Sebastian sat in the stands with a niece on one side of his lap and a nephew on the other. He remained mostly silent during sporting events. The Colemans didn’t share his approach. From every side of him, they shouted a running stream of encouragement and criticism at the players and referees.

After the Mountaineers kicked a field goal to win the game, the spectators filed from the stadium in a satisfied tide of blue and gold.

In the past, Sebastian had kept one car in Atlanta and one car in Misty River so that whenever he flew here, a car was waiting for him at the field. But he’d wrecked his Misty River car the day he’d met Leah and hadn’t replaced it. Because of that, he’d been driving here lately instead of flying since it was a headache to get around town without a car. This weekend was the exception. He’d missed flying enough to pilot the twin-engine here earlier today.

Ben had given him a lift to the game, so they walked together toward the faculty lot. The farther they went, the more the crowd thinned. Only the light from the outdoor fixtures punctuated the darkness.

“Everything okay?” Sebastian asked. Ben had been subdued during the game.

For several seconds, Ben didn’t respond. Then he said, “I’d like to know how you feel about Leah.” He kept his head fixed straight ahead.

“Nothing’s going to happen there—”

“Sebastian,” Ben said calmly. “Please just tell me honestly how you feel about her.”

Sebastian pursed his mouth. If their friendship was going to continue to be as strong as it had been, it wouldn’t be because of lies. “I feel the same way I felt about her the day I met her. My feelings haven’t changed.”

They walked without words.

“I could tell that by the way you were looking at her tonight,” Ben said. “And I could tell, by the way she was looking at you, that she’s attracted to you.”

“Ben—”

“I regret what I said when I called you at work the day after she and I went out to dinner. I was disappointed. And jealous. And selfish.”

“And honest. I understood why you said what you said. You’ve shared everything in your life with me.”

“Here’s the thing, though. That doesn’t give me the right to decide whom you’re allowed to date. I was kidding myself to think that it did.” He looked across at Sebastian briefly. “You and I both like Leah, but she only likes one of us back as more than a friend. And it’s you.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“If so, she’s made a mistake. You’re the right person for her.”

“I’ll be the right person for someone someday, God willing. But I’m beginning to think that you’re the right person for Leah Montgomery.”