30. Chapter 30
Cole
I walked slowly into the bedroom and slid with my back against the wall. I switched on the light and scanned the room. Sadie had scared me three more times, and I didn’t dare to walk into a dark room anymore.
When she didn’t jump out, I grabbed my pajamas and locked the door. I changed quickly and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
Sadie jumped out from behind the shower curtain. “Hello!”
My heart jumped, but I managed not to let it show. “How’s it going?” I asked casually.
She put her hand on my chest and smiled.
I ignored her and brushed my teeth. I wondered if, in fifty years, Sadie would still be trying to scare me. I kind of hoped she would. Because that would mean we’d stayed married long past the ten years we’d promised each other.
Sadie brushed her teeth, then left the room. When I got out, she was in bed.
The door opened, and Alyssa looked in. “Hey, Sadie? How many texts do you send before you realize someone isn’t going to text you back?”
“I never send more than one,” Sadie said. “If they don’t answer, I don’t text again.”
Alyssa let out a long sigh. “I’ve texted Hunter three times, and he hasn’t said anything back. Do I give up?”
“I don’t know,” Sadie said. “Everyone’s different. Some people aren’t big on texting.”
“He used to text me every time.” Her mouth turned down. “Maybe he doesn’t do long-distance friendships. Goodnight.”
I climbed in next to Sadie. “High school dating is rough.”
“Yeah, I’m glad I don’t have to date anymore. It’s such an annoying game.”
I smiled. “Maybe everyone should get married without dating. I feel like it’s working for us.”
She glanced at me. “Is it?”
“Feels like it is.” Had I read us wrong?
She poked me in the stomach. “What does one have to do to get a stomach like this?”
My smile came back. “Exercise enough to drive your neighbors crazy.”
She rubbed her hand over my abs. “Your neighbor should have realized there were benefits to all that exercise.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I didn’t mean to listen,” Alyssa called through the door, “But eww. And also, do we have any band-aids?”
“In the cupboard above the microwave,” Sadie said. “And Alyssa?”
“Yeah?”
“Go to bed.”
“I will. Goodnight. Again.”
“I’m amazed at what you do for Alyssa,” I said. “I can’t imagine trying to raise a sibling.”
“You do what you have to do.”
“I guess that’s right.”
“I’m glad I can take care of her. We’ve always gotten along.”
“Do you jump out and scare her?”
She reached over and turned off the light. “I used to. It’s been a while. And I like your squeal better.”
“I do not squeal,” I said.
She giggled. “You did the first time.”
“You better watch out. You don’t want to make me your enemy.”
She stuck her cold foot on my leg. “Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?”
I pulled my leg away. “How in the world are your feet that cold?”
She moved closer and stuck both of them on me. “Talent.”
“It’s like seventy-five degrees in here. I’m never going to sleep peacefully again, am I?”
I couldn’t see her in the dark, but I’d bet she was smiling.
“No, probably not, but you are a great foot warmer. I’d hire you any day.”
I leaned down, grabbed her foot, and started tickling it. She squealed and tried to pull it away.
“Who has a cute squeal now?” I asked. I moved to her stomach. She was ticklish everywhere.
She grabbed me around the middle, arms and all, and tried to pin my arms to my sides.
“Ha!” she said, squeezing. “Now whatcha gonna do?”
“Well,” I said as if I were bored, “First I’m going to savor how cute it is that you think you have me pinned.”
“Think? I have you pinned, boy.”
I laughed and broke her grip. “And now I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted.” I turned her around so her back was to me, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against me. I placed a kiss on the back of her head. “Goodnight.”
Sadie
Morning took a long time to come. I’d stayed curled in Cole’s arms all night. Did I feel comfortable and cared for? Yes. Did I feel like I’d actually slept? Not even a little. Cole was breathing deeply. Not a snore, but enough to tell me he was still out.
I’d fallen in and out of sleep, but it hadn’t been easy. I wanted to turn and kiss him awake, but I wasn’t feeling that confident. And then he’d get up, and I wouldn’t be here with him.
I glanced at the clock. It was time to get up. I needed to go to the gym, and he needed to get ready for school, so I turned over in his arms. “Cole?”
He mumbled something.
“What was that?”
“Sadie loves me,” he said.
My eyes narrowed. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yep.”
“Do you love her?” What was I doing?
“So long as bologna is on sale. Every third Wednesday.”
I smiled, and a small laugh escaped me.
He yawned and blinked. “Is it morning? You laughing at me?”
“I totally am. You talk in your sleep.”
“I hope nothing incriminating.”
I forced myself to get up. “Not too bad. I’m definitely looking forward to every third Wednesday. And not for the bologna.”
His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“You were really asleep?”
“If I said anything about bologna, I was asleep. I’ve never even had bologna.”
“I bet you haven’t, you poor spoiled Hart.”
“I feel so confused right now.”
“You should,” I said, backing toward the bathroom. “I call dibs on the shower.”
By the time I got to the gym, I was feeling motivated. I was going to figure this job out, and I was going to do great.
That attitude lasted exactly twenty minutes. I’d introduced myself to all the trainers, and so far, most weren’t taking me seriously.
I walked up to the last one, ready to be dismissed just like I had been with the others. “Hi,” I said.
He looked up from where he was filling his water bottle. “Hey. You looking for a trainer?” he asked.
“No, I’m the new manager.”
“Of the gym?”
“Yes. I’m Sadie.”
He smiled. “Tate. Nice to meet you.”
“Same. I just wanted to let you know I’m here if you need anything.”
His smile changed, and he took a step toward me. “There are lots of things I need,” he said.
“Gym related.”
“That’s no fun.”
“Watch out, bro,” one of the other trainers said. “That’s Cole Hart’s wife there.”
He frowned and took a step back. “Ah. That’s why you’re the manager. I was wondering.”
I gritted my teeth. If even the trainers were going to be a problem, I wasn’t going to survive.
“I’ve worked in a gym before,” I said, glaring at everyone in the room. I was glad I’d decided to do this before we were actually open. I didn’t need to make a scene in front of customers. “I’m qualified.”
“Sure you are,” Tate said. “How do we get a hold of Mr. Hart if we have a problem?”
I crossed my arms. “You don’t. You talk to me. Cole is going to be training. Not running things.”
Tate opened his mouth, but whatever look I was giving him must have scared him, because he shut it without saying anything. That’s what I thought.
I was going to hate this so much.
By the time pep club rolled around, I was ready to growl. Thankfully, it only happened twice a week. I didn’t know what to do. No one trained me, and no one gave me a book of instructions. It was just me and my good friend, Google.
“Who wants to practice cheers?” I asked.
No one. That was who. Why did all these people sign up when all they wanted to do was gossip on the bleachers?
I channeled my inner Alyssa. “Everyone be quiet or get out!”
“Groups again,” I said. “Come up with a cheer. The best one gets used at Friday’s game.”
The groups formed, and I practiced breathing without blowing fire.
Alyssa came in to check on me. “Groups again?”
“I hate this,” I said under my breath.
“Tell Cole you don’t want to do it.”
“No… he needs me to do this.”
“He’d understand if you told him you can’t. Cole’s cool like that.”
“I can’t just sit home, doing nothing.”
“I think you should tell him.”
“Nope. And you better not either.”
“You’re already running the gym. Isn’t that enough?”
“Don’t worry about me.” I wasn’t about to tell her I preferred this to the gym.
When the teams finished making their new cheers, I had them demonstrate.
It was bad. Painfully bad.
I understood immediately why none of these people were actual cheerleaders, and that was coming from someone completely incapable of being a cheerleader.
“Wow,” I said. “Those were… creative.”
Char, a girl with a high ponytail and zero patience, crossed her arms. “They were all pretty bad. We should probably stick with the ones we already have.”
I nodded. “That might be wise.”
A few people laughed. Not at the cheers. At me. Or maybe that was just my imagination.
I folded my arms and forced a smile. If I were getting paid for this, I’d deserve a raise.