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"Nolan Lynn Lennox I’ve got a plan, and I hope you’ll be on board with it You see, I have to leave soon for San Diego And I’ to get to come see you anytime I want And it sucks, and I hate it, and I’m so sorry it makes you sad But I’d like to entle, his wordsmy eyes water andhis hand onand promise me you’ll love me forever, and when you’re done with your fellowship next year, we’ll get married That’s it No more ups No more downs Justfro it in front of led, and my eyes zeroed in on Reed’s, the sht Through the shock, I ed to stretch my lips into a s yes

"Yes? Is that yes?" he asked, our foreheads touching while he slid the ring on er It was a perfect fit, and I’d wear it for always

"Yes," I choked, the tears falling a bit now "Yes, I’ll marry you Reed Johnson You’re worth the trouble, too"

He stood and liftedinto the table a little, neither of us caring "That’s a yes, everyone," Reed shouted "Drink up! She said yes!"

Sarah was the first to whistle, her fingers in her h the desert air Everyone else joined in after, but all I heard were Reed’s words in my ear

"You have no idea how happy you’ve justtoand hard, his hands holding my chin and face

"You already do," I said, happy tears falling now

"God I love you," he whispered, hugginginto the eyes I’d just made a promise to love forever He smiled at my words, the same ones he had said to me the first tihter then, and never let go

Epilogue

Reed

My body felt like it had been carried under a freight train I’d taken beatings in college ball, and I thought practices had toughened h, but I’d never been hit like I was out on that field today I stood there like nothing rong, though I’d keep it to ot hoht she kind of liked torturing ottenyears as the number tith a play or two here and there, but this year the starting gig was finally mine I played well today We won, and I threo passes to the end zone But that one interception was going to plague ht Nolan’s eyes as she stood to the side on the field, waiting withthe interception all day, too She just gave me a thumb’s up andoff o a to sink or swiave Nolan the sign for a few uys clipped a microphone to the front of my jersey One more interview I could do this

The questions were always the same: What did you learn under Sampson? Do you feel ready? What do you need to work on? I rattled offa word around here and there, just toand new

The reporter was just getting in the groove of his questioning, when I looked over and realized Nolan was gone My dad was still there, so I wondered what had happened I kneas irritating the reporter, because I was so damned distracted, but I couldn’t help but search for her I usually met her in the faame

"I’m sorry Can I just take a short pause? I just need to check on so I’ the h the crowd of reporters to ed me off as I walked up "She’s fine, she’s fine It’s probably just that thing they get…what is it?"tosick…"