Page 49 of Not Before Game Night
“You would tell me if you weren’t, right?”
“I would.”
His shoulders slumped and he frowned. “You look different.”
“Like how?” I winced.
“Not so much like my knucklehead kid cousin anymore,” he said with reflection, and the concern in his eyes became more evident. “I know your private life is private and none of my business at all, but I just… want you to know you can talk to me if you need to. About anything.”
That was really sweet of him. Really sweet, and honestly, I probably had a million things on my mind. My mind, which at the moment was numb. I was trying to hold on to the strength I had this morning to leave Cole. The strength and reasoning.
The truth was, as much as I wanted to put on my big girl pants and act like it was all fun, I didn’t want to.
“Thanks, Gage. I… have a lot on my mind.”
“Cole?” he asked tentatively.
I nodded. “Looks like he’s taken up residence in there.”
“Did you see him last night?”
I gave him a little smile, definitely giving him credit for his tact and subtle way of asking the obvious question on his mind.
“I saw him, and I spent the night with him.” I thought I’d just put him out of his misery. The confirmation definitely made him look more worried.
“And you’re okay?”
“I’m okay. I’m just being careful, no expectations.” I completely understood what Cole meant about not looking forward to anything. Then you couldn’t be disappointed. “Fun, right?”
“How about we go downstairs and get some breakfast? Then we can go do some sightseeing or something and head to the game together.”
“I’d like that.” It was better for me to be with him instead of by myself or with my sisters.
Before they got with their guys, they were all about fun. Fun every night sometimes with a different guy. To them it was living it up and living large. Living life to the fullest with all the fish in the sea. I guess that was fine for some people.
It would have to be for me.
No matter how I felt, or how magical last night had been for me.
Chapter 14
Cole
* * *
When I woke up today,I was faced with a situation I never thought I’d find myself in.
The first thing that happened was I woke up naturally and it was late. Just before twelve, mid-day. The game was at six. I was supposed to be at the stadium by two. The coach warned us specifically not to be late. He had strict plans for us.
However, when I woke up, it could have been any other day to me, and the only thing that was on my mind was Vanessa.
I’d reached for her only to come away with the bare sheets and discover she was gone. I’d woken up, discovered she was gone, realized I needed to be at the stadium to get ready for a big game… and the situation that presented itself to me was this.
Go find her, or get ready for the game.
That first part was the part that got me and gripped me.
Go find her…
