Page 91 of Cole

He sat motionless for several moments, his mind racing. Was this really happening? Were they breaking up? The thought of not having Annie in his life left a hollow ache in his chest.

Another knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. “Coming,” he called, grabbing his team jacket and phone.

As he joined his teammates in the hallway, Marcus gave him a concerned look. “Everything okay? You look like someone just stole your favorite sneakers.”

“Just focused on the game,” Cole lied, falling into step beside his friend.

“Right,” Marcus said skeptically. “Well, whatever’s going on, channel it onto the court tonight. We need Halverson the beast, not Halverson the brooding poet.”

Cole managed a weak laugh. Right then, he needed to focus on basketball. But after the game, he would think more about a possible solution to their relationship dilemma.

Because one thing had become crystal clear during their conversation—just how much he cared for her. He didn’t want to lose her. To lose what they’d found together.

They might not have dated for very long, but all the conversations leading up to that night at the gala had allowed them to move from friendship to more so easily. He’d cared about her as a friend, and now he loved her as a person who meant the world to him.

The realization struck him with unexpected force as he stepped into the elevator.

He loved Annie.

Not just cared for her, not just enjoyed her company—he loved her. The kind of love that made him consider walking away from the career he’d built his entire life around.

Marcus nudged him. “Earth to Cole. You with us, man?”

“Yeah, sorry.” Cole straightened his shoulders, trying to push thoughts of Annie aside. “Just getting my head right for the game.”

But as the elevator descended, his mind kept circling back to the impossible choice before him.

Basketball had been his life for as long as he could remember. The discipline, the competition, the brotherhood of the team—all of it was woven into his identity.

Could he really walk away from that?

The idea wasn’t exactly foreign to him. With his contract in its last year, for the first time, he’d allowed retirement to become a possibility.

He was already older than the average player. But barring any significant injuries, he could continue to play for several more years. The oldest player in the game currently was in his early forties, so Cole had several years yet by that standard.

But the older he got, the more likely it was that he’d injure himself. His recovery time would probably take longer, too.

He wanted to go out on a high note, so retiring sooner might not be a bad thing. It would also take away Duncan Burke’s power over him.

His heart ached at the thought of giving up the career he’d worked his whole life to attain. Just as it ached over the loss of Annie.

Still, Cole would retire in an instant if it would guarantee that they could keep their relationship going. Unfortunately, Cole wasn’t sure that would be the case because Annie was adamant that he not retire. It might well undermine their relationship if she felt guilty for him losing his career.

And when it came to Annie—would her father’s protection always keep her safe, or was it merely an illusion of safety that came at the cost of her happiness? The threat against her was real, but so was the cage her father had built around her life.

The team filed into the hotel lobby where Coach waited, clipboard in hand. As they headed toward the waiting bus, Cole’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Discreetly, he checked the screen.

Annie:I’m sorry for ending our call that way. Whatever happens, please know that I care about you deeply. Good luck tonight.

Cole stared at the message, a lump forming in his throat.

“Halverson!” Coach’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts. “Phone away. Game focus starts now.”

Cole slipped the phone into his pocket, nodding at his coach. As he boarded the bus, a strange calm settled over him. He still didn’t have the answer, but he knew one thing for certain—he wasn’t ready to give up on Annie. Not yet.

The arena lights were blinding as Cole went through the pre-game warmups. The familiar rhythm of dribbling, shooting, and stretching usually centered him, but tonight his movements felt mechanical, his mind elsewhere.

“You need to lock in,” Marcus muttered as they lined up for layups. “Whatever’s going on with your girl, put it away for the next few hours.”

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