Page 94 of Thunderstruck
Freddie kicks the ball forward, and Wyatt speeds ahead to catch it and score another try. When Cole takes the ball to kick the conversion, he finds me on the sideline and points at me before putting his hand over his heart.
My own heart stumbles in my chest as the crowd quiets for the first time all night, like they can’t believe Cole would acknowledge me after thatHot Scooparticle.
The rest of the guys, lined up behind Cole, all look over at me in unison, their smiles wide and stances relaxed. After a tense first half, it’s like they’ve suddenly stopped caring about what happens with the game. And I feel their support in every bit of me.
Tears prick my eyes as Cole sets up his kick and sends the ball flying straight down the middle of the posts. Even the Portland announcer remarks on the perfect trajectory, his tone clearly impressed. Cole walks back to the team, his eyes on me the whole time, and smiles when I blink away my welling tears to meet his gaze.
“You okay?” he asks, too far for me to hear, but I can read the question on his lips.
I nod, and I actually mean it. He and the guys have every reason to keep their distance from me afterHot Scoop’sscathing assessment of my character, but as the game comes to a close a few minutes later, the Thunder ahead by four, the entire team swarms around me, pulling me in to join their celebration while the announcer says something about me being a good luck charm.
My tears break loose for the first time all day as the guys jump and whoop around me, clapping each other on the backs and throwing out hugs like candy at a parade. Many of them pat my shoulder or squeeze my hand, like I was actually part of helping them win the game. And when a familiar pair of arms wrap around me from behind in a supportive embrace, I feel like I might fall apart if not for his hold.
“What was that?” I whisper, gripping Cole’s arms and praying he never lets go. I doubt he heard my question through the hullabaloo, but I don’t care.
He tucks his chin over my shoulder and speaks into my ear, his voice a gentle purr. “That was us showing you that we know the real Carissaand don’t care what someone else might say. We love you exactly as you are, past and all, and we wanted everyone else to know it too.”
Love. Okay, so he saidwelove you and notIlove you, but it was still him saying the word, and I’m desperate to believe his comment is a precursor to our impending conversation tonight. I don’t expect him to be in love with me after only a few weeks of knowing me, but I want him to be willing to give us a chance. See where we might go.
“Thank you,” I say, pressing my cheek against his.
“It was the guys,” he replies, arms pulling me tighter against his chest. He may be sweaty, but he’s warm and comfortable and safe, and I never want to leave his hold.
I shake my head. “That plan had you all over it.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because I know you better than you seem to think.” I twist in his arms so I’m looking up into his face and can see the concern etched into his brow. I thought for sure he was worried about the game all night, but now I’m starting to think he was worried aboutme. “You risked losing the game to cheer me up.”
His lips pull up in a crooked smile. “Trust me, we definitely would have lost if wehadn’tcheered you up. These guys care about you more than I think you realize.”
“You’re basically our mascot now, Rizzo,” someone says, though I’m not about to turn around to see who.
Mostly because I’m realizing that Cole is holding me close in the midst of his team and looking at me like I’m the most important thing in the world. And he doesn’t seem to care about being seen. Reaching up, I press my palm to his cheek and smile when he leans into my touch. I hope this means good things for us.
“We’ll talk later,” he murmurs, as if reading my thoughts. “But maybe not tonight.” Before my heart has a chance to sink, he leans forward and presses his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. “I am too tired to trust myself toact rationally right now, and you deserve my full and present attention. I’m not willing to make any mistakes when it comes to you.” He kisses me again, then lets his arms drop as he steps back and tells the team to head to the locker room.
Cole is the last to go into the tunnel, and he pauses and looks back at me. “Don’t worry, Paxton,” he says, letting loose a full and real smile. “I’m not letting you go just yet.”
Just yet. As Mel and I start gathering up our supplies and bringing it all to the bus that will take us back to the hotel, those two words keep running through my head. There’s not a lot of confidence in those words, even if the rest of what he said was exactly what I wanted to hear.
It’ll take a while for the guys to shower and change, so once we have everything loaded and Mel goes in search of a quiet corner of the stadium to make a phone call, I sit on the bus with my own phone in hand and make one of the most terrifying phone calls I’ve ever made. I almost hope he doesn’t answer, but I think if anyone can help me figure out my best options here, he can.
The line connects, making my heart skip a beat. “Derek Riley’s phone.”
Hearing the unfamiliar female voice on the line, I frown down at my phone. “Um. Who is this?”
“Janie. Who isthis?”
“Carissa.”
“Cole’s Carissa?”
Before I can respond, there’s a shuffling sound and then Derek’s deep voice says, “Hey, Carissa. Sorry about that.”
“Derek. Hi. Um, do you have a second?” It’s after ten on a Saturday night, and I can’t imagine what sort of thing might keep Derek Riley busy on a weekend. But he’s also one of the most well-known people I’ve ever known. He could be filming a movie right now. Or at a fancy party. Or on a date.What ifhe’s on a date?
“For you, I have all the seconds,” Derek says. Goodness, how does anyone talk to this man without swooning? I can’t see him, but his deep and velvety voice feels like slipping into a perfect temperature lavender bubble bath. He says something I can’t make out, the same female voice responds, and there’s a few seconds of silence and a sound like a closing door before Derek says, “Sorry about my assistant. I didn’t realize she had my phone. How did the game go?”
