The Pick Read online

  “Please move something,” Ally said louder as tears overflowed. “Anything.” She rocked back and forth, still holding on to the railing, while the medical team surrounded Tyson. She glanced back to find Kylie, but Kylie was already sprinting up the stairs with David closely behind.

  “Ally?” Justin said as put his hand on her back. “Calm down. You’re making a scene.”

  “But he’s not moving,” she said as Justin wrapped his arms around her.

  “He’ll be fine. I’m sure,” Justin said as he held her close. He chuckled a little as he said, “I didn’t realize that you cared so much about the football players. It’s good to know that you would have been crying over me when I tore up my knee.”

  Ally held on to Justin as she watched the cart drive onto the field. Somewhere along the way the tears stopped as the medical team strapped Tyson to a backboard and loaded him back onto the cart. Something was really wrong. She closed her eyes as the cart drove off the field and prayed that Tyson was okay, while the crowd clapped to show their support.

  The game was quickly underway again. Ally watched the players run around, but it didn’t make any sense. She didn’t feel like cheering, even when the Utes recovered a fumble right in front of her. She kept checking her phone to see if Kylie had responded to her text about Tyson’s condition. All she could think about was Tyson laying motionless on the field.

  Holding Justin’s hand, she silently walked like a zombie out of the stadium while Justin chatted away with his friends.

  “Hello? Earth to Ally?” Ally noticed Justin waving his hand in front of her face. She looked up at him expectantly. “Jake and Shane are having a party at their place. We’ll grab my car and then head over.”

  Ally hadn’t really processed what Justin had said, until they had arrived back at Ally’s apartment and she was sitting in Justin’s car.

  “Justin,” Ally sighed. “I really don’t want to go to the party. But you can still go.” Ally turned to get out of the car. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Justin grabbed Ally’s arm and turned her back around to face him. “What’s your problem?”

  “I just don’t want to go. I’m tired and I have an early class tomorrow.”

  “No, what was your deal at the football game. You were so into it, then after that one player got hurt you were off on a different planet,” Justin’s voice was rising. “There were other players who got injured and I didn’t see you crying over them. Seriously, Ally, you were crying during a football game.”

  Justin’s phone lit up as it sat in the cup holder in the middle console. He did a double take then grabbed his phone. After a minute, Justin put his phone down. “We’re going to the party.” He put the car in reverse and Ally didn’t feel like arguing. Instead she checked her phone again for an update.

  It wasn’t too long before Ally was alone at the party. She watched as Justin and some other guys played pool. He seemed to be winning the rounds, because the other guys kept handing over money. Normally, she would have questioned Justin on why he was betting, but she didn’t care at that moment. It was his money. She breathed a sigh of relief as she read the text from Kylie. “Tyson’s going to be fine. He will have to sit out for the next couple of games. But he’s okay.”

  Ally arranged with Kylie to come pick her up. When Kylie got there, Justin was very focused on his shot. Ally decided to send him a text letting him know that she had gotten a ride home. She just wanted to go home.

  Kylie filled Ally in on their trip to the hospital and how Tyson had a concussion, which is what had caused him to lose consciousness. He couldn’t do anything for the next few weeks, but he would be able to play again before the season was over.

  Kylie was exhausted. She couldn’t wait to get into bed and relax knowing that Tyson was going to be okay. She thought it was going to be much worse than a concussion. Kylie and David were just finishing a bowl of ice cream in the kitchen, when someone pounded on the door.

  “I’ll get it,” Ally said.

  Even though Kylie couldn’t see who it was from the kitchen, she knew it was Justin the second he started yelling at Ally.

  “You left without telling me.”

  “You were busy. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “Allison. You are my fiancée. I would like you to attend events with me even if you don’t want to be there. It was humiliating to have to ask around to find out you had left.”

  “I sent you a text,” Ally said, matter-of-factly.

  But apparently Justin didn’t hear her because he just continued on his rant that continued to escalate. “And your actions during the football game were completely embarrassing. You were acting ridiculous, crying during a football game. To all my friends, it looked like you were upset over a random football player who happened to get hurt. But don’t worry, ESPN notified me that Tyson Brooks was the player who was knocked unconscious.”

  Kylie looked at David. Thankful that he had read her mind, David peeked his head around the corner, “Everything okay in here?”

  “Ya,” Justin said. His voice calmed as David walked back over to where Kylie was standing.

  “Sorry, Ally. Sweetheart. I guess I get a little jealous when I think that there still might be something going on between you and Tyson. Or any other guy for that matter.”

  “It's okay,” Ally said. “I understand where you’re coming from. I feel the same way when I see you talking to other girls.”

  “You know I love you, right? You are everything that I could ever ask for in a wife. I don’t know what I would do without you in my future.”

  Ally must have nodded her head, because Justin continued, “I'll pick you up tomorrow at 3.”

  Kylie heard the door open and shut and Ally walked back into the kitchen. “Everything okay?” Kylie asked with concern.

  “Ya, sometimes he gets a little worked up over things,” Ally said with a shrug.

  "A little worked up? That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one. Did you remember that we are going wedding dress shopping tomorrow at 5?" Kylie asked.

  "Ya, I'll be back by then... Well I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted."

  Once Ally had closed the door to their room, Kylie and David whispered about their concerns. Ally was definitely in a bad relationship, but apparently she couldn't see it. They needed to put their plan in action immediately, if only for Aly's sake.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Ally waited by the door for Justin to arrive. He didn't like it when he had to wait for her, and it was easy enough for her to make sure she was ready 10 minutes before Justin was set to arrive.

  Last night, she had forgiven Justin pretty quickly for the harsh way that he had spoken to her. But that didn't mean that his words didn't hurt a little. She understood where he was coming from, but wished he had used a different approach. She told herself that she would try harder to be the wife Justin wanted her to be and maybe eventually he would soften the way that he spoke to her. After all, at least he loved her, unlike Tyson.

  She sighed in frustration. She had to stop thinking about Tyson.

  Justin knocked on the door at exactly 3. At least he was always on time. Which was something Ally could appreciate. When she opened the door, Justin looked like a kid on Christmas morning.

  "I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes," Justin said as Ally did as she was asked. "Don't peak."

  Justin lead her out the door and down the front steps. "Okay, open your eyes."

  Sitting in Ally's driveway was a brand-new Acura. "You got a new car?" Ally asked, surprised that he had traded in his convertible for a four-door sedan.

  "No, it's for you! My car is over there,” Justin said as he pointed to his car on the side of the road.

  "You bought me a car?"

  Justin nodded his head with a big smile on his face. "Do you like it?"

  "Of course, I like it. But Justin, you already bought me this ring which has to be around $8,000. I looked it up. You don't need to buy me
a car... I don't know what to say. You know I can't return the favor with large gifts like this," Ally explained.

  Justin pulled Ally into his arms. "I don't expect you to. At least not until after we are married. But I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for last night. So, will you please accept my peace offering? I insist."

  Part of Ally was hesitant to accept the car. What would happen if they broke up? But the other part of her didn't want Justin to be upset since he had gone out of the way to purchase it and he was so excited to give it to her. Why not? The worst that could happen would be her having to drive her old Honda Civic again.

  "Well, I guess, if you insist," Ally teased.

  "I do," Justin said as he tossed her the keys.

  Justin also insisted that they take his car on their outing, since he wanted to take a drive up the canyon with the top down. Ally was fine that. The leaves were beginning to change and Ally loved the smell of fall that the season brought. Once they reached an overlook, Justin stopped the car. It had taken them almost an hour to get to this spot.

  "You remember that I need to be home by 5, right?"

  "I know. But that doesn't mean that we don't have time for a little bit of this," Justin said as he leaned over the middle console and kissed Ally.

  Eventually, Ally pulled away catching her breath, "We should probably head back."

  "Just a little longer?" Justin asked as he kissed her again.

  Ally shook her head, "Kylie has a wedding dress appointment and I promised her I would be there."

  "Fine," Justin said in a disappointed tone and started the car.

  Ally groaned as she looked at her phone. It was already 4:30. She hated being late.

  Justin didn't disappoint though. Maybe he took the turns a little fast, but Ally walked through the door to her apartment at 5:10.

  "Sorry, I'm late. We lost track of time," Ally apologized, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that Tyson was sitting on the couch.

  David had told Tyson that they needed to go over to Kylie’s apartment for some important wedding business that involved the best man. Tyson couldn’t figure out what could be so important that the best man needed to be involved in. But then again, he couldn’t figure out a lot of things lately. The doctors said it would wear off, but he just wanted to feel normal again.

  When Ally walked through the door, Tyson did a double take. He wouldn’t have doubted it if he was seeing things. It had been a month since he had last seen her on the night of David’s proposal. Other than the fact that her hair was a little windblown, she was just as beautiful as ever. Tyson’s heart and head hurt when he remembered that she was engaged to someone else. Even though he knew that he had lost his chance, he still hoped that they could be friends again one day.

  “What’s he doing here?” Ally bitterly directed her question at Kylie. “I thought we were going wedding dress shopping.”

  Maybe they wouldn't be friends after all. It was apparent Ally wasn't happy to see him.

  Kylie calmly answered, “I decided I liked the dress I found on Wednesday. I’m going to go try it back on after this little meeting. Now, if you will please sit down, David and I need to tell you both something.”

  Once Ally was seated as far away from Tyson as possible on the couch, Kylie continued, “Now you have both mentioned to David and I, that as the best man and maid of honor, you will do anything to help us with this wedding. Do you guys still feel that way?”

  Tyson and Ally both nodded their heads and said, “Yes.”

  “Good, because David and I decided to move the wedding up to October 18th.”

  “What?” Ally asked. “That’s in like 6 weeks.”

  “That’s why we need your help,” David spoke up.

  “If you will pick up the folders in front of you,” Kylie said pointing to the coffee table and continued as if she were a commanding officer. “Inside, you will find the scheduled appointments that you will be expected to attend.”

  As Tyson reached for the folder, he noticed the ring on Ally’s hand. His jaw dropped. He had never seen a ring that large before. It definitely cost a lot more than the ring he had purchased for Ally. And it looked completely different. Was that really what Ally wanted? Maybe he hadn’t known her as well as he thought. He shook his head and tried to focus on what Kylie was saying.

  “Wait,” Tyson interrupted after he glanced through the detailed schedule before him. “I know that my head is a little cloudy, but did you really say that you want me to be at all of these?”

  “Yes. Since you will be sitting around for the next couple of weeks, I do expect you to be there,” Kylie stated matter-of-factly.

  “You’ll be fine,” Ally grumbled.

  “Last of all, David and I have decided that instead of bachelor or bachelorette parties, we would like to have one big engagement party for all of our friends. As our best friends, we would like you to work together to plan it.”

  David piped in, “You can throw it at my parents’ cabin.”

  “What?” Tyson and Ally exclaimed at the same time.

  “You want me to plan a party with him?” Ally asked pointing at Tyson.

  “Remember what you just promised?” Kylie asked before Tyson could formulate anything to say. “This is my wedding. Well mine and David’s. And you both promised to do whatever we asked you to do to help us have the wedding of our dreams. So, you are going to do what I ask you to do. Okay?”

  Ally contemplated for a second before she answered. She folded her arms as she surrendered.

  “Fine.”

  “Tyson?” Kylie raised her eyebrow at him.

  “Okay,” Tyson responded. He hoped he would be able to survive being around Ally almost every day for the next 6 weeks.

  Tyson was grateful when David took him back home, while Ally and Kylie went to order Kylie's wedding dress. He felt helpless. There was no way that Tyson could compete with Justin, especially when it came to the new car he had purchased Ally. Worst of all, Ally was still mad at him. Looking back at how he treated her the last time he saw her, he realized that he had brought the harshness upon himself.

  To add to it, he didn't have any control over football anymore. All Tyson could do for the next week was sit around. He couldn't work out or even study film. The doctors told him that he wouldn't be able to play for at least a month. They wouldn't even consider checking to see if he was ready to get back out on the field until then. Luckily there was a bye week at the end of September, so if all went well he would only be missing three games.

  Bored out of his mind, he found himself pulling up Facebook on his phone. He had multiple friend requests, all people he didn't know and multiple messages. He had at least ten from one of his favorite converts, Kevin.

  When they had first started teaching Kevin, they didn't expect him to embrace the gospel since Kevin was an older man who seemed set in his ways, had a lot of money and loved to drink and smoke. But he had given it up without hesitation, and was baptized a couple months before Tyson came home. They had stayed in touch, but with the recent events in his life, Tyson avoided getting on Facebook.

  Tyson’s smile grew as Kevin explained that he was ready to go to the temple and would be flying in next Friday to attend the Salt Lake temple, so that Tyson could be his escort. Tyson's smile faltered a little bit when Kevin mentioned that he couldn't wait to meet Ally, but instead he quickly messaged Kevin back letting him know that he would love to be his escort.

  Within seconds, Kevin replied with his flight details. Things were starting to look up.

  As Ally laid in bed that night, she felt overwhelmed. She had promised Kylie that she would help her in any way to plan the wedding of her dreams. But pulling it all off in six weeks was crazy. And she had to plan an engagement party with Tyson. She didn’t know if she was going to be able to handle it. It still hurt that he was mad at her.

  Then there was the car. Why did Justin have to buy her a brand-new car? She should have been
more excited. Anyone else probably would have been jumping for joy. But instead the first thing that had popped into her head was, what if they broke up?

  Ally tried to ignore it. They were happily engaged and planning to spend the rest of their lives together. There was no reason for them to break up. But the thought had continued to haunt her all day. What if they did break up? She had already lost Tyson. If she lost Justin too, what was she going to do?

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Justin was not happy to hear that most of Ally's evenings for the next month would be filled with Kylie's wedding preparations. After listening to him complain for what felt like the hundredth time, Ally finally had to explain that if it was her and Justin that decided to get married quick, Kylie would be there in a heartbeat to help. It's what best friends do. She did manage to leave out that she would be spending most of those nights with Tyson. She was already tired and didn’t want to start a fight. Gratefully, Justin seemed to accept the situation and didn’t ask any more questions.

  Ally dreaded the idea of working with Tyson to plan the party. Maybe she would just do most of it herself, so she wouldn't have to put up with his negativity. But then again, Tyson was actually pretty level headed the last time she saw him. Maybe the concussion had helped.

  With everyone loaded up in the Ally's car, because it was cool, as David described it, the group headed out to look at reception venues with Tyson and David in the back seat and Kylie up front.

  Throughout the evening, Tyson stayed out of the way and seemed to avoid looking at Ally, talking to her, or really any interaction at all. Ally couldn't complain. At least he wasn't being rude to her. To Ally it felt like it was huge progress. She returned the favor and didn't talk to him either.

  They made steady improvements during the rest of the week. Ally and Tyson began having small conversations without making snide comments and even shared some of the things that had been happening in their lives over the last two months as they helped David and Kylie pick out a wedding cake, taste and select the desserts for the reception, and finalize their wedding guests.