Tripp

by Kristen Kehoe

  One look at my dad’s face and I burst out laughing. Katie and Tanner have been together for what feels like forever, but one thing hasn’t changed no matter how long it’s been—they are forever “taking care of one more thing” before they go anywhere. I swear, they hump like rabbits—all day, every day.

  “Those two,” he says. I smile while I watch Rachel switch from stretching to ball work. She won’t look at me until right before the game, but I’ll watch her the entire time.

  “I’m just grateful they wait until the house is empty.”

  My dad laughs, though my mom scowls. She can’t understand why Tanner hasn’t proposed, but I don’t think he needs to. I don’t think Katie needs him to. They’re happy; they’re together—for them, that’s enough.

  The buzzer sounds and the announcer welcomes us all, explaining that today is the last home game for the seniors. He goes on to ramble about how large of an impact they’ve had in their four years. They won’t do the family ceremony and flowers until after the game.

  As they announce the visiting team, Gracie taps my arm and I lift her onto my lap. We’ve watched every home game Rachel had just like this. As if she’s always known, Gracie would play until the lineups were announced, and right before they got to our team, she would come and sit in my lap. Together, we would watch Rachel run out onto the court.

  When Rachel walked on, she made the team and had to make the tough decision to keep playing and keep training—even though they didn’t have a scholarship for her. She got a partial her sophomore year, and a full at the beginning of her junior year. Now, she’s finishing her senior season. In a few months, she’ll be graduating with her degree in Wellness and Nutrition. She’s been talking to her mom about applying to grad school so she can figure out what she wants to do with it.

  “Daddy, look.”

  Gracie points as Rachel’s name is called, and like she always has, Rachel turns and looks straight into our section, pressing a kiss to a single finger and holding it out to Gracie, who does the same. Then she looks at me. Gracie and I stand; two swipes of the shoulders, right then left, salute and hold it for a three count. She holds my eyes longer, those gray pools glowing as we recognize this moment and what it means. It’s our last one. Over twelve years strong, and that’s the last time.

  Gracie tugs my hand and I look down. Until she starts playing in a few years, that is. I look back at Rachel and she’s still there, looking, and I do the same. Nothing else—just eye contact—and we both know what it means.

  Life isn’t just one game, I’ve learned. It’s a series of them, an endless cycle of plays. Each decision we make impacts the next series. When I first met Rachel, I was the guy who always wanted the ball—the one who was always sure he could make the right play. Then I lost her, and I wasn’t sure I deserved to be that guy anymore. Now I have her, and I have our daughter. Though I still make mistakes, errors that I have to make up for, I’ve learned I can pick up and start over. My game doesn’t end just because I dropped the ball.

  I don’t have a guarantee of how things are going to work out. But I do have my girls and my family. And in this life, that’s all I need.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you thank you thank you! I am so grateful for every reader who sent me an email or a message after Life Interrupted came out. Rachel is my heart, the girl I wish all girls could be; the strong girl with a soft heart. When Tripp started, it was simply because certain scenes started to take form and I couldn’t ignore them. Five months later, he’s completed and I adore him.

  A huge hug of gratitude to Billi Joy Carson from Editing Addict for taking this manuscript and outdoing herself. I know I have crutch words, Billi, I’m working on them. Thanks to James at GoOnWrite.com for the cover, and thanks to Amber for reading so many versions, additions, subtractions to Tripp. Your ability to read so much so quickly is a superpower.

  Thanks to my beautiful husband and daughter for making me smile even when all I want to do is lose myself in the computer. Love you both long time.

  If you liked Tripp, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads. I am an indie writer and your reviews are what help push this book from obscurity to other reader’s hands. For teasers, information on what I’m working on, or just because you want to chat, see any of the links below. I’d love to talk with you. A final thank you to all readers for taking the time to read my work; you’re what it’s all about.

  Xoxo

  Kristen

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