Read Online The Journey Collection by Lisa Bilbrey - Free Book Online

around his waist before Travis could even blink. The other boy stumbled over his own feet, falling to the ground, but Max never let go — not once.
    “This is his favorite part of practice,” Penelope said with a giggle. Travis tore his eyes off of Max and looked at her. “And every time he challenges Matthew — the boy he just faced off with. Even though Matthew has about two feet and a good fifty pounds on Max, he still calls him out. Do you know why?”
    “No, why?” Travis asked.
    “Because in an interview you did last season, when you lost to the Lions, you said that no matter how big the other guy is, you have to keep trying.” Penelope smiled. “He wrote that out on a piece of paper and pinned it on the bulletin board in his room. Every night, he reads it.”
    “I remember that game,” Travis murmured, turning his attention back to Max. “It was so cold. It started sleeting during the second quarter and didn’t stop. We tried to stay warm, but by the middle of the third, my fingers were frozen, and I could barely feel my toes.”
    “It was probably one of your best games,” Penelope commented. “You threw for four hundred yards and had three touchdowns, one that you ran in.”
    Travis shook his head. “Wasn’t enough, though. They ended up winning at the last second by kicking a thirty-two yard field goal.”
    “It’s not always about winning, Travis,” Penelope said. “Sometimes, it’s just about having the courage to get on the field.”
    “Why’d you follow my career?” Travis asked, turning his body so that he faced her. “I was a bastard, right? Why’d you still care?”
    She shook her head. “Watching you go from being this small town kid to this all star player in college and then finally achieving your dreams by being drafted — it reminded me of why I didn’t tell you.” Penelope shifted her eyes up to Travis. “And you weren’t a bastard, Travis. I just didn’t think you were ready to be a dad.”
    “Maybe I wasn’t, but I would have liked the choice.”
    Penelope sighed. “I know, you keep telling me that.”
    “I’m sorry,” Travis muttered.
    “Don’t be, I deserve it.” Penelope smiled. “I wasn’t ready to be a mom, either. The first few months were pure hell. Max was colicky. More than once, Momma came over and held him for an hour so I could shower, maybe get a nap. Once he outgrew that, things started getting easier. A little, anyway. Momma kept him while I went to school, then work afterwards. They helped me pay my bills, but I was careful with my money. Eventually, I started writing. I got a job down at the newspaper, covering everything from the Lion’s Club dinners to the sports section. It’s not much, but Cory lets me work from home so that I’m there when Max needs me. With Momma and Daddy in Colorado now, it makes it much easier to balance everything.”
    “I’m glad your parents were able to help you out, Penelope. Did my dad ever offer?”
    “A few times,” she admitted. “Last summer, he took Max’s Cub Scout den on a hike out at the ranch. Max still talks about Russ.”
    Taking a deep breath, Travis looked away. “Good, at least Max has a good memory of my father.”
    “You do, too. It’s just harder for you to see through all your anger.”
    Travis laughed. “That sounds like something Cal would say.”
    “Who’s Cal?” The sharp tone in Penelope’s voice had Travis smirking.
    “Are you jealous, baby?”
    “No,” she hissed, pulling her knees up in front of her. “Just curious.”
    “Cal works for the Sharks, one of our trainers. He also happens to be my best friend,” Travis explained.
    “He, huh?” Penelope shifted her eyes to his.
    “Yep.” Travis winked at her. “Green is a good color on you, Penelope.”
    “I wasn’t jealous,” she mumbled. “Besides, you weren’t exactly subtle when you were grilling me the other day.”
    “No, I suppose I wasn’t,” he groused. Travis leaned toward Penelope. “But at