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“My wife would kill me if she knew I was submitting this, but you’ve seen for yourself that she has the voice of an angel. One that the rest of the world needs to hear.” His mouth turns into that mischievous grin. “I’m the luckiest man to get to be the one who stands in the hallway and listens to the songs of her heart. So even if it’s only this one time and in a stadium filled with people, all of you will get to see what I’ve always known. She has a gift that needs to be shared because it will make the world better.”
I can’t help but let out a little laugh as tears fill my eyes.
“So baby, if you get to see this,” he grins, and then it fades a little. “I know you may hate me for doing this, but I love you. Show these people exactly what you’re made to do and make them feel what you’ve made me feel since the moment your voice reached my ears.”
The screen flicks to a giant me staring back at myself, trying to hold back tears, and I want him to come back. I want to see hissmiling face one more time. I have no idea how I’m supposed to sing after that.
The stadium is silent, and I turn my attention back, front and center. My lungs are paralyzed. It’s like trying to breathe through a straw, only able to suck in a little air at a time as I try to remember the words that need to come out of my mouth in the next few seconds.
I look up, blinking the blurriness away and willing myself to hold it together. The loud voice comes back over the speakers.
“Tonight, we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant Joshua Parks, remembering him for his sacrifice and duty. Please place your hand over your heart for the singing of our National Anthem.”
One, two, three…I count. It’s all I can do as the military drums roll and the flag is marched forward. In my moment of panic, I search the line of players for Sean and his massive ego, waiting for me to fail. It might be the thing that gets me through this.
I find him–number twenty-four. With his helmet off, I see those clear blue eyes on me, and as if he somehow knows, one side of his mouth tips up into a jerky, smug smirk. His chin dips just an inch, maybe in a nod. That does it.
The first notes hit the speakers. This is it. I close my eyes.This is for you, Josh, and…for me.
Chapter 4
ANDIE
I did it. I did it! I. Did. It. I sang theNational Anthemin a stadium filled with 50,000 fans and nailed it. I freaking nailed it.
When I finish, I’m whisked off the platform and given just a moment to myself in my dressing room to collect my things before I join Ed McNeil, owner of the Tennessee Tigers, his wife, and whoever else in their box.
I had no idea how I’d make it through after seeing Josh and hearing his voice again, but I made it with only a single tear as I hit the word ‘brave.’ I did it, and now all I want to do is go home, but I’ll stay because they had me at the word ‘kids.’ So I’ll stay and play for them and their families.
I dig my phone out of my bag to find five texts from Nora, all in some form of yelling and cheering. I hit her number.
“Oh my gosh! You did it, and girl, you nailed it! I had chills from my head to my toes. I cried the whole time.” She’s talking so loud that I have to turn down the volume.
“They played a clip from Josh’s submission right beforehand. I had no idea how I was going to make it through.”
“Oh honey, but you did. You did it. Andie, this was huge. I’ve never heard it sung so beautifully. Well, maybe except Whitney Houston, but it was seriously the best I’ve ever heard.”
“Thank you.” I close my eyes, letting out another breath of relief.
“So get your tail back here, and we’re going to celebrate with…I don’t know, ice cream and cupcakes.”
I laugh, and there’s a knock at the door. “Actually, I have to stay until after the game. I hope that’s ok. They invite kids and their families to stay to meet the players and want me to play a bit. You know I can’t say no when it comes to kids.”
“Yeah. Ok, well, things are fine here, so take your time. You deserve every moment of this.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Ok.”
“Hey, Andie.” Nora stops me from hanging up. “How do you feel?”
I’m not sure how I feel. Like I’m on a high: excited, relieved, sad. My eyes burn, just trying to figure out how to describe it.
“A little bit of everything.” I pause. “You know how when you do something you never thought you would or could, and then when you do, and it’s over, you feel like something changed inside you?”
“Yeah. It’s like when I dye my hair a new color and feel like I can take on the world.”
