I let out a big sigh, knowing he was right about the one-hour comment. It wasn’t that long. I had to keep trying. I could do this.
“Brodie and I used to slap shots at the goal for hours at a time. Until I wanted to fall over.”
A hint of sadness dimmed his eyes, and he let out a huff. At that moment, I could tell how much he loved hockey.
“You miss it, don’t you?”
He gulped, then nodded, not saying a word. But he didn’t have to. The sadness pulsed from him like a sonic wave.
“You’ve got track now. If you—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He strode past me. “Get in position.”
Okay, then.
There must be something going on. I repositioned myself in my spot and watched him take off.Come on, Grace. You got this. You can do this!
I tapped my necklace and threw a quick prayer up to Emmett, then took off.
“Stick!”
I put my hand up, and the cool baton hit my palm. I closed my fingers around it and squeezed. I waited for the dreadedclank, but it never came! The thing was in my hand.
I put my head down and pumped my arms. Relaxed face. Strong strides. Power. Strength. The cool wind bit at my cold cheeks. Tore through my hair. I was moving. I was on pace.
This was how it was supposed to feel.
“Yes! Go, go, go!” Preach yelled behind me.
Head down, I leaned into the finish, breaking through my imaginary finish tape, and I raised my hands up into the air.
“Yes!” I eased up, slowing down. Tears stung my eyes. My heart hammered deep in my chest. I’d done it. I’d done it.
And it was fast.
Footfalls came up behind me, and I whipped around. Preach ran up, his bright brown eyes flickering in the sun. His hand was fisted and raised in the air in celebration.
“I knew it!” he yelled.
I threw that baton to the track, and I leaped at Preach. His eyes shot wide, but so did his arms in the next second. I curled my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as I screamed.
His arms cinched around me, and he spun. “You did it!”
I leaned back and raised my right arm into the air. “Hell yes, I did!”
And then I crushed my mouth against Preach’s.
Chapter Eighteen
Preach
Grace was kissing me. As in…kissingme.
Her legs tightened around me, and I slid my arms beneath her butt and held her close. I’d never been kissed with this kind of intensity before, and holy cow had I been missing out.
Warmth exploded in my chest, and my heart rate kicked up like I’d just freaking won the open 100.
We were both sweaty and smelled like hard work, but it was amazing.Shewas amazing.