew you'd come for me."

Sneaky's cheeks flushed as he looked away.

"I'll always come for you, Lisa. You know that. I..."

Before he could finish, a nurse rushed into the room. She glanced at the two of us before turning to Sneaky.

"I'm very sorry to interrupt, Mr. Jiminez, but we could use your help. There was a serious accident last night, and a young woman was quite badly injured. Her parents are away, and she's hysterical. She needs surgery, but we're worried that she'll hurt herself if we try to sedate her. She came in wearing one of your jerseys. Is there any chance you could come and talk to her for a little while? Just until we manage to calm her down?"

Sneaky seemed torn, but I knew him too well. He would always do the right thing.

"Lisa, I... I'll come back as soon as we take care of the girl. I promise."

"I know. I'll be here waiting."

Sneaky

When I returned to Lisa's room, she was sound asleep, and I didn't want to wake her. The doctor said that she needed rest to allow her body to metabolize the remaining drugs in her system. A nurse assured me that they'd help her remove the awful things that the former cheerleaders had scrawled on her face and body, and I hoped she would be alright by the wedding.

I stood watching Lisa sleep for what felt like a moment but must have been closer to an hour. I desperately wanted to talk to her, to tell her I forgave her and that she was loved, but I knew this wasn't the right time or place.

I couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be a right time and place.

"How's my sister doing?"

I hadn't heard Jason come into the room and had no idea how long he had been standing behind me.

"The doctor says she'll recover; it'll just take some time for the drugs to clear her system. How's Cindy?"

Jason paused before replying in a flat, emotionless tone.

"They stabilized her until the worst effects of the drugs had worn off. When she woke up this morning, she remembered everything and became hysterical. She was certain I'd cancel the wedding."

I gave an involuntary shudder before looking back at him to gauge his reaction.

"What did you do?"

"I just held her until she calmed down."

"You're not mad at her?"

Jason looked a bit confused at my question.

"Why would I be mad at her? The people she trusted took advantage of her good nature. They bought her doubles and triples at the club while pretending they were just regular drinks. Her blood analysis shows that she had over three times the legal limit for alcohol in her system, along with a mix of three potent drugs designed to cloud her judgment and lower her inhibitions. Even in that state, they had to find a stripper who looks like me to try and get her to cheat."

"It must have been difficult to find a stripper that ugly," I said with a smile so Jason would know I was joking. Naturally, he took my comment at face value.

"I thought the stripper was rather handsome, all things considered."

Jason was lost in thought for a moment before he continued.

"She was the victim, Sneaky. She and Lisa. The two women I love most in this world."

"I know, Brother. I know."

"I need your help, Sneaky. Despite how angry Cindy is at her former friends, she doesn't want them to be stuck in the county jail for the weekend. She is worried that something will happen to them while they're in custody. She just wants them out of her life.

"I spoke to Cindy's father, and he's reluctantly agreed to let them see a judge today so they can post bail, but only if I can persuade them to leave the county and never return."

"Won't the police have something to say about that? They could be facing some very serious charges."

"Those girls' families have all the resources in the world. They can afford the kind of lawyers who will negotiate their charges down to misdemeanors or a suspended sentence, at worst. Will you come with me to speak with them? I feel so much rage, Sneaky, that I don't trust myself. I worry that if I go alone, I might do something I'll regret."

I took one final look at Lisa's sleeping face before turning back to Jason.

"Of course. Let's go get this over with."

******

The meeting with Cindy's former friends went about as well as expected. Her father had arranged for us to use a small, gray conference room typically reserved for meetings between lawyers and inmates. I sat alongside Jason on one side of the table, facing four tightly packed chairs. After a minute, the four women, dressed in ill-fitting orange jumpsuits, were led in by a guard.

"Y'all have half an hour," he said in a neutral voice.

The women appeared much worse for wear, and it was evident from the smudges in their makeup that they'd been crying. That didn't stop Madison from coming out swinging.

"What the fuck is this? Where are our lawyers? I'm not going to fucking speak to this freak."

The guard chuckled a little before replying to her outburst.

"With all due respect, ma'am. This 'freak' is your best chance to get out of this here jail before Monday morning. And since you four are in here by yourselves this weekend, I can tell you with certainty that our kitchen workers will catch a bad case of the '24-hour flu', and you won't get fed until Monday morning at the earliest. It makes no difference to me, one way or the other, but if I were you, I would listen to what he has to say."

With that, the guard left the room, which fell into an uncomfortable silence. Finally, Madison broke the quiet, her sullen yet entitled voice surprisingly subdued.

"So, are you here to gloat, freak?"

The only indication that Jason had heard her speak was the faintest tightening in his shoulders.

"Cindy is recovering well. She should be fully recovered by our wedding. She asked me to help you make bail."

I noticed a satisfied smirk starting to form on Madison's face. What Jason said next, however, wiped it away.

"Her father agreed to let you see a judge this afternoon as long as you leave the county immediately upon your release and never return. Cindy has blocked you all but wanted me to give you this message," Jason said, pulling out his phone and cueing up a voice recording that Cindy had made that morning.

"I don't know how to begin. I thought you four were among my closest friends. I still can't believe what you did to me and what you tried to do to Jason. What did he ever do to you to make you hate him so much? Kendra, you wouldn't have graduated without his endless tutoring in your math and science classes. Madison, your fiancé wouldn't have a job with a professional team without Jason's direct intervention. Amanda, he drove across the better part of three states to rescue you when your car broke down. He then went back the next day with a friend to get it fixed and bring it home. Dawn, I guess he was just a good friend to you. It makes me sick to think how little that meant to you all.

"My dad isn't someone you want to cross, and I've never seen him as angry as he was when he visited me this morning in the hospital. Let me tell you, he had plans for the four of you. I tried to talk him down, but he wouldn't listen. If you're hearing this message, it's only because Jason figured out how to save your asses one last time. I would do exactly, and I mean exactly, what he says. You might even want to say, 'Thank you,' but I won't hold my breath.

Since this is the last time you will ever hear my voice, I want you to know that Jason is a better man than all of the jocks and frat bros you tried to set me up with over the years, put together. I love him and can't wait to marry him. Now, kindly get out of our lives."

Jason paused for a moment, giving the women a minute to process what Cindy had said before he continued.

"You will each get your one phone call when we're done. You will have the opportunity to meet with your lawyer at one o'clock, and at two o'clock, you will appear before a judge. Assuming you all make bail, at three o'clock, a taxi will be waiting to take you to the airport."

Jason stood up to leave. Madison, however, couldn't let him go without trying to get in the last word.

"Is that it? A real man wouldn't just let us walk away."

Jason turned as he reached the door. I thought he might just leave, but after a moment, he started talking in that same cold, emotionless voice.

"You know I have a hard time reading social cues; it's one of the reasons you think I'm a freak. And who knows, maybe you're right. Luckily, Cindy loves me anyway and is the best person I know. She helps me understand the world, and I help her solve problems. When you hurt her, you became my problem to solve. But despite everything you did to her, she asked me to help you this one last time. I don't know why, but I don't need to. I trust her, and I love her.

"But to be clear, you're still my problem, and I would do anything to keep Cindy safe. If you ever even think about hurting her again, my solution will be very different than hers. You can count on it."

With that, Jason left, and I quietly followed him out of the building, but I couldn't help but ask him a question about that last exchange.

"Well, that was kind of terrifying. But you weren't serious about that last part, were you? I mean, you scared the shit out of them, but if they came back, you wouldn't actually do anything to them, would you?"

Jason didn't answer, but his eyes were icy cold and hard as stone.

CHAPTER 5

Lisa

United States Penitentiary Atlanta haunted my dreams. Ever since my biological father had been sentenced to thirty years to life behind its gray walls, it was no longer just a prison--it had become the impenetrable stronghold of my darkness. A place where my loneliness and grief crashed against cold, indifferent concrete and steel. I knew that if I was ever going to make peace with that darkness, it had to start here. So, despite the doctor's strong recommendation to rest, I visited my father that afternoon--before I could lose my nerve.

As I parked in the visitor's lot, the penitentiary loomed like a gothic fortress made of concrete, steel, and razor wire. Its gray, weathered façade absorbed the southern sun, casting a pall over visitors, staff, and inmates alike.

As kids, we rarely visited my father--there was no one to take us, and if I'm honest, we didn't want to go. However, with the stability and love that came from living with Jen and JT, my sisters and I managed to re-establish semi-regular contact.

I was careful to follow the strict dress code and empty my pockets as I passed through the metal detectors at the entrance. Some unfortunate visitors were pulled aside to be patted down and inspected by a drug-sniffing dog, but I was waived through after a cursory inspection. When my identity was verified a second time and logged into their tracking system, I was led down a corridor, passing through several electronic gates and into the waiting area.

After what felt like an endless delay, I was led into a dreary gray room with half a dozen small tables. I was assigned to Table 4, and shortly after I sat down, my father was brought in. He'd changed significantly over the past ten years in prison. Although he'd always been tough and wiry, his years in prison had eroded any remaining softness in his body and soul, leaving only hard edges and calluses.

We didn't hug. It was allowed, but we didn't have that kind of relationship. After we sat down, he broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I watched your last game, and you were incredible. Your two goals single-handedly won the game for us."

I sat in silence, contemplating the man across the table from me. The father of my childhood had never expressed pride or love for me or for anyone else.

"How are Lucy and Bel? It's been over a month since their last visit."

There was no hint of recrimination in his voice. He understood he was fortunate that they came to see him at all.

"They're both doing well in school; Lucy has just one more year before college. She's thriving in her sports, but you'd expect nothing less from one of your daughters. Bel is still beautiful and quiet and is the best of us."

"And the rest of your family?"

A hint of bitterness crept into his voice as he asked. I knew he meant JT, Jen, Jason, and Shelby. Although he felt grateful to them, he had never fully reconciled with our having a second family that loved and cared for us.

"They're doing well. JT asked me to tell you that your brother's grave is well-tended. Shelby made a drawing for him, which we left by his headstone the last time we visited."

I pulled out my phone and showed it to the guard before opening a picture of the small headstone on my uncle's grave. A vase filled with fresh flowers sat beside it, accompanied by a picture of a rainbow and a stick-figure couple holding hands... or maybe it was a unicorn; it was sometimes hard to tell with Shelby's drawings.

"Please let them know I appreciate it. I'll always be grateful for their kindness towards the three of you."

An awkward pause ensued.

"So, what brings you here today?

I felt my anxiety rising as my breathing quickened, and my fingers and muscles began to tense.

"Daddy, I came to tell you that I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I never meant for this to happen."

"What are you talking about? How can you say this is all your fault?"

"If my teacher hadn't noticed those bruises on me, we wouldn't have been taken away from you and Mommy. If we hadn't been taken away, maybe Mommy would... she'd still be alive. And if I hadn't told you what that man did to me, you'd still be with us and not in here."

My father closed his eyes, and a look of deep sorrow crossed his face. He took a few breaths.

"None of those things are your fault. There are so many things I regret in my life, and hurting you and your mother is at the top of that list. You only had those bruises because I couldn't control the darkness inside me. I let it out, and you and your mother paid the price.

"Your mother struggled with addiction. She battled it for almost the entire time we were together. She got clean for a few years after your birth and then again with the girls, but she was already back on the hard stuff when you were taken from us. Maybe the stress of losing you pushed her further down the path she was already on, but it was always a question of when, not if, we would lose her to her demons.

"It wasn't you. It was me, it was her, and it was life.

"And about that man, Mr. Winters. Don't you ever feel bad about what happened to him! I never told you about that day I went to see him, but it's probably time.

"After you told me what that man did to you and I finally got you to sleep, I just sat up thinking. With your mother gone, I knew I couldn't do anything foolish, or I'd be taken away from you as well, but I wanted to put the fear of God in him. And that was my first mistake. He was a deacon at his church, so maybe he didn't fear God the way he ought to have.

"The next day, while you and your sisters were at school, I drove to his house. I knew things might get heated, so I didn't bring a gun. I didn't even bring my knife, which was my second mistake. Well, just as I pulled up to his house, who came out the door but that asshole himself. He was a smug fucker. He looked so prim and proper as he started walking down the street like he didn't have a care in the world.

"I stepped out of my car and called to him as I crossed the street. He paused and looked at me. I told him my name, and he thought for a second, then laughed. He said you tempted him with your ungodly and wanton ways. It took everything in my power to turn around and walk away, but as I was leaving, he called after me. He said, 'The next time they take them away from you, I'll make sure that they give us the younger girls. I bet they sound just as sweet as their sister.'"

"Your grandpa used to say that some folks just need killing. He meant men like Mr. Winters.

"It's tough to kill a man with your bare hands, but if you try hard enough, it can be done. It takes time, especially if you don't stop until you're sure the deed is done. I knew I'd almost certainly be caught. But if I didn't kill him, Lucy and Bel, or some other little girls, would end up suffering the way you did. Those little girls are safe now.

"I've done some terrible things. I know that when I die, I'm going to burn. Hurting you and your mother is the worst thing I've done by far, and I'll go to my grave regretting what I did to the two of you. But killing that man? That was easier than lifting a feather."

I sat there watching my father, tears streaming down my face.

"I know it doesn't balance the scales for what he did to you, but I did it for you and for all the little girls who don't have a big sister to protect them. You're a hero. You're Lucy and Bel's hero, and you're a hero to millions of little girls who look up to you when you play for our country."

I looked down at my hands as my tears continued to flow.

"But I don't feel like a hero, Daddy. I feel like I've let everyone down."

"You've never let me down. You shielded Lucy and Bel with your body and soul. I know you get scared, and I know you feel all alone. I know that sometimes you don't have faith in yourself; you don't believe you're worth it. But I have faith in you, your sisters have faith in you, and JT and Jen have faith in you. When your darkness is at its worst, and you feel like you'll never see the light again, let our faith guide you home."

My father's voice trailed off, and after a minute, I looked up at him. He was shaking and sweating, and he looked terrified.

"... And I love you, Lisa."

I sat frozen in shock as tears trickled down my father's cheeks until a guard shouted from across the room, "Time's up."

Sneaky

I woke up far too early on the day of the wedding. The groomsmen had all spent the night at Jason's parents' house, but somehow, we'd managed to keep the drinking to a minimum, at least to the point where our hangovers were manageable the next day. I got up just after six and went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, only to find one already made. I looked outside and saw Jason sitting alone, watching the sunrise. I poured myself a cup and went out to join him.

"You're up early this morning. Are you feeling some wedding day jitters?"

Jason sat and continued to watch the sky. Eventually, he replied.

"Do you think I'm good enough for her, Sneaky? Ever since I was little, I've known that I'm not like most people. I care for her more than anything in the world, but I can't always express it. What if our kids are like me? Would she be better off with someone else? Someone normal?"

I felt my temper rising as I saw the doubt etched on my best friend's face.

"Don't let those bitches get to you, Jason. You're the best man I know, and Cindy is lucky to be marrying you. She'll never have to doubt your love for her because you'll show it to her every day. You may not be a smooth talker like some guys, but she'll always know where you stand, and you'll never play games with her heart. She can be sure you'll protect her and the people she loves with every fiber of your being."

"You know what I mean, Sneaky. What if one day Cindy wakes up and decides that she wants to be with someone who knows when to laugh during a sitcom? Or with someone who can make eye contact with people they don't know? What if she decides her friends are right and I'm not good enough for her? She's so beautiful and kind. She could be with anyone she wants. But for me, there's only her. There's only ever been her."

I took a moment to reflect before answering.

"You know me; thinking is not exactly a prerequisite for my job, and I only squeaked through high school and college because of your help. But I don't know if any of us can ever really answer those kinds of questions. But I see how Cindy looks at you and how much she loves you. I think that each day, she'll grow more in love with a man who sees and accepts her for who she truly is. Someone who asks for her views, values her thoughts, and looks after her family and friends, even when they don't deserve it.

"Maybe you'll never be able to make eye contact with people at a cocktail party, but she knows you'll always make eye contact with her. And after this weekend, she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that when she needs you the most, you'll be there to protect and love her."

I sat back and gazed at the sky. Because of Jason's flat affect, it was easy to forget that he had worries and insecurities like anybody else.

"You're her person, Jason, and she's yours. As lucky as you are to be with her, she's just as lucky to be with you. So, go ahead and get married, and then love the hell out of your girl."

Jason and I sat quietly for another twenty minutes, sipping our coffee. We heard the kitchen door open and close at one point, and then Shelby crawled onto Jason's lap. He gently kissed the top of her head before wrapping his arms around her. I couldn't help but smile.

"What are you going to do about Lisa?"

I nearly flinched at Jason's question. Despite how long I'd known him, it still caught me off guard when he just came out and asked the things everyone else was too polite to ask.

"What about her?"

"Do you love her?"

That was quite a one-two punch, but I knew he meant no harm, so I answered despite the pain.

"Of course I love her; I always have. She just doesn't love me back."

Jason turned and looked at me, his expression unreadable.

"She loves you, Sneaky, but she struggles to love herself. I don't want either of you to feel uncomfortable at the wedding. Cindy says it's traditional for the wedding party to dance together after our first dance, but you don't have to if it's too hard. She'll also speak to Lisa. We care about you both and just want you to be happy."

I closed my eyes, and an image floated before me of the first day of my sophomore year of high school--the day I first saw Lisa. I was so shy that it took months before we spoke. I had never told a soul, but I only tried out for JT's 7-on-7 football team because I heard she might try out, too. I had never been in love and had no idea what I was feeling until Abuela sat me down and explained.

"Sometimes, if we are truly fortunate, our souls have a moment of recognition with another. Not love at first sight--though love is wonderful--but something simpler and more profound. Like two voices coming together in harmony, making it impossible to tell where one begins and the other ends."

I shook my head to clear away the memory.

"I used to want Lisa to be happy so that she would choose to be with me. Now, I just want her to find peace. I could let her go if I knew she'd be safe and loved without me."

Jason didn't know how to respond to that--perhaps there was no good way--so instead, he sipped quietly at his coffee. Shelby, however, turned to me with a gentle smile and tapped me twice on the chest with her open hand before resting her head against me. Jason chuckled.

"Shelby seems to think it will work out in the end."

I looked over at my best friend and his little sister and felt at peace for the first time since returning home.

"Let's get you ready to marry your girl."

CHAPTER 6

Lisa

The morning of the wedding was quiet. With half the bridal party having fled the state under threat of Cindy's father's vengeance, the atmosphere was decidedly somber. Instead of feeling excited, Cindy needed constant reassurance that Jason would still go through with it.

"But what if he can't forgive me, Lisa? What if he changes his mind? I love him so much; I don't know what I'd do without him."

"I know my brother better than almost anyone else in the world. He's crazy about you. You saw him in the hospital--all he cared about was that you were safe. He couldn't care less about what you did while you were drugged; he understands that wasn't you."

Cindy kept pacing back and forth in the hotel suite where the bridal party was preparing for the ceremony.

"I wish I'd been with him last night; to heck with tradition. It doesn't feel right when he isn't beside me. Ever since he proposed, he ends each day by telling me one of the reasons he loves me. He never repeats himself--he has a new reason every day. He didn't give me a reason last night. What if that means he's run out of reasons to love me?"

While Cindy might not have cared about tradition, I knew that her mother cared deeply about it and would have been mortified had she not slept alone the night before her wedding. I was pretty sure, in fact, that Cindy's mother chose to believe that Jason and Cindy slept by themselves each night, even in the apartment they had shared for the last three years. Lucy glanced over from where she was getting ready and shook her head.

"Jason is crazy about you. Nothing in this world could keep him from marrying you."

Cindy still seemed unsure, but her worrying was interrupted by a knock on the door. When I went to answer, a concierge handed me two small presents and a note tied with a ribbon. Before leaving, he announced in a dramatic voice.

"Presents for the bride on her wedding day. From the groom."

I was relieved to see a smile return to Cindy's face as she unrolled the note. Naturally, we all gathered around to read it with her.

My Dearest Cindy,

The day I proposed, I promised to end each night for the rest of our lives by sharing a reason why I love you. Last night, we were apart, and I broke my promise. Please accept this first gift, along with my deepest apologies. In the future, if we are ever apart, you will never again be without a reason why I love you.

Cindy opened the small square gift, which contained a simple mason jar filled to the brim with tiny slips of paper. On each slip, Jason had written a reason why he loved her, and one taped to the lid read, "I love how you see the best in people--even when they can't see it in themselves."

Cindy dabbed at her eyes before continuing to read.

I know it's not the end of the day, but on our wedding day, I wanted to give you a second gift--because I couldn't wait to tell you that I love how you make me feel like I'm already home.

I love you and will see you at the altar,

Jason

Cindy cried as she opened the second small box. Inside was the key to the house she had been dreaming about since she moved back to Georgia with Jason. She looked at me in amazement.

"But how did he know? I never told him about this house."

I couldn't help but smile. Cindy might not have told my brother about the house she loved, but she may have let it slip one night when she had a bit too much wine to drink with her best friend.

******

It took a while to fix Cindy's make-up and help her pull herself together, but it was wonderful to see the joy return to her smile. After an awful couple of days, her excitement was infectious, and she couldn't wait to get to the church to marry Jason. Before we left, however, she took a moment to apologize for Friday night.

"I'm so sorry for what those... those... bitches did to you, Lisa. I know you never really liked them, but I thought they were my friends."

"Nothing that a few hours of scrubbing, some rubbing alcohol, and a couple hundred cotton balls couldn't take care of. And come on, I've been called worse things by little old ladies at my away games. Although, I'm pretty sure that none of them have ever drawn a penis on my cheek. But I'm sorry you'll be short a couple of bridesmaids to stand with you today."

Cindy chuckled at that.

"Luckily for me, your sisters were already set to be junior bridesmaids--now they can enjoy their elevation to full-fledged members of the bridal party. And with the last-minute dropouts, we had some extra place settings so they can both bring dates to the dinner and reception."

Lucy looked thrilled with that development and smiled at the thought of the evening's festivities. From her deep blush, I suspected Bel would have been just as happy reading one of her books in the back of the church. Still, I was sure she would rise to the occasion.

Between having our hair and makeup done and other last-minute preparations, the morning flew by, and soon, it was time for the ceremony. I found a moment to send a quick text to Jason before we left for the church.

"Hey, Brother. How are you doing? Nice work with the presents. Your bride-to-be looks stunning, and she can't wait to marry you."

"I'm good. I spent the morning working on the Challenger with Dad. Did she really like the presents? I hope I didn't mess up."

"You bought her a house, you dork! Of course, she loved them. But she'll tell you herself in half an hour. I love you."

"I love you too. Take good care of my girl until I see her at the church."

******

The wedding was both beautiful and surreal. Walking down the aisle in a church filled with hundreds of people, I could only see Sneaky. Standing beside Jason in his black tuxedo, he looked so handsome, his unruly black hair cut short for the occasion. Strangely, it felt like we were the only two people there, with everything and everyone else fading away. I wished we had a chance to talk at the hospital or after my release, but I'd spent all my time reassuring Cindy and helping with last-minute changes to the wedding.

I watched as Cindy walked down the aisle, arm-in-arm with her father, who couldn't have looked prouder of his daughter. I knew he hadn't been a big fan of Jason when they first started dating, but Jason's dedication and love for Cindy had gone a long way toward winning him over. Launching his influential and lucrative consulting company had pretty much sealed the deal, particularly since Jason had free 100-level tickets for every Falcons game.

Cindy was radiant. Her dress was beautiful, but it was overshadowed by the joy and excitement on her face as she walked toward her soon-to-be husband. Jason, as always, appeared stoic, almost taciturn, as he watched Cindy float down the aisle. You could be forgiven for thinking he didn't care until you noticed the tears streaming unchecked down his cheeks.

Sneaky

Somehow, I made it through the wedding. I just needed to survive the reception. It was hard, though, being so close to Lisa, who looked stunning. No matter where I looked, my eyes were always drawn back to her.

After dinner and the speeches, it was time for the first dance. Jason and Cindy had chosen the same song as JT and Jen a decade earlier, "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis, but Cindy had a surprise for Jason. Over the past year, she'd secretly learned to play guitar and recorded her own version of the song, and the recording was filled with her love and devotion to him.

When the first dance ended, Cindy invited the wedding party to join them. Lucy pulled a smiling Devlin Simpson, a last-minute replacement for one of the former cheerleaders, into the center of the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. Bel took a moment to straighten Sam Johnson's bowtie, another late addition to the wedding, before taking his hand and cautiously stepping onto the edge of the dance floor, where he wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.

I wanted to go to Lisa and ask her to dance, to take that first step like Abuela said, but I couldn't move. Tendrils of shame and doubt kept me rooted in place, and I felt the moment slipping away. Across the floor, I saw Lisa glance at me and then look sadly away. I closed my eyes; maybe this was the end. Maybe it was finally time to let go. But then I felt a small hand slip into mine and give it a gentle squeeze. That squeeze quickly became an insistent tug.

I looked down and saw Shelby; her smile cut through my darkness like sunlight burning away the morning fog. I bent down as she cupped her hands around my ear.

"Dancing," she said, the first word she had spoken all day. When I began to stand back up, she tugged on my arm again and repeated louder, "Dancing, dancing!"

"Okay, Angelita. I'll dance with you. But only for this one song."

She grabbed my hand and dragged me onto the dance floor with surprising urgency, her face a mask of concentration as she searched the crowd. She lit up when she found what she was looking for and took off, pulling me behind her as the first notes of "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper began to play.

Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you

Caught up in circles

Confusion is nothing new

I was so busy trying not to lose my balance or run into other guests that I didn't notice where Shelby was leading me until it was nearly too late.

Lisa stood alone, looking sad and lost as she gazed at the crowd. I stumbled to a halt just steps from her. Shelby tugged at my hand as forcefully as she could, but I was frozen. In frustration, she let go of my hand and ran the last two steps to Lisa, tugging urgently at her dress. Lisa looked down and broke into a smile as she picked her up.

If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall, I will catch you; I will be waiting

Time after time

I could see Shelby whispering in her ear as Lisa turned to me, and our eyes met. She took a first hesitant step toward me, and then I took another toward her, and Shelby reached out to me with a smile. The distance between us seemed to melt away, and Lisa was in my arms, her head against my chest. I held her tight, one arm wrapped around Shelby and the other around the only woman I had ever loved.

I've got a suitcase of memories that I almost left behind

Time after time

But you say to go slow, but I fall behind

Time after time

As the song faded, I looked up at Lisa, whose expression was a mixture of hope and fear.

"I'm so sorry, Sneaky. Can you ever forgive me? I was just so afraid."

I pulled her close and gently kissed her.

"I forgave you long ago. You're safe with me."

EPILOGUE

Lisa

The dream is always the same. I'm sitting on a grassy hill overlooking a house--our house--my childhood home. It's night, and the sky is filled with stars. For some, the night sky inspires wonder, a glimpse of God's infinite beauty. But for me, it offers loneliness without end. The stars remind me that love exists--just not for me. Not anymore.

If I listen closely, I can hear Mom and Dad shouting--then silence, when my father ends the fight with his fists.

I'm trapped. I can wait on the hill until the darkness takes me or try to slip back inside before he realizes I'm gone. But he'll know. He always knows. Then his anger will come for me, and I'll know I deserve it. I'm the one to blame.

A voice calls to me from the darkness. I turn and see a boy about my age. He's very tall, with chubby cheeks and curly black hair.

"I'm Sneaky, what's your name?"

I hesitate, but only for a moment.

"I'm Lisa. I don't want to be alone anymore."

Sneaky moves closer, and his scent envelops me like a warm blanket.

"Would you like me to sit with you for a while?"

I feel a surge of hope as I reply.

"I'd really like that..."

But then my fears come flooding back. I'm not good enough for him; I deserve to be alone.

"But I'll understand if you'd rather go home."

I close my eyes, expecting him to leave. But I feel him sit beside me, and he pulls me close. I look at him, and he gives me that shy smile of his that still melts my heart.

"I am home, Mi Amor. I am home for good."

Thanks for reading this final chapter. It took some time to complete, but I hope it was worth the wait. Please feel free to leave a comment or rating if you're so inclined. I always enjoy hearing from you.

Cheers,

CGN