Page 149 of Cole

Annie rolled her eyes at them. They were still in their honeymoon phase since they’d only been married a few weeks.

They definitely hadn’t waited long after getting engaged to have their wedding. She didn’t think their engagement had been three months long. Annie hoped Cole was willing to have a short engagement, too.

She thought he might be because they were both finding the goodbyes harder and harder. This time when she left, Cole would be coming with her, but not for long.

He already had meetings he had to attend in New York. One was with a company wanting him to be a spokesperson for them. Another was to shoot a commercial for a line of workout clothes from a well-known sports gear company.

Annie was a bit surprised that even with his retirement, companies wanted him to advertise their products. When he’d first spoken to the company contacts about the possibility that he wouldn’t be active in the league after that season, they hadn’t had a problem with it.

They’d explained that his reach and reputation would still make him valuable as a spokesperson, perhaps even more so now that he’d be working with youth programs across the country.

“Earth to Annie,” Benji called, waving a hand in front of her face. “You disappeared on us there.”

Annie blinked, pulling herself from her thoughts. “Sorry. Just thinking about all the transitions ahead.”

Dawn passed her a glass of lemonade. “Good transitions, though. You two have been doing this long-distance thing for months now.”

“I know,” Annie said, taking a sip. “It’ll be nice to finally be in the same place for more than a few days at a time.”

Benji studied her face. “You seem different, sis. More… settled.”

Annie felt warmth spread through her chest. “I am. For the first time, I’m not just drifting through life. I have purpose—with Cole, with my faith, with my work at the shelter expanding.”

“Speaking of faith,” Dawn said, leaning forward, “I was impressed with how naturally Cole mentioned his beliefs during the interview. That couldn’t have been easy with millions watching.”

“He was nervous,” Annie admitted. “We prayed together before he left this morning. He wanted to honor God without coming across as preachy.”

“Mission accomplished,” Aiden said, raising his glass in a small toast. “I think it was very authentic.”

Faith had become more natural to her these past months, less like a formal practice and more like breathing. Cole’s openness about his own spiritual journey had encouraged her to embrace hers more fully.

Skylar’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and grinned. “Cole says he’s done and heading back. Should be here in thirty minutes.”

Annie felt a flutter of anticipation. No matter how many times they reunited, that feeling never diminished. If anything, it grew stronger with each meeting, each goodbye, each hello.

“I think I’ll start dinner,” she said, rising from her seat.

In the kitchen, Annie moved with practiced ease, pulling ingredients from Cole’s well-stocked refrigerator.

“Need help?” Dawn asked, appearing in the doorway.

“You can chop these,” Annie replied, sliding a cutting board of vegetables toward her friend.

They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes before Dawn spoke. “You know, watching Cole today—the way he talked about you, about his faith—it’s like watching someone who’s finally found his center.”

Annie smiled softly. “I feel the same way about him. Like all those years of feeling like I’d never find someone that Dad would approve of, I was really just waiting for Cole.”

“And now the waiting’s over,” Dawn said, nudging Annie’s shoulder.

“Well, not entirely. We still have to figure out all the logistics of merging our lives.”

“That’s not waiting, Annie. That’s living.” Dawn’s voice was gentle but firm. “Sometimes I think you’re still standing at the edge, afraid to dive all the way in.”

Annie paused, knife hovering over an onion. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that Cole is ready. You’re ready. Don’t let the details become excuses.”

Annie heard the front door open, and she hurriedly washed her hands and dried them as she rushed to greet him.

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