“She’s in the spirit,” Lissa said by way of explanation.
“At least one of you is,” Kate said, her serious gaze on Lissa.
“Go get your coat. It’s a little chilly out,” Lissa said to her daughter. She waited until Livvy was out of earshot. “I’m fine.”
“You look pissed off,” Kate said, too observant as usual.
“I’m just hurting,” she admitted. “I’ll get over it.”
Kate tugged her into a hug. “I’m sorry. I wish things had worked out for you and Trevor. He has no idea what he’s missing.”
Lissa managed a smile just as her daughter bounded back into the room, coat in hand. “Can we go now? Can we? Can we?”
“You’re right. He doesn’t.” She gave her daughter a loving look. “Everyone ready for the game?” Lissa asked brightly, smiling for Livvy’s sake. No need to dull her enthusiasm.
They piled into Kate’s car and soon found themselves at the high school for the big game. As usual, whenever Lissa came by the school, memories assaulted her, some good, some bad. Today was a true mix loaded with might-have-beens.
But unlike in years past, when Lissa would wonder what would happen if she and Trevor met up again, this year she knew. All that was left now was to come to terms with it and put him behind her once and for all.
*
Trevor hadn’t been to the Serendipity High School football game since his senior year. And he wouldn’t be here now except that he was on a mission. Two weeks ago he’d walked out on the woman he’d always loved and he hadn’t had a good moment since. What he had had was time—time to regret, time to mourn, and time to think.
He regretted how he’d handled things that last morning. He’d let Alex’s talk of children being forever and Livvy being Brad’s daughter put him into panic mode. He should have taken a deep breath and talked things through with Lissa. No doubt that’s what Alex had intended with his father/son-like talk. Instead, his words had sent Trevor running.
He’d mourned the years they’d lost and used the time to think about whether he was going to let old insecurities hold him back from the future he’d always wanted. Brad Banks had managed to destroy Trevor’s past, but if he lost Lissa again, Trevor would only have himself to blame for his future.
When he’d decided to make a spur-of-the-moment trip to Serendipity, he’d planned on heading directly to Lissa’s. But his sister had informed him that today was the annual homecoming football game and Trevor knew everyone in town would be there, Lissa included.
Well, if he wanted to make a statement, this football game was the place to do it. How Lissa reacted would determine the rest of his life, and Trevor’s stomach was in knots the entire ride home. He hoped she’d be relieved to see him, but then again, after he’d walked out on her he figured he’d have more of a challenge on his hands. No matter what, his weekend with her and then his time alone had convinced him she was worth it.
They were worth it.
He arrived at the field and immediately saw his old friend, Nick Mancini. Grateful for a familiar face, Trevor called out to him.
“Hey, buddy. How have you been?” Trevor slapped the other man on the back.
“I’m hanging in there,” Nick said. “Keeping busy despite the lull in new construction. How about you? I saw the article Lissa wrote on you. So you’re still making it on Wall Street?” Nick grinned in approval.
Trevor nodded, not wanting to discuss the article or the messengered copy he’d received from Lissa, no personal note included. If that wasn’t a kick in the gut, he didn’t know what was.
“Yeah. I got lucky myself,” he said to Nick. “Somehow I rode out the massive wave of firings a couple of years ago and my company bounced back big.”
The two men turned toward the field. Trevor braced his arms on the fence and watched the play. “Looks like the team’s got a chance this year,” he said.
When Nick didn’t reply, Trevor turned and realized the other man wasn’t paying attention. Instead, Nick was focused on two women and a little girl in the distance.
Lissa and her daughter. Trevor’s mouth went dry at the sight of them and an auburn-haired woman who he thought was Kate Andrews.
r /> Nick couldn’t tear his gaze away from them and Trevor narrowed his gaze. “What’s got you so distracted?” he asked, accenting his question with a shove to get his attention.
“Women,” Nick muttered.
“Which one?” Trevor asked, not needing Nick interested in Lissa on top of everything else.
“This you won’t believe.”
“Try me,” Trevor said.