Page 20 of Cole

“So if I’m at the top of my game, it only means it’s going to go downhill from here.”

“There’s no reason to think you’d have a decline like that,” Theo said. “One of the things that makes you so appealing to teams is that you’ve been incredibly healthy throughout your career. So there’s no reason to think your physical conditionwould go into a sudden decline. If you’re that worried, we can try for a one-year extension, then go from there.”

Cole stared at the pool where the water sparkled in the hot afternoon sunlight. If the temperature didn’t drop much, he’d think about going for a swim later.

Before he could reply to Theo, he received notification of an incoming video chat. “Listen, Theo, I’ve got a call coming in that I have to take. I promise I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”

“You better,” Theo growled. “This isn’t something you can just ignore.”

“I’m well aware,” Cole told him. “Talk soon.”

Ending that call, he clicked over to accept the video chat, a smile forming when it was Annie’s face that filled his screen.

“Hey there,” he said when the call had connected. “How’s it going?”

“Well, it’s definitely colder in here than outside,” she said. “I’m glad Benji told me to wear a jacket.”

The view switched from Annie to the rink, where two people were standing close together in the middle of the ice. Though Cole would have preferred to continue looking at Annie’s face, that wasn’t the purpose of the call.

“Amelia is training for a competition in September,” Annie said. “Lexi said she’s putting in lots of practice time, even though it’s summer.”

“It’s great that Lexi has been able to coach Amelia.”

“Lexi is an amazing skater, so I imagine Amelia has a bright future ahead of her.”

“Do you watch figure skating?” Cole asked. It was weird to have a conversation with Annie when he couldn’t see her on thescreen, but he’d said he wanted to see Amelia skate, so this was what worked.

“I do,” Annie said. “I like figure skating and gymnastics.”

“What about basketball?”

Annie gave a soft chuckle that made Cole smile. “Yes. I do watch basketball.”

“Just Benji’s games?” he asked. “Or do you watch the pros play as well?”

“I watch whatever Benji wants to watch. He usually comes to my place to watch the professional games.”

“So you’ve seen my team play?” Cole waited for her answer while his gaze followed Amelia as she circled the ice, gaining speed as she skated.

“Oh yes. Since you’re Benji’s favorite player, we watch all your games.”

“Doyouhave a favorite player?” Cole asked, wishing he could see her face. For all he knew, she was rolling her eyes at him.

As Annie shifted her camera to follow the action on the ice, she chuckled again. “I suppose that’s probably you as well. I don’t know much about many other players. Plus, you’re the hometown boy, right? It seems almost illegal to not be a fan of yours.”

That made Cole grin. “Well, I’ll take any fans I can get, regardless of the motivation.”

“Ooooh, that was a great jump,” Annie said. “Good job, Amelia.”

She didn’t raise her voice, so Cole doubted his niece could hear her. Annie probably didn’t want to distract her as she trained.

“Hi, Lexi.” Annie shifted the phone so that Cole could see that his sister-in-law had skated over to the boards near Annie.

“Hi, Lexi,” Cole said.

“Who’s that?”

Annie’s face briefly appeared on his phone’s screen, then she turned the phone so that Lexi could see him.

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