Page 9 of Cole

“Really? What class were you in?”

“I didn’t go to school here. I was taught at home.”

Back when Cole had been in high school, there had been a couple of brothers who had played on the basketball teams who had been homeschooled. “Is Benji homeschooled as well?”

“No. He really wanted to go to school, so our parents relented.”

Cole noticed Aiden lean closer to Skylar and murmur something to her. Skylar didn’t shoot him a nasty look, so whatever he said didn’t upset her.

“Are you two together?”

Annie’s question made Cole wince, and he hoped that Skylar wouldn’t snap at her over it. Seeing the frown on Skylar’s face as she shook her head, Cole jumped in. “They’re not now, but they used to be.”

“And could be again,” Wilder added.

“Wilder!”

Cole was happy to see his older brother draw Skylar’s ire to himself, though he doubted it was intentional on Wilder’s part.

Annie’s gaze bounced around at all of them before she settled her attention on Skylar. “Sorry to bring up a touchy subject.”

Skylar gave a wave of her hand, her expression softening. “It’s fine. We don’t live here, so you wouldn’t know.”

“So Benji is your brother?” Skylar asked.

“Yes. My baby brother.”

“Do you have other siblings?” Lexi asked.

Annie’s brow furrowed briefly, then she said. “Yes. We have an older brother, but he doesn’t live around here.”

“Did he go to school here?” Wilder asked. “I might have known him.”

Annie shook her head. “He was also taught privately.”

Cole couldn’t help but notice that she seemed to be avoiding the word homeschool, and he wondered why. He was aware there were negative connotations to it for some people, but that had never been how his family viewed homeschooling. In fact, Jay had been the one to welcome the homeschooled boys to the team with Cole.

“What do you do for work, Annie?” Lexi asked.

“I run an online store that focuses on baby items, with some toddler and women’s stuff thrown in.”

“Baby items?”

“Uh, things like sleep sacks, baby dresses, little outfits for baby boys.”

“You sew?” Skylar asked.

Annie nodded. “It’s something I enjoy and apparently have a decent knack for.”

“How did you get started with that?” Skylar asked.

“When I was around nine, I liked to play with Barbie dolls, and I started to try making clothes for them. Because of theinterest I showed in sewing, my parents got me a sewing machine. I learned how to use it and never looked back.”

“That’s amazing,” Lexi said. “Do you make women’s clothing too?”

“Yes, but nothing too fancy.”

“Did you make what you’re wearing?”

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