“There he is!” Tara squeezes my arm and stops in the middle of the aisle. The guys are on the floor in their green uniforms. He looks calmer now as he palms a basketball and scans the arena. He’s taking it all in and I’m so glad to be here to witness this. Nothing he could do in the game would be as good as seeing him finally walk out with his team knowing he’s going to do something besides sit on the sideline.

Tara screams his name and waves her hands over her head. She has absolutely no chill. He looks down, avoiding eye contact with the crazed fan yelling his name, but Henry nudges him and points toward us.

Tara keeps waving until he spots us. His mouth slowly pulls into a huge grin and he moves toward us.

We go down as far as we can. It’s still early, so many of the seats are empty.

“Surprise!” Tara says as he gets to us.

He shakes his head. “What are you two doing here?”

“You didn’t really think we’d miss this?” She rolls her eyes at her brother and then pulls back, leaving me room to step up to him.

“You’re here.” He squeezes me hard against him and I swear I can feel some of his nerves fall away. He smells like laundry detergent and leather and something that’s just Tanner. He left yesterday morning to fly up with the team, but it feels like so much longer. I’ve never once regretted my decision to move with him to Boston. I get how that might be a big deal to some people, but there’s nothing I love more than being with him. Arizona, Massachusetts… I’d follow him to the ends of the earth.

Tanner

After the game, Sydney and Tara meet us at the hotel. We fly to Utah tomorrow for another game before we head back to Boston on Thursday. The road trips aren’t as bad as I thought. Although, admittedly much better when Sydney surprises me and shows up.

I open the door wide to let her and Tara into the hotel room I’m sharing with Henry.

He’s kicked back on the couch with a beer. Another one of our teammates and buddies, Chris, is on his phone ordering enough room service to feed the entire hotel.

“I can’t believe this is your life.” Tara throws her arms around me again, hugging me in a vise grip and making it hard to breathe.

“Missed me?”

“Yes, so much.”

“Missed you too, T.” I ruffle her bangs—that’s a new style since I’ve seen her last. “Let me introduce you to a couple of my teammates.”

Sydney steps up beside me and I pull her against my hip.

“Guys,” I say to get their attention. “This is my little sister, Tara.”