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My heart started racing. “I love this idea. I love everything about it!”
“It sounds amazing. But how in the world would we start something like that?” Mitch asked.
Michelle jumped up. “Donations. Big-name sponsors, like the university. We’d have to draw up a business objective and all of that. But, if we did this right, we could totally make it happen. It’d have to be a nonprofit, so we could put as much money back into it as we could.”
Wyatt pointed to Michelle. “Yes! Totally.”
I was still stunned at the idea that Wyatt was honestly thinking this was something we could pull off. To be able to help other kids was something I had grown passionate about over the last few months. Wyatt had even gone with me to volunteer at the shelter for abused women trying to start over. I loved how amazing he had been with the kids there, some of them being abuse victims themselves.
It was evident that Michelle and Mitch were totally on board with this idea.
“Y’all would do this with us?” I asked.
Mitch nodded his head. “Hell, I have to use my business management degree for something when I get out of college!”
With a wide grin, Michelle added, “And you’d need a good lawyer. For now, we could use my father. This is right up his alley.”
Wyatt reached for my hands and pulled me up. “I called my dad after my run and told him my idea. They want to be our first investors. He said he and Mom purchased a hundred acres near the lake. Part of it backs right up to the lake. It would make a perfect location.”
My hands covered my mouth as the idea settled in more and more. Tears filled my eyes. “Do you…do you really think we could do something like this?”
“Is it something you’d want to do, Sky?” Wyatt asked.
I frantically nodded my head. “Yes! But…but what about your dreams of playing football? You talked about the NFL, Wyatt.”
He drew me into his arms. “Doing something like this, together, is my new dream. I’ve watched you at the battered women’s shelter, Sky. I see the compassion you have, and I know you want to give more.”
My tears fell more as I looked around the room.
This was huge. This was crazy. I wasn’t sure if we would ever be able to get something like this off the ground, but I knew that, with the three people I loved more than anything on my side, there was nothing we couldn’t do.
“Let’s do this. Let’s make this happen.”
Michelle jumped and then let out a celebratory, “Yee-haw.” Then, she stopped moving, and her face went from happy to freaked out. “Wait. This means we have to keep going to college, plan two weddings, and start a nonprofit.”
It sounded daunting; that was for sure.
Mitch laughed and pulled her into his arms. “Better decide on where you’re going to law school, baby.”
Michelle laughed. “I think UT is the place for me.”
They soon got lost in a kiss.
Wyatt took my hand and led me to my room. He shut the door and cupped my face within his hands. With a drop-me-to-my-knees smile, he said, “This is insane.”
Laughing, I agreed, “Beyond insane.”
“But it feels right.”
My body tingled. This man standing before me was such a gift from God. “It feels very right.”
Wyatt frowned slightly. “I’m sure there’s going to be a trial with Zeb.”
I shook my head. “He pleaded guilty to attempted assault. No trial.”
He closed his eyes and whispered, “Thank God.”
Gazing back into my eyes, he seemed to be trying to look into my soul.
“Can we do this, Wyatt?” I asked.
He brushed his lips across mine. “Together, we can do anything.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
* * *
Wyatt
Three Years Later
I PACED THE floor while I waited for my father.
Mitch sighed. “Wyatt, you’re making me nervous. Will you just sit the hell down?”
My fingers dived through my hair. “I can’t sit down. I’m getting married.”
Mitch laughed. “You didn’t see me freaking out like this when I got married.”
Turning to him, I laughed. “You passed out.”
He rolled his eyes. “I hadn’t eaten, and my blood sugar was low.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Hey, we were the smart ones and ran off and got married.”
Walking up to him, I leaned into him. “You chickened out because you were afraid you’d pass out in front of everyone.”
He pushed me away. “Go to hell, Smith. You’re lucky that Skip left town, or I’d have him kick your ass.”
Laughing, I went back to pacing the floor.
Skip had come into town on a short leave to give us a wedding gift and offer his blessing to us. Then, he had gone off on another secret mission. It was normal not to hear from him for months at a time. Skylar was devastated that he wouldn’t be here for the wedding, but he’d surprised us by showing up for our graduation.
