Page 38 of Cole

As he joined the reporter on the sidelines, he used the towel draped over his shoulders to wipe his face.

The woman holding the microphone had clearly interviewed him before because they had a relaxed interaction as she asked him about a couple of the plays he’d made during the game. The happy grin on Cole’s face as he talked made Annie realize that the way he interacted with her was how he interacted with every other woman.

She wasn’t anyone special to him.

Though that realization brought with it a wave of sadness, it was also the reminder she needed that their friendship wasn’t about her being someone special to him.

Unfortunately, that knowledge didn’t do much to halt her growing feelings for Cole. She’d just have to double down on her efforts to keep them under wraps.

“Do you think Dad would let us go to a game?” Benji asked as he sank down on the couch beside her, jostling her as he settled back into the cushions.

“I don’t know,” Annie said, honestly. “Maybe I’ll talk to Jude and see if he can figure out a plan, then present it to Dad. You know he has more sway when it comes to our safety out in public than if we make the request.”

“Yeah,” Benji grumbled as he crossed his arms, his chin sinking to his chest. “I just want to be a normal kid.”

“Benji.” Annie shook her head. “You need to appreciate what you have. There are kids out there who have to work to help support their families. Or they don’t have enough to eat. Or they don’t live in a safe environment. You are fortunate to have what you do.Weare fortunate.”

“I know.” Benji’s frown didn’t lift, despite his words. “But what good is having all of that and not being able to live my life freely?”

Annie understood why he felt that way, but he had more freedom than she’d had at his age. “I’ll talk to Jude. Let me see what he says.”

“Thanks, sis,” Benji said, then drew his legs in. “I think I’m going to go home.”

“You don’t want to stay here tonight?”

Benji shook his head as he got to his feet. “I’m going to play some video games with my friends from school.”

And he preferred to do that in the theater room at the main house.

Annie set aside the dress she’d been working on and got to her feet. After walking him to the door, with Nyla following them, she gave him a hug.

“Love you, baby bro,” she said as she squeezed him tight.

“Love you too, tiny sis.”

Annie grinned as she gave him a light punch in the arm. “See you tomorrow.”

After closing the door behind him, Annie grabbed the dress and her other materials and made her way up the stairs to her bedroom and work area. She tuned in a home décor show on her television, then sat down in her favorite armchair with Nyla at her feet and picked up her work again.

However, though she usually enjoyed watching those types of shows, her thoughts that night were on Cole.

It had been a different experience to watch him play now that she’d met and interacted with him. She appreciated his athleticism more now, and she felt like she had more invested in the team when they played.

Of course, Cole was the player she cheered most enthusiastically for.

In the weeks since Cole had last been in Serenity, Benji had started school and spent time each day practicing at the gym their dad had built on the property. Andrew usually joined him, helping him hone his skills.

Benji and his team couldn’t officially practice together until the week before the season started, but he was determined to improve on his own beforehand.

The weeks had passed in much the same way they usually did for Annie, though they’d included more conversations with Cole.

She’d thought that with the basketball season getting under way, their conversations would drop off. And while they’d definitely decreased as Cole’s commitment to his team took priority, they usually exchanged messages every couple of days and still had a video chat at least once a week.

Their friendship—inexplainable as it might be—was continuing to grow. Annie didn’t question it too much, figuring it would eventually die off. Some day, Cole would find someone else to fill his time. Someone more like the attractive reporter and less like Annie with her plainer looks and simple, yet secretive, life.

As that thought sank its sharp claws into her heart, her phone chimed. When she saw Cole’s name on the screen, her heart skipped a beat. Ignoring her phone, she chose to take the call on her tablet, setting it up so that she could continue to work as they talked.

As Cole’s face filled the screen, the thought crossed Annie’s mind that while the reporter might have had Cole’s attention for the interview following the game, Annie had it now.

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