Page 54 of Cole

But did he have to know?

“When is it?”

“It’s in November,” he said. “If you came for the home game the weekend before Thanksgiving, you could attend the banquet at the same time since it’s that weekend too.”

That might make it easier to pull it off. However, she still couldn’t commit. She had to think it through.

“I’ll see how the schedule works out and if my parents will give Benji permission to go then.”

Did she really, really want to step into Cole’s world? Especially since she still wasn’t one hundred percent certain where they stood in their relationship?

“Well, at least you didn’t outright say no,” Cole said, a smile wreathing his face. “Maybe is good enough for now.”

Would he really have been disappointed if she had turned him down right away?

Maybe it wouldn’t be her dad that would end up keeping her from attending that gala with Cole. It might very well be her own self-doubt.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Cole scanned the crowd during warm-ups, his eyes drawn to the special section reserved for players’ families and friends. The arena buzzed with pre-game energy, but his focus narrowed to finding the one face he’d been thinking about all day.

There—third row, about halfway in—he spotted Annie’s light brown hair catching the arena lights. She was leaning toward Benji, laughing at something he’d said. Cole’s heart quickened, the way it always did when he saw her. Even from this distance, she stood out to him like a beacon.

He dribbled the ball absently, watching as Dawn nudged Annie and pointed in his direction. When Annie’s blue-green eyes met his, her smile widened, and she gave a small wave. Cole grinned back, lifting his hand in acknowledgment before tossing the ball to his teammate.

“Your girl made it,” Marcus said, jogging past him.

“Yeah,” Cole replied, unable to keep the satisfaction from his voice. “Her brother too. First NBA game for both of them.”

“Better make it a good one then,” Marcus teased.

Cole nodded, his competitive spirit already rising. Having Annie here meant more than she probably realized. After three months of texts, calls, and two brief visits to Idaho, having her fly down for the game and for the fundraiser the following night felt significant.

He stole another glance in Annie’s direction. Andrew was pointing something out in the program to Benji, while Dawn leaned over to say something to Annie. They’d all made the trip from Coeur d’Alene, and the thought of them supporting him—of Annie supporting him—filled him with a warmth that had nothing to do with the pre-game workout.

Coach blew his whistle, signaling the team to gather. As Cole jogged toward the huddle, he made a silent promise to himself. That night’s game wouldn’t just be another mark in the win column. That night, he’d play for the brown-haired, blue-eyed woman who’d somehow worked her way into his thoughts and prayers over the past few months.

“Focus up, Halverson,” Coach barked. “Your head in the game?”

“Yes, sir,” Cole answered, straightening his shoulders. “Never been more ready.”

The team broke from their huddle, and as Cole took his position on the court, he allowed himself one more look at Annie. Their eyes met across the distance, and she gave him a thumbs-up. In that moment, he felt something shift inside him—a certainty that whatever was growing between them was worth pursuing, worth protecting.

The referee’s whistle pierced the air. Game time.

Cole moved with practiced precision as the game unfolded, his body operating on muscle memory while his mind remained hyperaware of Annie’s presence. Every successful shot, every defensive block, felt amplified knowing she was watching. The first quarter flew by in a blur of squeaking sneakers and thunderous applause.

During a timeout, he risked another glance toward the family section. Annie was leaning forward, elbows on her knees, completely engrossed in the game. Something about her intense focus made his chest tighten.

“Man, you’re on fire tonight,” his teammate Jamal said, clapping him on the shoulder as they returned to the court.

Cole nodded, channeling his energy into the next play. By halftime, they were up by twelve points, and he’d contributed eighteen of the overall points himself.

In the locker room, Coach praised their performance but warned against complacency. “They’ll adjust. Be ready.”

Cole checked his phone and found a text from Annie:You’re amazing out there! Benji is officially your biggest fan now.

He smiled, typing back a quickThanks for coming. Means a lot. before setting his phone aside.

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