Chapter 16
Jenna pumped her fist as the Braves put up another run against the Nationals, bringing the score to eight to three in the
fifth inning. She gave Ty a high five. “Your lucky hat is working.”
Across Ty’s living room, Seth scowled. “He looked out to me.”
Ty laughed. “What are you talking about? He was safe by a mile.”
Feeling parched, Jenna got up for another soda. “I have to agree with Ty—and the umpire.”
“Yeah, well,” Alex said. “This one’s in the can, I’m afraid.”
“Have you talked to Mom and Dad lately?” Ty asked as a commercial came on.
“Just texting mostly,” Alex said. “But I have an advertising campaign I want to go over with them soon.”
Ty turned down the commercial. “Mom’s wanting another pony. I can’t tell if Dad’s going to cave or not.”
“Oh, he’ll cave,” Seth said. “Mom only has to bat her eyelashes his direction.”
“Yeah,” Alex said, “but Dad watches the finances, and ponies aren’t cheap to maintain.”
Seth regarded his brother. “But their profits are up, and the guests love the ponies. It’s good business.”
“I don’t see it happening,” Alex said.
“I’ll bet it does,” Seth said.
“Bet it doesn’t.”
Ty quirked a brow. “What are you willing to bet?”
Jenna shook her head at their antics. “You guys.”
“Well, I have been eyeing your new kayak,” Alex told Seth.
“I’m not betting my new kayak! You know how much that thing set me back?”
Alex gave a smug look. “Must not be too sure of yourself.”
“I don’t need a kayak,” Ty said. “But I wouldn’t turn down a big-screen TV. Let’s just bet cold, hard cash. A hundred bucks.”
“I’d rather have the kayak.”
“A hundred dollars,” Seth said.
“All right, fine.” Alex turned to Ty. “Who are you putting your money on?”
“Mom, of course.”
“Darn right.” Seth turned to Jenna. “You want in?”
“No way. This’ll be more fun as a spectator.”
“Suit yourself.” Ty turned up the TV as the game resumed.
Seth checked his watch. “I’ve got to get home. Seems like I won’t be missing much anyway.”
Alex stood. “Yeah, I should get going too.”
“What’s your hurry?” Ty said as his brothers headed toward the door. “It’s only nine thirty.”
“I might stay if you had decent snacks,” Seth said. “But your cupboards are practically empty, dude.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Our company isn’t reason enough to stay?” Jenna teased as she saw them to the door.
Seth’s blue eyes sparkled down at her. “If anyone’s was, it would be yours, gorgeous. But I have to be up at the crack of
dawn.”
Jenna shook her head. “I’m not falling for your charm, buddy, but you can have a good-bye hug.” She gave him a quick embrace, then offered one to Alex. “When are you going to bring your new girlfriend around? I’m dying to see the two of you together.”
“It’s new,” Alex insisted for about the hundredth time that night as he opened the door.
Seth whispered loudly, “Totally smitten.”
Alex smacked the back of his head. “You wouldn’t know the meaning of the word.”
“See you guys later,” Ty said from the sofa.
“See you!” they both called as they headed out the door.
“And for the record, I’ve been smitten plenty of times.”
“Oh yeah, when?” The door closed but the brothers’ verbal sparring carried through the door, growing quieter as they headed
down the porch steps.
“You’re not leaving yet, are you?” Ty asked Jenna.
“You kidding? I want to see every moment of this blowout. Want a drink?”
“What’s left?”
“Diet Coke and tap water. You really do need groceries.”
“Between the B and B and the calls, I haven’t had time. I’ll take water, please.”
Jenna snagged the last Diet Coke, filled a glass with water, and joined him on the sofa.
“Thanks.”
“You don’t have to go on every call, you know. You’re a volunteer.”
He tipped his head back dramatically. “That’s why I haven’t received a paycheck.”
“Funny. You shouldn’t run yourself ragged. There are plenty of other firefighters.” But being captain, Ty felt responsible. Still, he’d been looking a little run-down since she’d gotten home. Which made her feel guilty about pulling him into this Gordon situation.
As the game broke for another commercial, Jenna propped her feet on the large ottoman beside Ty’s.
“Have you had a chance to look up Gordon again?” he asked as if reading her mind.
“No, I went to church with Mom and Gordon this morning and worked all afternoon.”
“We could do it now.”
Jenna wanted answers, but the thought of getting into all that tonight felt heavy and depressing. She rolled her head his
way. “Mind if we just watch the game? I kind of just want to chill.”
“I could use some downtime too.”
They watched a couple commercials in silence, then Jenna asked, “How goes it at the station? Are things with Marissa any better?”
“Not really. I tried to apologize again last week, but we got interrupted.”
“Maybe you can pick up the conversation later.”
“It wasn’t going very well anyway.”
“She might just need more time.”
The game came back on and they got wrapped up in the inning. The Braves shut down the Nationals with a strikeout and two caught
balls, then they were up at bat again. They got two on base and were heading to the top of the lineup.
“Load ’em up, baby.” She aimed a smile Ty’s way.
But his eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply. The lamplight glowed on his features, highlighting his cheekbones and
the curve of his jaw. The dark fringe of his lashes cast shadows under his eyes.
He really was burning the candle at both ends. But he’d always had a great work ethic. There was a reason they’d made him captain. Maybe she should go home and let him get to bed.
But then, he was getting some sleep right now, and she was in no hurry to head home, where Mom and Gordon would likely be
curled up on the sofa watching the game. At home Jenna had to either pretend she approved of him or avoid him altogether.
She didn’t love either option.
She got up to flip off the overhead light, then turned her attention back to the game. Ty would want a recap when he woke
up.
It was the bottom of the seventh when some quiet snoring drew her attention. She glanced at him, lips twitching. She couldn’t
wait to tease him about that. His brothers claimed he snored and Ty always denied it. She was an eyewitness now. Ear witness?
Her gaze skated over his face, so peaceful, his lips parted in sleep. He’d apparently given up on the patchy beard—his chin
was shaved smooth now. She didn’t mind a beard on a man, but Ty looked better without the facial hair. Honestly, there was
no good reason to hide those lips.
She ripped her gaze away and gave her head a shake.
Sofia was right, apparently. These were not thoughts she’d ever had about Tyson before. Why was she suddenly thinking of him
this way? Why did the sight of him now make her stomach flutter? And why now, when she felt so messed up inside?
She thought of the months after the prom kiss and how she’d carried a torch for him. But those feelings had faded eventually
as she put their friendship first. And in the light of his relationship with Danielle. Were they coming back?
The crack of the bat drew her attention back to the screen where a line drive loaded the bases. The Braves’ cleanup hitter was next up to bat, so there was a chance of a grand slam. Should she wake Ty?
She glanced his way.
Nah. Seemed like he could use the rest, and it wasn’t as if the game was tied. If Olson cleared the bases, Ty could always
watch the replay online.
A minute later the batter entered the box. Come on, Olson. If he hit the ball over the fence, it would be the Braves’ first grand slam of the season—a cherry on top of this series
against the Nationals.
A low moan had her glancing Ty’s way. His brows pulled together, and his eyelids flickered. He wasn’t snoring now. His leg
jerked in sleep and he moaned again, the sound quiet and mournful.
Must be having a bad dream. When he moaned again she quietly called his name. But he didn’t stir.
His breaths came more quickly. His heartbeat pulsed quickly in his neck.
She scooted closer and touched his shoulder. “Hey, Ty? You okay?”
He slept on, the grooves between his brows deepening. He mumbled something, tossed his head.
She gave his shoulders a little shake and found them rigid. “Wake up, Ty. You’re having a bad dream.”
His eyes popped open and he sucked in a big breath as if just surfacing from a deep dive. His gaze tracked to her, his expression
dazed.
“It’s okay. You’re okay. I think you were having a nightmare.”
Tyson blinked, his vision clearing in the space of a few heartbeats. His thoughts not so much. That stupid dream lingered like a heavy fog, leaving him disoriented and grappling for reality. He met Jenna’s concerned gaze, then pushed himself up. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“Are you okay?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. You seem kind of shaken.”
That was because he was shaken. Seeing the fear in that kid’s eyes rattled him every time. He wished he could scour the image from his brain. But
memories didn’t work like that, did they?
She placed her hand on his arm. “Hey.”
The touch soothed him somehow. Grounded him. He sought her gaze and locked in. He was glad she was here. Waking in the middle
of the night, alone and distressed, made him feel empty and lonely.
“Want to talk about it?” she asked gently. “What was it about?”
He took a few seconds to regulate his breathing, get his heart rate down. Sometimes it felt like he was about to hyperventilate.
“The accident on Church Street,” he managed a minute later.
Jenna was quiet a moment. “The one with the seventeen-year-old kid?”
He nodded, his throat too thick to say anything more.
“What happened in your dream?”
The image replayed in his mind. He cleared his throat. Swallowed hard. “Pretty much what happened on the scene. He hit a tree
and was pinned. A limb came through the window and nicked his jugular. We got there just in time to see him bleed out.”
“Oh, Ty, how awful.”