Page 142 of Cole

She nodded, straightening slightly in Cole’s arms but not moving away. “Better now.”

Benji stepped further into the room. “Everyone’s worried. Dad especially.”

Annie tensed again, and Cole squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Tell him she’s okay,” Cole said. “We just need a few minutes.”

Benji nodded, hesitating at the door. “For what it’s worth, Annie, I miss you. You’ve been… different since she came.”

The simple honesty in Benji’s voice brought fresh tears to Annie’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Benj.”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said with a shrug. “Just be Annie again.”

After he left, Cole pressed a gentle kiss to Annie’s forehead. “Your family loves you, Annie. Nothing will change that.”

“Even if I can’t be what they want me to be right now?” she whispered.

“Especially then,” Cole assured her. “Real love doesn’t come with conditions.”

Annie took a deep breath, then reluctantly moved from Cole’s lap to sit beside him. “I should fix my face before going back out there.”

Cole squeezed her hand. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

“How long can you stay?” Hope flickered in her eyes.

“Until Tuesday morning. I have to be back for practice.”

Annie’s smile was more genuine this time. “That’s almost two whole days.”

“Two days where I plan to be right by your side,” Cole promised. He hesitated before adding, “If you want, I could talk to your dad. Help him understand what you’re going through.”

Annie shook her head. “No, I need to do that myself. I’ve been avoiding it because I didn’t want to disappoint him, but that’s not working.”

“That’s my brave girl,” Cole said softly.

Annie reached up to touch his face, her fingers tracing his jawline. “I love you, Cole. Thank you for seeing what I needed, even when I couldn’t ask for it.”

“I love you too,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her gently. “And when you love someone, you pay attention.”

They sat there for another moment, foreheads touching, breathing together, before Annie finally stood.

“I should probably go face everyone,” she said, smoothing her hair and clothes.

Cole stood beside her, taking her hand firmly in his. “We’ll face them together.”

As they walked back toward the living room, Annie’s steps slowed. “Cole? Do you think it’s possible to love someone you don’t even know?”

He thought about it for a moment. “I think it’s possible to love the idea of someone. To love what they represent. But genuine love—the kind that lasts—comes from truly knowing a person.” He squeezed her hand. “Give yourself permission to get to know her first. The rest will follow.”

Annie nodded, taking a steadying breath as they approached the living room doorway. Inside, the family had resumed their seats, though the tension in the air was palpable.

Cole could feel the curious gazes following them as they entered the living room, but he kept his focus on Annie, gauging her reaction.

Duncan immediately crossed to them, concern etched into his features. “Annalisa? Are you alright?”

Annie nodded, her hand tightening around Cole’s. “I’m sorry for the drama, Dad.”

“No apologies necessary,” Duncan said, his voice gentler than Cole had ever heard it. “This is… unprecedented for all of us.” He looked up at Cole and smiled at him. “But I’m so glad you’ve come to be here for Annie.”

Cole realized in that moment that he’d really had no choice but to come. She’d been hurting. He wouldn’t have been able to focus on anything else if he hadn’t come to see her.

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