CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cole steeled himself for the conversation that was to come as he walked from the media room back to the locker room. He hadn’t wanted to face the press that day, but Coach had sent him out.
The man had probably hoped that having to face the intense media focus would pressure him into getting his act together.
Cole was actually surprised that Coach had put him in the game. He’d been threatening to bench him for the past two days. Of course, after this game, he might very well be benched.
When he arrived in the locker room, most of the team was still there.
Marcus caught his eye from across the room, giving a subtle nod that meant he wanted to talk after. Cole acknowledged him with a slight tilt of his head as he made his way to his locker.
The space around him felt charged, teammates giving him a wider berth than usual, conversation dropping to murmurs as he passed.
He couldn’t blame them. His performance was affecting everyone.
“Halverson,” Coach called, gesturing him toward the small office next to the locker room.
Cole followed, aware of the eyes tracking his movement. Inside the office, Coach closed the door and leaned against his desk, arms crossed.
“I’m benching you for the next game.”
Though he’d been expecting it, the words still landed like a physical blow. He’d never been benched in his career. “Coach, I—”
“This isn’t a discussion.” Coach’s tone was firm but not unkind. “Whatever’s going on with you, you need to sort it out. I can’t have you on the court like this.”
Cole nodded, swallowing his protest. “I understand.”
“Do you?” Coach studied him. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re letting something off-court destroy everything you’ve worked for. I’ve never seen you play this distracted. I’ve asked you a few times now to sort your stuff out, but it doesn’t seem like you’re doing that.”
Cole remained silent, unsure what to say that wouldn’t reveal too much.
Coach sighed. “Look, I don’t need to know the details. But figure it out. Take the next couple of days. Clear your head. I need the old Cole Halverson back.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Cole turned to leave, Coach added, “And Cole? Sometimes the hardest choices aren’t really choices at all.”
The cryptic statement followed Cole back to his locker.
As he sat down on the bench in front of it, his phone buzzed in his bag. He ignored it at first, assuming it was another text from a family member asking what was wrong with his game.
But his curiosity wouldn’t let him ignore it for long. When he finally checked, his heart nearly stopped.
Annie.
Her message glowed on the screen, the words cracking through the numbness he’d been trying to cultivate.
Annie: I miss you. I think we need to talk about finding another way forward—one that doesn’t involve giving up on us. If you’re willing.
Cole read it three times, his pulse quickening with each reading. They hadn’t communicated since that last conversation, and he’d hoped that cutting things off completely would help them each heal and move forward.
It hadn’t worked for him yet, and he thought perhaps it wasn’t working for her either.
“You okay, man?” Marcus appeared beside him, already dressed to leave. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Cole locked his phone screen. “I’m fine.”
“Coach bench you?”
“Yeah.”
Marcus nodded, unsurprised. “Maybe it’s for the best. Give you time to get your head straight.”
Cole stared at his phone, Annie’s message burning in his mind. An opportunity he hadn’t expected. A lifeline when he’d been drowning. But was it a lifeline when there were no guarantees? No real options?
“Maybe,” he said, his voice distant.
Marcus sat down next to him, lowering his voice. “Look, whatever’s going on with you and your girl—fix it. This isn’t just about basketball anymore. I’ve never seen you like this.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Life’s complicated. Relationships are complicated.” Marcus shrugged. “Doesn’t mean you give up when it gets hard.”
Cole looked at his teammate, surprised by the insight. But then, Marcus had been married for several years, so he definitely had a leg up when it came to dealing with relationships.
“Her father doesn’t want us together. He’s… powerful. Connected. He could end my career with a phone call.”
Marcus whistled low. “That’s some serious opposition. But the question is—is she worth fighting for?”
The answer came immediately, without hesitation. “Yes.”
“Then maybe stop letting her father dictate your life.” Marcus stood, clapping Cole on the shoulder. “You’re Cole Halverson, man. You’ve never backed down from a challenge on the court. Why start now?”
As Marcus walked away, Cole stared at Annie’s message again. His thumb hovered over the reply button.
What could he possibly say? That he missed her, too? That he thought about her constantly? That walking away from her had been the hardest thing he’d ever done?
He began typing, then deleted it. Started again. The words wouldn’t come.
Finally, he settled on something simple: I miss you too. More than I can say. But I don’t see how we can make this work without putting you at risk.
He hit send before he could second-guess himself.
Her reply came quickly: There has to be a way. Can we at least talk about it?
Cole closed his eyes, Coach’s words echoing in his mind. Sometimes the hardest choices aren’t really choices at all.
When he opened his eyes, he typed: When I get home tomorrow.
Annie: Okay. Hope your next game goes better.
I’ve been benched for the next game.
There was a pause before her response.
Annie: I’m sorry.
Don’t be. Coach is right—my head’s not in the game. Hasn’t been since…
Since her father had threatened him? Since he’d broken both their hearts?
He couldn’t finish the thought, so he just hit send.
Since us , she completed for him.
Yeah.
Cole glanced around the now-empty locker room. His teammates had cleared out, leaving him alone with his thoughts and this fragile reconnection with Annie.
I should go. Team bus is waiting. But Annie?
Annie: Yes?
I never wanted to end things. I just didn’t see another way.
Her response was immediate.
Annie: I know. But maybe together we can find one.
A spark of hope flickered to life in Cole’s chest. He stared at her message, a sense of possibility warming him for the first time in days.
Maybe we can. I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m home.
Cole pocketed his phone and grabbed his bag, not wanting to give Coach another reason to lecture him for holding up the team bus.
The chilly December air hit him as he stepped outside the arena, but he barely felt it. His mind was already racing ahead, considering options he’d previously dismissed. Maybe Annie was right. Maybe there was another way.
As he climbed onto the bus, Marcus caught his eye with a questioning look. Cole gave him a slight nod—not exactly a smile, but something close to it. For the first time since Duncan Burke had walked into his life, Cole felt like he could breathe again.
Cole couldn’t sleep on the flight home. While his teammates dozed around him, he stared out the window at the darkness, his mind churning with possibilities and problems.
Duncan Burke’s threat hung over him like a shadow. The man hadn’t been bluffing—Cole was certain of that. If he resumed his relationship with Annie, her father would follow through.
But what if there was a way to neutralize that threat? What if Cole could convince Duncan that his daughter’s happiness and safety weren’t mutually exclusive?
He pulled out his phone, careful not to disturb Marcus, who was sleeping in the seat beside him. Opening a browser window, Cole began researching security firms that specialized in protecting high-profile individuals. If Duncan’s primary concern was Annie’s safety, perhaps Cole could address that directly.
By the time the plane began its descent, Cole had a rough outline of a plan. It wasn’t perfect, and Annie might hate parts of it, but it was something. A starting point for their conversation.
The team landed just after midnight, and they all took the bus back to the practice facility where they’d left their vehicles.
“I expect you at practice, even if you’re not playing,” Coach said as Cole exited the bus. “But you have tomorrow… well, today, now… off. Put it to good use.”
“I will,” Cole promised.
“The next time you set foot on the court, I want your head in the game. If it’s not, you’re going to be seeing the team therapist.”
Cole winced. He had nothing against the man, but he wasn’t convinced that what he shared with the therapist wouldn’t be passed on. That simply couldn’t happen considering the situation he was currently facing.
At his apartment, even though it was late, Cole went through the motions of his post-travel routine mechanically. Unpacking his bag, sorting laundry, checking mail. But his mind remained fixed on the upcoming conversation with Annie.
He picked up his phone several times, tempted to call her despite the late hour. Each time, he set it down again. This wasn’t a conversation to have when he was exhausted.
Instead, he opened his laptop and continued his research. By the time exhaustion finally overtook him around 3 AM, Cole had compiled a comprehensive security proposal and drafted an email to his agent about potential legal options if Duncan Burke tried to interfere with his career.
Morning came too quickly, sunlight streaming through the blinds Cole had forgotten to close. He blinked awake, disoriented for a moment before remembering—Annie. Their conversation. The possibility of a future together.
He reached for his phone, checking the time: 10:37 AM. Later than he usually slept, but understandable given how late he’d been up. There was a text from Annie sent an hour ago.
Annie: Good morning. Let me know when you’re free to talk.
Cole sat up, running a hand through his hair. Despite his exhaustion, energy thrummed through him. He typed back: Just woke up. Give me an hour to get myself together?
Annie: Perfect. Video call at 11?
Yes. Looking forward to seeing you.
Cole showered quickly, the warm water washing away some of the fatigue still clinging to him. As he dressed, he found himself choosing his clothes with unusual care—a navy button-down shirt that Annie had once said brought out his eyes. He caught himself and laughed softly. Since when did Cole Halverson primp for a video call?
Since Annie, a voice in his head answered.
He made coffee and toast, scrolling through his notes from the night before. The security proposal looked solid in the light of day, but would it be enough to convince Duncan Burke? And more importantly, would Annie agree to it?
At exactly 11 AM, his phone lit up with Annie’s call. Cole’s pulse jumped as he answered, suddenly nervous.
“Hi,” she said, her face filling his screen. She looked beautiful, if tired—slight shadows under her eyes, her blonde hair pulled back in a simple ponytail.
“Hi,” he replied, drinking in the sight of her. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” Her smile was tentative, cautious. “How was the flight home?”
“Long. I couldn’t sleep.” Cole shifted on his couch, angling the phone so the light from the window didn’t wash him out. “Annie, I never wanted to end things. You have to know that.”
“I do know.” Her voice was steady, but he could see the hurt in her eyes. “I know my dad had you over a barrel. I felt like he had me over one too.”
He stared at her for a long moment, not even realizing what he was doing until she said, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing now,” he said, giving her a smile. “I’ve just missed you.”
Annie smiled back at him. “I’ve missed you too. So much.”
Seeing her again and being able to talk to her, something settled inside him. He would have loved to be able to take her into his arms and just hold her tight. But they had other things to deal with first, and being physically close would just be a distraction from what they needed to discuss.
They may be on the same page of wanting to work things out, but Duncan Burke cast a dark shadow over everything. Hopefully, they’d find a way to be together without angering Annie’s powerful father.
He took a deep breath and let it out. This was for love. This was for his future. This was for them.
“I have a plan,” he said, lifting the notebook he’d been making notes in.
Annie’s eyes widened, then her smile grew, lighting up her face. “I like a man with a plan.”
Cole’s heart warmed. “Well, I’m glad to hear that.”
“So tell me, what’s in this plan of yours?”
“It’s not perfect,” Cole warned, setting the notebook on his lap. “But I’ve been thinking about what your father’s primary concern is—your safety—and how we might address it directly.”
Annie leaned closer to the screen, her expression serious but hopeful. “I’m listening.”
“I’ve researched some top-tier security firms that specialize in protecting high-profile individuals. Discreet but effective. The kind used by celebrities who want to live normal lives without compromising their safety.” Cole flipped through his notes. “If we could demonstrate to your father that we’re taking his concerns seriously, implementing professional security measures rather than just hiding you away…”
“You think that would satisfy him?” Annie’s tone was skeptical.
“Honestly? No. Not at first.” Cole ran a hand through his hair. “Your father strikes me as someone who wants control, not just safety. But it gives us leverage in the conversation. Shows we’re acknowledging his concerns while finding our own solution.”
Annie was quiet for a moment, considering. “What would this look like day-to-day? I don’t want to live with bodyguards hovering over me every minute.”
“How does that work for you now?” Cole asked, curious about her life. The details she’d kept from him because of the secrecy that surrounded her connection to Duncan Burke.
“I have a house on my dad’s estate.” She leaned forward and picked up the tablet. “Let me show you.”
He watched as the view changed from Annie’s face, to the room she’d been sitting in. A large area that looked like it included her workspace on one end and her bedroom on the other.
In the middle of it was a door that she approached and unlocked. “I haven’t been out here in a bit.”
Here ended up being a wide upper deck that ran the length of the house. It was currently covered with snow, but he suspected that the deck wasn’t what she wanted to show him.
“My dad’s estate is large,” she said as she moved the tablet around to show him what surrounded her home. “A hundred acres, I think. Behind my place is just forest and some security. In front is a driveway that leads to the security building and my dad’s mansion.”
“So no one can get to your place without going past security and your dad’s place.”
“Well, they can’t even get to those places unless they pass security at the main gate on the road. A portion of the estate is fenced off.”
“Your dad isn’t messing around.”
“No. He’s not. It’s why he built me the home of my dreams,” she said. “It was his way of making the cage I’m trapped in a bit more palatable, I guess.”
“And has it?”
She turned and went back into the house. “I love my home. When I’m here, I can pretend to live a normal life, even though my dad’s over-the-top security encroaches even here.”
“What do you mean?”
“My dog Nyla.”
The tablet panned to where a large dog lay on the carpet in front of the fireplace. Her head was lifted, and her ears were pricked forward as she stared at Annie. She’d clearly heard her name, and it was like she was waiting to be given instructions.
“She’s beautiful,” Cole said.
“Yes, she is,” Annie agreed. “And I love her, but she’s also a weapon.”
“A guard dog?”
“Yep. We have three of them here. My dad paid a fortune to have them trained.”
“What breed is she? I don’t really recognize her.”
“She’s a Tervuren. They’re Belgian Shepherds and somewhat rare, but there’s a guy who breeds them, keeping impeccable bloodlines, and he has a partner who trains them.”
“Wow. That’s amazing.”
The tablet switched around to Annie’s face again. “My house also goes into lockdown mode. I can trigger it myself, which I’m required to do every night. The security office can put it into lockdown, if necessary, and will do it at night if I forget to.”
“What does lockdown mode mean?” Cole asked, a bit in awe of what he’d learned so far.
“The cabin is built with a fire-resistant inner barrier, so even if the outside is set on fire, it won’t penetrate the interior. Lockdown mode drops a metal covering over all the doors and windows so no one can get in.”
Her dad certainly hadn’t taken any chances with her security. It made him wonder if his plan even had a hope, or if Duncan Burke would laugh in his face when they presented it to him.
“And when you’re not home?”
“Depending where I am, I usually have Dawn and possibly one other person with me. I am also armed most of the time.”
“You were armed at the gala?”
“I was, yes.”
“And at the ice cream parlor?”
“Yes.”
Annie’s shoulders slumped as if she thought her answers would disappoint him.
“That’s awesome,” he said. “I’m glad you know how to take care of yourself.”
Her brows lifted. “I also am trained in Krav Maga. So even if I don’t have a gun, I am not unarmed.”
“That’s good to know,” Cole said, having a super hard time imagining Annie fighting someone or shooting a gun. “It sounds like you could be my bodyguard. Want a job?”
Annie laughed. “Maybe I could pose as your bodyguard. That would give us an excuse to be together.”
“Nope. I don’t want to hide who you are to me.” He paused, thinking back over everything that he’d learned during their conversation. Lifting his notebook, Cole said, “But your dad isn’t going to think this is enough, is he?”
“Probably not,” Annie said with a frown. “But we have to start somewhere. We propose something to him and then hope he’s willing to negotiate. I’ve never really thought too much about how my dad does business. If he’s a negotiator or not.”
Cole was pretty sure that Duncan Burke hadn’t gotten to where he was without being an astute businessman and a stellar negotiator. Thinking about his business savvy brought another thought to mind.
“Did you know that your dad has some sort of financial stake in my team?”
Annie’s eyes went round. “He does?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I had no clue,” Annie said.
“It was how he threatened my career,” Cole explained. “By insinuating that he had the power to dictate the terms of my next contract.”
“That is ridiculous,” Annie said, angrier than Cole had ever seen her. “I can’t believe he bought into the team and then used that to his advantage to threaten you.”
“I think it’s safe to say that your dad will do whatever he has to in order to keep you safe.”
“That’s becoming very clear, but it also worries me. Is there a line he won’t cross?”
Cole didn’t have an answer for her. She knew her dad better than he did. But from where Cole stood, there didn’t appear to be an uncrossable line for the man.
Annie’s anger faded away, settling into sadness. “He holds all the cards. He doesn’t have to agree with anything. I could walk away from him, leaving him with no control over me, but he could still come down hard on you. Are we just deluding ourselves that we can work this out?”
“I don’t want to think we are,” Cole said. Once she’d shown that she wanted to work things out, it had lit a fire in him that he didn’t want to put out. “I want us to find a way to move forward together.”
Now that he’d experienced life without her, he didn’t want to do that again. She’d been the one to reach out to him, even though he should have done it. He didn’t want her to lose faith in them now.
“I want that too, but he just wields so much more power than I’d realized.”
“He probably never wanted you to know the lengths he was going to, or was willing to go to, in order to keep you safe.”
“And you’re sure you want to get mixed up in his world?” Annie asked. “Because I’m not sure I want to be here myself. Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice.”
“Yes.” Cole’s voice was firm. “I want to be in his world if it means I can be with you.”
Annie’s eyes held his through the screen. “And what about your career? Dad’s influence?”
“I just have to hope that he won’t follow through. But if he does, I’ll try my best to fight it.” Cole’s jaw tightened. “I won’t be bullied out of the game I love. Or away from the woman I love.”
The words hung between them, unexpected but undeniable. Cole hadn’t planned to say it like this—over a video call, in the middle of discussing security arrangements—but he couldn’t take it back. Didn’t want to.
Annie’s breath caught audibly. “Cole…”
“I’m in love with you, Annie. I should have told you before everything fell apart. Maybe if I had, it wouldn’t have taken us this long to figure out that we want to fight for us.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I love you too. That’s why I couldn’t just accept that our relationship was over.”
Cole wished desperately that he could reach through the screen and touch her, wipe away the tears now sliding down her cheeks.
But he wouldn’t be able to do that for awhile yet. He needed to look at his schedule to see when he could plan a trip to Serenity to see her again.
It felt like it would be the hardest thing in the world to wait to hold her in his arms again. But the thing he had to keep in mind was that it would happen, even if it wasn’t right away.