Carson on the other hand, overhears the news, and doesn’t look nearly as excited for his friend as Becca does. In fact, I’m pretty sure if looks could kill, I’d be dead right now. I make a point to kiss the top of Kinsley’s head, and whisper how much I love her in her ear. All while he’s staring at me.

Before I can tell him to keep his mouth shut, his focus is directed toward the cute blonde who jumps into his lap. “I finally found you. I’m all the way over there.” She points to the student section that’s decked out in white for today’s white out.

“Who’s your friend?” Becca asks him.

I glance at Kinsley to see her reaction. She’s looking at the two of them, but I don’t see the jealousy I saw when I was watching Carson stare at us. It’s a relief.

“This is Stacy. I met her last week when I came to see Wyatt play.”

“I’m Wyatt’s biggest fan,” she says, proudly.

Kinsley sticks her hand out for Stacy to shake. “Nice to meet you, but I’m probably his biggest fan. This one next to me is a close second.”

I chuckle at my Sunny-girl who is making sure she sets the record straight.

Carson jumps in before it gets anymore awkward. “Stacy, this is Wyatt’s sister, Kinsley, and her best friend, Becca. Guy on the end is Kinsley’s boyfriend, Rhett.”

Stacy’s eyes find mine, and I don’t miss the wink she gives me. Thankfully, Carson doesn’t notice, but I can’t say the same for the girls. “I didn’t know Wyatt had a sister,” she adds. That comment’s not going to score her any points with this crowd. That’s for sure.

Becca smiles back, but it’s completely fake. “You probably didn’t know he was seeing anyone either, but now you do.” Kinsley snorts, and covers her mouth when she can’t keep her laughter contained.

Stacy’s head cocks to the side. “Oh, no I didn’t.”

This is going well. Wyatt could have warned me what I was in for.

The Blue Band takes the field, and it makes having a conversation difficult, so we watch the show on the field instead. Stacy tries to yell over the music, and Kinsley rolls her eyes at her. “I have to go back to my seat, but I’ll meet you back at the dorm after the game. You remember which room’s mine, right?”

I almost gag, but Carson nods his head, and returns the kiss she gives him. “Bye, pooky,” she says, with a wave of her fingers.

Once she’s gone, Becca breaks out into a fit of hysterics. “Pooky? You’ve known her for a week and she already has a pet name for you? And a stupid one.”

Carson shrugs his shoulders, not seeming to care. “It’s not that bad. We’re not serious. Just hanging out.”

“You mean screwing,” she clarifies.

He shifts in his seat, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her. “I didn’t say that.”

“Well, I’m sure you are, but whatever. She seems special,” Becca says with hesitation, biting her lip to control her laughter. If she’s planning on being with Wyatt officially, there’s a good chance she’ll be seeing a lot more of Stacy in the near future. I almost feel bad for her—almost.

Kinsley’s stayed quiet during the whole exchange. I’m glad Carson’s trying to move on, but if he’s trying to find someone like Kinsley, he’ll have to look a whole lot harder. Then again, maybe Stacy’s simply a distraction. Lord knows I’ve had a couple of those when I was trying to get over the fact that I couldn’t be with Sunny.

“I have to pee.”

I laugh at my girl. The game didn’t even start yet. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I’m good. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait,” Becca says, “I’m coming with you.”

I’ll never understand why girls have to travel in packs, but I stand up and move into the aisle anyway, letting the girls out of the row of seats.

They’re gone for almost fifteen minutes, and I’m checking my watch every five seconds. Sitting here with Carson is more than a little awkward. Finally, Becca’s jogging up the stairs, only Kinsley’s not with her.

“Rhett,” she says, completely out of breath.

I stand up, gripping her arms in my hands. “What happened? Where is she?”

“She was fine and then she starting having a panic attack.”

“Take me to her,” is all I say. She turns around, and goes down the same way she came up. We wind through rows of people, and push through crowds near the concession stands. “Where is she, Becca?”

And then I see her. My Sunny’s crouched in the corner, just outside the bathroom with her head resting on her arms. I run to her, automatically pulling her shaking body into my arms. “I’ve got you, you’re okay.”

“I’m sorry. I’m ruining the game.”

“No, you’re not. What happened?”

She sniffles and wipes her tears away with the back of her hand. Her whole body is still shaking. “I thought I saw him. I was so sure it was him—that he came back to see Wyatt play.”

“Your dad?”

“Yes,” she chokes out. “But he isn’t coming back.”

I hold her in my arms, rocking back and forth against the cold concrete wall. The roar of the crowd filters through the cracks as the team takes the field. I thought bringing her here was a good idea—that she’d get to see her brother play and be happy. I never expected this to happen.

“Come on, let’s go back to the campground.”

“No! I can’t leave. I want to see Wyatt.”

“Sunny, you’re shaking.”

“I just need a minute. It will stop.” She works on her breathing, and eventually she stops clutching her chest. “I’m not so dizzy anymore.”

“You’re sure? Do you want me to get you a drink?”

“No,” she says before pausing. “I promise I’m not crazy.”

“Look at me, Sunny.” I wait for her to turn her head, not wanting her to ever feel an ounce of shame for the way she feels. When she does, I continue, “You’re the strongest girl I know. Don’t ever apologize for having a weak moment. You’re human, and I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

We sit in silence for a few more minutes, and then she says, “When we get back, I want it to be like last night. I want to be in the tent with you where everything’s easy.”

“Okay.” I’d promise her the world if it made her happy.

“I love you, Rhett.”

I lean forward and press a kiss to her lips. “Always.”

FREAKING OUT AT the football game wasn’t in the plans. Yet there I was, hunched over and about to pass out all because I swore I saw my father. Maybe I thought I saw him because I was hoping he would be there for Wyatt. That just for today, he would pick his kids over his grief. We’ve been hurting, too. We’re the ones who lost our parents, but we’re the ones expected to move on like the past couple years of our lives weren’t complete shit.

I shouldn’t say that, the time I’ve been with Rhett, has been amazing. Which is why I’m determined to spend the last few hours of Fall Fest with the people I consider my family now—pretending like the past doesn’t exist. I may never move on from it, but it doesn’t have to suffocate me to the point I lose control of my body anymore.

After the game, we came back here and took a nap. Once Wyatt showed up with Becca, we met them at their site and then walked around Fall Fest. We caught a couple good bands, played some games, and ate enough sugar to keep us up all night. By the end of the night, I was so tired, all I wanted was my boyfriend and my pillow. But Rhett made sure I was taken care of before I fell asleep, just like he promised.

We have a little more time to spend together today before we all have to go our separate ways again. It’ll be weird not sleeping next to Rhett, and I’ll even miss our cozy little tent.

“Whatcha thinking about, Sunny?”

We’re still naked from last night, but even that’s gotten a little easier for me. I’m trying not to be so self-conscious. “Last night.”