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"Coradually increases his speed, but he’s losing his breath We begin to pass Winning Waves The horses are neck and neck

On the ho Waves Two other horses are in front of us The crowd is going wild Cheering Clapping I’ the rush "Go, Star! Hurry up!"

I cross over the finish line right before Winning Waves A horse nae is announced as the winner

We lost by two lengths! Damn

But we ca his neck "Good boy, Star Good boy" He nickers and sighs

I make my way over to the scoreboard to check our tiles up on top of my helmet Third isn’t bad for my first race Then I seewas faster by three seconds I rubto s the disappointry?

Over at the paddock, Rory is s as he reaches out to take the reins and control of the horse, and the next thing I know, Jack is pulling raphers take my picture

"I’m so proud of you," he murmurs "Thank you"

I burydirt all over his suit We spin around in a circle and I’ve never felt so close to another person, not even ere kissing

I love that orked together to , like I could lift a boulder Like I could do ic

"I want you to be my jockey in the Dixiana Derby"

"Shit, for real?" I exclaie race at Paradise Park with a half a million dollar purse!

"I do," Jack says I leap into his ar recess

"Jack," Mr Goodwin says loudly "We all want to talk to Savannah"

Jack releases rins Out of the corner ofWait We were just hugging like crazy, and they aren’t freaking out?

"Let’s go see your mother, son" Mr Goodwin leads Jack toward the bleachers He and I look back at each other, bea me close to him "I wish your et up on tiptoes, and kiss his cheek

I ca the Road Less Traveled

Church bells ring at Westwood Chapel for Will Whitfield’s wedding

Rory, his younger brother Trey, and two other guys I don’t recognize dressed in tuxedos are serving as ushers, seating the fe an elbow out "I’ot all that mud off your face"

"You ass"

"You aren’t supposed to say ass in church, S"

S, I take his ariddy froh, I feel like I could slam dunk a basketball Jack wantswith an ace bandage to reen silk dress that belonged to my mother It’s really beautiful and not mom-style at all

The Goodwins sit a fes in front of me Jack sits between his mother and Shelby with his arers over the beige wedding program laced with blue ribbon It reads:

Parker Anne Shelton + William Connor Whitfield

Vanessa walks into the church and looks around, clutching her wedding program I wave at her then pat the seat next to uy with loose curly blond hair that reaches his shoulders--sees Vanessa and gives her a big hug before escorting her toher wedding program "I wasn’t sure if I should come"

"Why not?"

"Iout all that long I haven’t met his parents yet"

"It’s fine--his fao, and they invited ed? The super hot one"

"Oh," Vanessa says with a smile "That’s Sah school--but don’t even think about going after hiain now"

Will steps out in front of the crowd A few guys whoop at hi a lot of the little old ladies in the congregation gasp in horror