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  "I think that Tyson will agree with me that helping them plan all the little details of their wedding actually ended up being a lot of fun. We got to see how much Kylie and David love each other and that they really are perfect for each other.”

  After Ally's speech, she let Tyson take over to introduce their version of the Newlywed game while she took her seat next to Justin.

  With the game underway, Justin leaned over to Ally and whispered, "You didn't tell me that Tyson was at all of those wedding planning events you went to. And you never told me that Kylie was Tyson’s sister."

  Ally shrugged her shoulders and whispered back, "I didn't think it was a big deal. And you never asked."

  "Of course it is a big deal," Justin said, his whisper getting louder. "I wouldn't have let you go, if I would have known."

  "It was and is all for my best friend’s wedding. We have already been over this before,” Ally sighed. “We can talk about it more later.”

  "Fine," Justin huffed, slumping back in his chair. Ally was grateful Justin didn't continue to pursue the topic. They had to make it through the party first.

  With Ally back in charge of the party, Tyson headed outside to get the campfire going while the group finished playing the last game and Kylie and David opened presents.

  He loved how peaceful it was outside. They had cracked open the windows, so he could hear the laughs and chatter from inside. But at least he wouldn't have to see Justin or see him hang all over Ally. Had she really forgiven him? If she hadn't, she was doing a really good job of pretending that she had forgiven him.

  Tyson sat down on a nearby log and stoked the fire until the party started to file outside. While they roasted marshmallows, Starbursts and any other type of roastable item people could find, Tyson conversed with his mission companions.

  Switching to Spanish, one of his companions nodded toward Ally and asked, "Is that Ally the Ally?"

  Tyson nodded his head.

  "I heard that you guys had broken up. Is she really engaged

  to that guy now?"

  "Sí."

  "He kind of seems like a jerk."

  Tyson went on to tell them about his history with Justin and how he had jumped in and won over Ally. "I just hope she realizes that he is a jerk before she marries him."

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  As the party died down and most people had left, Tyson found himself back inside the cabin cleaning up. He let Ally handle the farewells and soon there was only David, Kylie, one of her friends, Ally, Justin, Tyson, and a mission companion left.

  "Kylie, these sugar cookies are delicious," her friend gushed as she took another one to go.

  "Well you will have to thank Ally and Tyson. They spent almost an entire day together making all the treats and decorations," Kylie said. Tyson noticed Kylie glance at Ally with a worried look that asked if she had said too much.

  Ally just smiled, while Kylie lead her friend to the front door. But the look in Justin's eyes said that Kylie had brought up a sensitive subject.

  “Ally, we need to talk,” Justin said in a whisper that was still loud enough for David and Tyson hear.

  “I need to help clean up.” Ally said not looking at Justin, as Kylie walked back into the room.

  “No, we need to talk now,” Justin said frustrated as he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back door.

  Tyson noticed Kylie and David share a look of concern as the door shut. “What was that look that you two just shared? Because it didn’t look good. Do you know something I don’t?”

  Kylie started pacing back and forth, “Ally’s going to break up with Justin.”

  “What?” Tyson said as his heart cheered for Ally. Good for her. “Wait, how do you know?”

  “She told us because she is worried that Justin isn’t going to handle it very well,” David said.

  “And it doesn’t look good. Because he is already mad and he doesn’t even know that she is going to break up with him,” Kylie added.

  Dread filled Tyson. He knew from experience that Justin could physically hurt someone when he got angry and lost his cool. He hoped Justin didn’t hurt Ally, but what if he did? Tyson sat down on the couch, he couldn’t stand any longer.

  “Um, question,” Tyson’s old mission companion piped in. “How are we going to know if Ally needs our help?”

  As if on cue, Justin and Ally’s voices trickled through the cracked windows. Tyson felt a little weight lifted, knowing that they would be able to hear if something went wrong. But would it be too late?

  “Why did you lie to me?” Justin yelled in frustration.

  “I didn’t lie to you,” Ally said standing her ground. Everyone in the room was silently cheering for her.

  “All those nights saying you were planning Kylie’s wedding, you were really with Tyson. You know how I feel about him, Allison. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

  “I was helping Kylie and David. I was not going to see Tyson. If you are worried something happened, I can promise you that it did not.”

  Tyson was suddenly grateful that the kiss had not happened the other night. Otherwise, Ally wouldn’t be able to say that.

  “But you didn’t tell me the whole truth. As my wife, I expect you to tell me everything. How can I trust that you aren’t going off spending time with other guys?”

  “I’m not your wife.”

  Tyson could hear the frustration in Ally’s voice and he knew she was going to drop the bomb soon. He placed his head in his hands listening intently, hoping that Justin wouldn’t explode.

  “Engaged is basically married.”

  “Well we aren’t engaged. At least not anymore.”

  “What?” Justin exclaimed. “It’s because of him, isn’t it?” Tyson could hear the anger in Justin’s voice rising. He didn’t realize how much Justin actually hated him, and dread filled Tyson as he realized that he might end up taking that hatred out on Ally.

  “No, it has nothing to do with him,” Ally said, her voice not as strong as before.

  “Don’t lie to me,” Justin growled.

  Tyson could picture the moment when he was a kid. The anger that had propelled Justin to hurt him was no different than what he was hearing now. Tyson looked up and caught Kylie’s eye. Kylie’s worried look validated the fact that he did not have a good feeling about this.

  “Justin, please,” Ally said barely audible to those inside. “Please let go.”

  Tyson’s heart dropped as he jumped off the couch and headed toward the back door. But he stopped before opening it. He couldn’t go out there. No matter how much he wanted to save Ally from being hurt. He couldn’t. He would only make things worse. He looked at David and his old mission companion. Right now, he needed them to do what he couldn’t.

  “I’ll come with you,” his mission companion said as he and David headed out the door.

  Tyson leaned over the counter as he imagined the worst possible scenario taking place outside.

  He heard David say, “Let her go.”

  “This is none of your business,” Justin retorted. But he must have complied because Ally spoke with more confidence.

  “Justin, I know you are cheating on me. How can I trust you to be faithful to me when we are married, if you can’t be faithful while we are engaged?”

  “What are you talking about?” Justin asked sounding flabbergasted.

  “Next time you decide to make out with a girl that isn’t your fiancée, you should probably find a parking lot that is farther away from the store where your fiancée is shopping for a wedding dress.”

  Tyson strained his ears, but didn’t hear a peep from Justin.

  Ally continued, “Here’s the ring back… and the keys to the car.”

  “I’m sorry,” Justin begged. “I promise it won’t ever happen again. I love you. Please don’t do this. Please take the ring back.”

  “I thought we could work through the drinking and the gambling. But this... I can’t.”

 
Tyson looked at Kylie and whispered, “Drinking and gambling?”

  Kylie shrugged her shoulders, “I had no idea.”

  Silence hung in the air for what felt like minutes until Ally continued, “Justin, if you really loved me or ever cared about me at all, please, just let this be goodbye.”

  Justin must have accepted what was happening, because Tyson didn’t hear anything else until the door opened and David and his mission companion walked back in the door.

  Kylie let out a breath that she must have been holding the entire time, “Is he gone?”

  David nodded his head, “Crisis averted.”

  When Ally didn’t follow them inside, Tyson asked, “Where’s Ally?”

  “She said she wanted to stay outside for a little bit,” David replied. “Let’s get this place cleaned up so we can head home.”

  While they cleaned up, Tyson kept waiting for Ally to walk in but she never did. He checked through the blinds to see that she was sitting by the campfire. He was proud of her for breaking up with Justin. He could definitely be intimidating. But what he really wanted to do was to hold her in his arms and comfort her.

  Kylie noticed Tyson looking out the window. “You should go talk to her.”

  “But I thought I was supposed to keep my distance?”

  “Ehh, I think after all that’s happened tonight, she could use a friend,” Kylie said as she shrugged her shoulders. “It’s getting chilly outside. Take her a blanket. Use that as your excuse.”

  “Okay. But everything is packed up and ready to go.”

  David added, “How about I leave you the key? Just make sure the fire is out and lock up when you are ready to leave.”

  “That sounds like a good idea to me,” Kylie said as she grabbed the remaining food. “Don’t force the conversation, when she is ready she will talk to you.”

  With a blanket in tow, Tyson walked toward the fire where Ally sat stoking it with a stick.

  “I thought you might want this,” Tyson said handing Ally the blanket.

  “Thanks,” Ally said as she wrapped it around her shoulders. Tyson sat down next to her on the log. He didn’t want to sit too close but he also didn’t want to sit too far away from her. He picked a spot that he hoped would be a good distance. But apparently, he didn’t have to worry keeping his distance, since Ally scooted right next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

  As they sat in silence he enjoyed the feeling of having Ally so close to him. He was tempted to put his arm around her, but decided he was going to let Ally dictate what she was comfortable with. Tyson wondered what was going through Ally’s mind. Was she sad? Was she hurting inside? What could he say to make her feel better? He just wanted her to be happy again.

  “I’m sorry,” Ally said startling Tyson from his own thoughts. “I’m sorry that you had to put up with Justin’s antics. I don’t know what he said to you, but he was obviously trying to push your buttons and for that I’m sorry.”

  “Well it was nothing compared to what you have been through today.”

  "Actually, it hasn't been too bad. Everything that has happened today has been an answer to my prayers."

  "Really?" Tyson asked.

  Ally nodded her head. "Ever since you asked me to give you another chance, I've been asking myself if I really wanted to be just friends or if I still wanted to see if we could make it work."

  Well Justin cheating on Ally wasn't exactly the reason that Tyson wanted her to give him another chance. But he would hear her out. He had ruined everything the last time he didn't listen to what she had to say.

  "For weeks, I have prayed about it. I enjoyed spending time with you. But I was finally being accepted by Justin's family and I was enjoying my time with him too.

  "As we spent more time together, I started to realize that if I married Justin, there was no way that I was ever going to be able to see you or hang out with you. I was going to miss all the good times we had together. But if I broke up with Justin, would you and I still have a chance? Or would we realize that we were just trying to relive all the special moments that we have had over the years? Would we really make it?

  "In that moment when we almost kissed, I wanted us to make it. But when it didn't happen, I started to question my feelings. I wasn’t sure if I had just gotten caught up in the moment or if the fact that I wanted to kiss you was a sign that I was supposed to break up with Justin.

  "I probably should have realized it then," Ally said with a laugh. "The fact that I had feelings for a guy that wasn't my fiancé should have been a big enough sign. But it had to be shoved in my face for me to notice it."

  "When you saw Justin with that other girl?"

  Ally shook her head. "Shopping for a wedding dress. I had it narrowed down to two dresses. I liked both of them and I couldn't decide which one to get. The consultant that was helping us told me to envision the place where I planned to do my first look video. She told me to picture my fiancé with his back to me and when I tapped him the shoulder to have him turn around, the dress that I was wearing was supposed to be the one.

  “But when the guy turned around it wasn't Justin. It was you…” Ally said as a tear slipped down her cheek. “That's when I knew."

  Tyson's mind reeled. Ally hadn't broken up with Justin because he had cheated on her. She had chosen to break up with Justin because she knew she was supposed to be with him.

  Ally continued to ramble on, "But I was worried about how Justin would react. I knew he would automatically assume that it was because of you. Which it was, but I didn't want to drag you into it. So, when I saw him with that other girl, I was relieved. I could use that as my excuse for breaking up with him. And now here we are."

  Ally glanced over at Tyson staring into the campfire. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to have dumped everything on him. Maybe he had changed his mind about her? He couldn't have changed his mind in two days, or had he? Had she hurt him too many times?

  She wiped the tear streaks off her face and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just unload everything on you. I understand if you need some time to digest it all. I thought you would like to know, but if you want to just stay friends..." Ally faded as she stared into the fire suddenly wishing this day was over. Maybe she had been wrong about Tyson's feelings for her.

  "Ally," Tyson said as he reached over and wiped a fresh tear from Ally's cheek. He didn't move his hand that cradled her face as she turned to look at him. "Do you still want to be just friends?”

  “No,” Ally shook her head. “I want to be more than your friend.”

  “Good. Because I don’t want to be just friends either,” Tyson said with a smile as he looked into her eyes. Ally felt relieved as she smiled back at him. “One more question, would it be okay if I kissed you now?”

  Her smile grew as Ally laughed and nodded, “Two days has been torture.”

  As they pulled away from the best kiss Ally had possibly experienced in her life, she knew without a doubt that she didn’t want to spend a single day without him by her side. Why did she think she could ever live without him?

  With Ally in his arms and the campfire dying out, the last two months just seemed like a bad dream. He was simply grateful that she was back in his life.

  “Kylie and David are probably waiting for us, huh?” Ally said.

  “Nah, they left a long time ago,” Tyson replied.

  “Oh good,” Ally said as she pulled him in for another kiss. He was never going to take her kisses for granted again.

  “But we should probably get going. The fire’s almost out. And Kylie is probably dying to know what is happening right now.”

  Ally chuckled. “Well I guess we shouldn’t keep her waiting too long.”

  As they drove home, Tyson smiled when Ally reached over and held his hand. This was the life. In that moment, Tyson promised himself that he wasn’t going to let Ally get away again.

  Chapter Fifty

  Ally smiled as she watched Tyson from across the ro
om talking with the athletic scholarship donors. Tyson and a few other student-athletes had been invited to speak at a dinner for top tier donors regarding his athletic scholarship he had received and how it had helped him. He had asked her to be his plus one, and she was glad that he wanted her to be there. He had done a great job and Ally was so proud of him. She loved watching him achieve his dreams and Ally would be content doing that for the rest of her life.

  The last three weeks had flown by, filled with school, mid-terms, football, and most of all final wedding preparations. Ally and Tyson tried to see each other as often as their schedules allowed them to. They studied together, ate together, went out their way to see each other in between classes, and typically didn’t part ways until late at night. They had practically become inseparable. Even to the point that Ally had become a well-known face at the football facility.

  Ally couldn’t believe how much she loved Tyson. She couldn’t imagine her future without him. She thought she had loved him before they had broken up, but since they started dating again, something was different between them. Maybe it was because they knew what it was like live without each other, so it made every moment they spent together that much more special.

  The topic of getting married had come up a couple of times, but Ally wasn’t going to push the subject. She had told Tyson that she would wait years if she had to be his wife. She knew that he wouldn’t ask or expect her to wait that long, but she had a feeling that Tyson wouldn’t ask her to marry him until football season was over. Their lives were already crazy enough.

  With the room void of most of the donors, Ally finally got up from the table where they had eaten dinner and made her way over to Tyson.

  “You did such a great job,” Ally said as she gave Tyson a quick kiss and a hug. “If I had money to donate, I would have given it all away based on your speech.”

  Tyson laughed, “Is that so?”