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He winced when she fell on a jump. However, she got up like nothing had happened and continued to skate to the music.

Cole appreciated that Annie followed Amelia’s progress across the ice. It truly was a beautiful thing to watch. He knew some people joked that it wasn’t a sport, but right then, all he saw was his niece doing things that he couldn’t. That a lot of people couldn’t.

Figure skating was strength wrapped in beauty, and not every sport could say that. Basketball certainly couldn’t.

When the music ended, Amelia froze in place in the middle of the ice. Without even thinking about it, he began to clap, and so did Benji.

“That was beautiful, Amelia,” Annie called out. “Just beautiful.”

Amelia curtsied and waved at them, and Cole wondered if that was how she ended every program she skated in competition. He hoped that he’d be able to get to one of her competitions, but unfortunately, he was pretty sure that her competitive season ran during the same months as his.

He’d just have to settle for watching videos of the competitions. At least for the upcoming season. After that? Well, who knew where he’d be.

Amelia and Lexi skated over to where they stood at the boards, both smiling broadly.

“That was great, Amelia,” Benji said as he held his hand up for her to slap.

Her smile grew as she smacked it. “Thanks. Even though I fell.”

“But you got back up,” Cole said. “And that’s the most important thing when you fall. Pop right back up and keep going.”

“You don’t always pop back up,” Annie said. “You basketball players fall more than figure skaters, and boy, do you play it up.”

Cole’s mouth dropped for a moment, then he started to laugh, unable to stop himself. “You aren’t wrong.”

From the angle Annie held the phone, he couldn’t see her, but he could see the other three, and they were staring at them with wide eyes.

“Annalisa Turner!” Benji said with a gasp. “You can’t be saying that to Cole.”

“She’s only telling the truth,” Cole told the teen. “You know that too.”

A grin slowly crept across Benji’s face. “Well, yes. Idoknow that, but I would never have said that to your face.”

“Oh, I didn’t say it to his face,” Annie said. “I said it behind the phone.”

Cole grinned, appreciating Annie’s sense of humor and how she just didn’t seem to really care who he was. He really only experienced that candidness with his family or the guys on his team.

Most single women his age were more interested in keeping his attention on them, so they wouldn’t risk taking little jabs at him that might drive him away.

Maybe he needed to plan at least one more trip back to Serenity before the craziness of the season set in around the beginning of October. To see his family, of course, but maybe also to spend some time with Annie.

She intrigued him, and he wanted to see if she possibly felt curious about him too.

CHAPTER SIX

Annie climbed out of her car and waited for Benji to join her, then they walked toward the doors of the church together. She was aware of Dawn’s presence not far behind them, but she didn’t turn to look.

Once in the church’s foyer, she and Benji headed for the sanctuary. They veered off to the right, where they came to a stop, looking over the pews as they figured out where to sit.

“Hey, Annie.”

Dawn’s familiar voice announced her arrival as she joined them. Annie greeted her as she would a friend and gave her a hug.

She had actually become a friend over the years she’d guarded Annie, so it wasn’t much of an act. Dawn was also the reason that Annie and Benji had started attending that church and become Christians.

“Where do you want to sit?” Dawn asked.

“Can I sit with Amelia?”

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