Page 49 of Cole

It felt strange, this return to something he’d set aside long ago. Yet as sleep claimed him, the quiet prayer felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Cole woke to the sound of his alarm and the memory of Annie’s voice. For the first time in days, he felt lighter, more focused. He grabbed his phone, half-expecting to see a message from her, but there was nothing yet. It was early, after all.

As he went through his morning routine—stretching, showering, packing—he found himself thinking about their conversation. The way she’d admitted to missing him, the vulnerability in her voice when she confessed how quickly he’d become important to her. It mirrored his own feelings in a way that both thrilled and terrified him.

By the time he joined his teammates for breakfast, Cole had composed and sent a text.

Morning. Hope you slept well and are feeling a little better today. Don’t worry about responding right away—just rest and take care of yourself.

He added a soup emoji and a heart, then hesitated over the heart for a long moment before deciding to leave it. It felt right.

“You look better,” Marcus commented as Cole slid into the seat across from him. “Sorted things out with your girl?”

Cole nodded, reaching for the coffee carafe. “She’s been sick. That’s why she wasn’t reaching out much.”

“See? Told you it wasn’t anything to worry about.” Marcus grinned. “Though I’ve never seen you this hung up on someone before. Must be serious.”

Cole shrugged, but couldn’t hide his smile. “I don’t know what it is yet. But it’s... different.”

“Different good?”

“Yeah,” Cole admitted, stirring cream into his coffee. “Different good.”

The team bus departed for the airport an hour later. As Cole settled into his seat, his phone vibrated with a new message.

Annie:Thanks for checking in. Slept better after talking to you. Will rest today and hopefully talk more tonight?

Cole’s smile widened as he typed back:Definitely tonight. Get some soup in you. I’ll call after the team dinner.

He tucked his phone away, leaning his head against the window. The Atlanta morning traffic rushed past as they headed for the airport. Cole’s mind drifted to the brief prayer he’d offered the night before, and almost unconsciously, he found himself adding to it.

Thank You God, for letting her sleep well. And thank you for bringing her into my life.

It wasn’t eloquent or formal. But as the bus carried him toward the airport, Cole felt a sense of peace settle over him that had nothing to do with basketball or the road ahead.

Something was strengthening between them—something that felt both unexpected and yet somehow inevitable. And for the first time in a long while, Cole found himself looking forward to more than just the next game or the next season. He was looking forward to the next conversation with Annie, and all the conversations that might follow.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Annie walked into the church with Dawn at her side. She was feeling much better than she had been a few days earlier, so she’d decided to come to the kickoff for the women’s Bible study.

“Is it in the basement?” Dawn asked when they stepped into the empty foyer.

“Yep.” Annie gestured to a whiteboard propped up on an easel that was decorated to direct them to the lower foyer.

She heard women’s voices before they reached the lower floor, so they were in the right place. They stepped into the large open area to find that it had been sectioned off by a retractable wall. It created a smaller, more intimate environment for the six tables that had been set up.

“Hi, Annie,” Lexi said as she approached them. “How are you doing, Dawn?”

“I’m doing fine,” Dawn said. “How about you?”

“I’m good.” Lexi looked back at Annie. “Are you feeling back to one hundred percent? Wilder said Cole had mentioned that you weren’t feeling well.”

“I came down with the flu,” Annie said. “But thankfully, some rest and good meds have helped me get back on my feet.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Annie had no idea where she’d picked up the bug, but as soon as she’d gotten sick, her dad had flown his doctor and his staff out on a private jet to Coeur d’Alene, then a helicopter had brought them to the property at Serenity Point.

---