“Incredible, right?” I said.

“A miracle.” Dad patted my hand, “I love you, Wes.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

He got up, then paused in the doorway. “You really getting married in a year?”

“Yup.” I couldn’t hold back my grin, I could have sworn my heart skipped a beat.

He shook his head and laughed. “Alright then, guess I better get to know that girl’s family.”

Seconds later Kiersten came rushing into the room. She was like a hot blur of red as she bounced onto my bed, careful not to touch my chest, I mean, I did just have major surgery. She pressed her lips against my mouth and kissed me for a few minutes before pulling back.

“Way ta fight, Wes.”

“Some things…” I tucked her red hair behind her ear, “…are worth fighting for.”

A nurse walked in and checked my clipboard.

“Where’s Angela?” I asked.

The nurse gave me a weird look. “Angela?”

“Yeah, the other nurse that was helping me. She had blond hair, pretty face…”

“Hmm.” The nurse put down her clipboard and smiled. “We don’t have a nurse named Angela who works anywhere in this unit, at least that I know of. By the looks of your chart you were on some pretty heavy medication. Hallucinations are completely normal when you have that amount of drugs in your system, Weston. I’ll be sure to notify the doctor of the side effects so he can take note of them.” She gave me a kind smile and walked out of the room.

“Angela? Who is that?” Kiersten asked.

“I don’t think I hallucinated anything. I mean, I did tell you I was going to marry you, right?”

She nodded.

“And you promised to wear a wedding dress?”

Another nod.

“And nakedness, I could have sworn there was nakedness.”

Kiersten rolled her eyes. “Yes, lots of nakedness.”

“But you don’t remember Angela either?” I asked.

“Not at all.” She shrugged. “Maybe it was your imagination, or maybe you just had a guardian angel.”

We kissed and then heard a knock on the door. A male nurse brought in a tray of food, behind him, I saw a familiar smile, followed by blond hair.

“Is that her?” Kiersten pointed.

Angela gave us a small wave, walked away from the room, and got right on the elevator. Just as the door began to close, she winked at me.

“Holy shit.”

Kiersten tapped me on the shoulder. “Who was that?”

I sighed and silently thanked God for miracles of all sizes. “Let me tell you about my mom.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Two months later

Shit, I was nervous as hell. The doctor had said I could play in limited capacity, but he didn’t think I’d be able to last a whole game. I mean, who plays after having their chest cracked open? Yet I felt healthy as a horse. I’d started working out two weeks after my surgery, slowly and surely, I felt healthy again. No more nausea, no more anything. I was alive, and God, was I thankful.

I waved at Kiersten. She was sitting in the stands with her aunt and uncle. My dad and Jobob had gotten crazy close over the last few months. Crazy, but it seemed that grief on both Kiersten’s and my sides brought the men close to one another. It only took about a week for Jobob to get over his star-struck attitude. Within two weeks he was pulling pranks on my dad that had all of us in stitches. It was good to laugh. It was even better to see my dad laugh.

Dad waved from the sidelines too and pointed at Gabe, who was sitting next to Lisa with a giant sign that read, Go Wes! In Red letters. They drew a giant heart around it.

News of my surgery and cancer struggle got out as we all assumed it would. After numerous Skype interviews with Good Morning America and Anderson Cooper, not to mention ESPN, I’d barely had any time to even think about the bowl game and about what I was going to do during halftime.

We were playing Oregon. Again. Of all the luck in the world. The Ducks were good, but we were better. I threw the football again and stretched my arms above my head. It was the BCS championship. I should have been thinking about the plays, about not getting hit, about winning — but all I could think about was her.

“Ready for this?” Tony asked, throwing the ball one last time.

“Of course.” I laughed. “Are you?”

“We’re having duck for dinner.” He pointed two fingers at me and then threw his head back and howled. People in the stands were shouting green and yellow. I knew Gabe would be pissed. Poor guy, nobody hated the Ducks more than him, though he wouldn’t tell any of us the exact reason.

The announcer came on the loud speaker. Funny, how last time I was on the field, I’d thought my life might be over.

And honestly — it had just begun.

The first two quarters went by in a blur. The score was tied and I was officially exhausted. Coach tried to take me out a few times, but I wouldn’t let him. I was doing a damn good job and I wanted to carry my team. I couldn’t fail them, not now.

“You sure you’re up for this?” Dad asked once the buzzer for halftime went off.

“Yup.” I licked my lips. “I’ve been waiting all my life for this.”

He dug into his pocket and handed me the box. “Go get ‘em.”

“If everyone could have a seat, we have a special announcement.” The man called over the loud speaker. I walked to the middle of the field amidst shouts and cheers from all over the stands, even the Duck fans were on their feet.

The minute I turned, I realized why. Every single person on my side of the crowd were flashing shirts that said I heart Wes Michels. I was too shocked to say anything. The yells grew louder. I gave a bow and took off my helmet. Nervous, I cleared my throat before speaking into the microphone.

“Thank you,” I said in a hoarse voice. “You have no idea how much your support means to me, my family, my team.” I cleared my throat again. “I love you guys. All of you, but there’s someone… someone special that I really need to talk to right now. Kiersten?” The crowd cheered louder. “Kiersten, can you come down here?”

Amidsts screams and hollers, my girl made her way from the stands and across the fields.

“Damn,” I said into the microphone. “You’re just as beautiful as the first day I saw you.”

Her red hair matched her face as she made the final few steps to the middle of the field.

“Lamb,” I began. She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was happy. I fought against the nerves and excitement I felt at finally being able to claim her as my own. “My heart was literally breaking when I met you.” The crowd fell silent. “It was getting slowly poisoned by something beyond my control — some think it is a miracle that I’m standing here, others say it was the drugs.” I gripped her hands. “But I know the truth.”

Kiersten’s brow furrowed.

“When I met you — somehow you healed me. From the inside out, the outside in. We conquered fears together, we learned, we laughed, and we loved. I swear, you caused my heart to soar more in the past few months than it has in my entire existence. My heart is whole because you chose to share yours with me, and it’s for that reason that I get down on not one, but both knees…” I knelt in front of her and gripped her hand. “And say thank you. Thank you for saving my life, thank you for loving me enough to treasure your own, and thank you for being my strength when I had none. I’d like to think our hearts are joined — forever entwined — but considering that’s not technically a legal joining, I have a question for you.”

Gasps were heard throughout the stadium.

“Marry me? Make me the happiest man alive.” I opened the box revealing my mom’s ring. The same one I saw when I’d closed my eyes before my surgery. It was a three carat antique-cut diamond solitaire, with the words My heart for yours engraved on the inside. Dad said when he engraved it, he had only thought of his love for Mom. Never once did he suspect that it would have a deeper meaning for all of us.