by J. L. Paul
But they’d made it work and he’d been proud of how grown up they’d seemed. They’d learned from past mistakes and talked out any problems that had cropped up and understood that they were going to be separated from time to time.
But they hadn’t been this far apart for this long in their entire lives. And it bugged him just like he knew it was bugging her. It spawned a burning desire inside of him to step things up and take their relationship to the next level – one he wasn’t certain that they were ready for just yet.
He’d visited a jeweler outside of San Francisco and contemplated an engagement ring but RJ, who’d tagged along for the fun of it, had reasoned with him, reminding him that Ally had just graduated high school and already enrolled in college.
“Wait at least six months, man,” RJ had urged. “Or a year. Let her get some college experience in so she can make an educated decision.”
He’d been exactly right, even though Cole had hated to admit it. So, he settled for something a little more appropriate and couldn’t wait to see her again so he could give it to her.
He dialed her number, deciding that he’d leave a message if she was still out practicing and had her phone off – she’d call him back as soon as she was finished. But she surprised him by answering on the first ring.
“Hi, Cole,” she said, a smile in her voice. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, princess,” he said, his heart flipping. He pulled his legs on the bunk and stretched out, folding his free arm under his head. “How was practice?”
“Don’t call me princess,” she gently chastised. “And practice was fine. The team is coming together nicely and I think we have a real shot at winning this thing.”
“That’s great,” he said as he closed his eyes and pictured her in her warm-up gear, her dark hair secured in a ponytail behind her head. “First game is coming up pretty quick, huh?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “I’m hoping I’ll have a cheering section – you know, besides my parents.”
“You will,” he laughed. “My dad and Stacy will be there.”
“I meant you and RJ and James,” she huffed. “You know that.”
“I’m trying, Al,” he said, his voice softening. “You know I want to be there more than anything.”
“I know,” she said, her breath whistling in the phone. “I just miss you, that’s all. I miss you the most, of course, but I miss RJ and Jamie, too.”
He’d known all along that the summer would be toughest on her. She loved her friends like they were close members of her family and she wilted a little every day they were separated. “We’ll all be together soon, don’t worry.”
“Not soon enough,” she whined, sounding exactly like a tired child.
“Hey, listen,” he said. “This tour will be over soon and then RJ and I will be home. You and James will be running off to college. We’ll all get together every weekend possible, just like we did last year. Just think about that, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, mollified for the moment. “But I’ll get to see you this weekend, right?”
He smiled at the hopeful note in her voice. “Yes, you will. If I don’t make it to the Friday night game, I’ll make it to a Saturday game.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, suddenly cheerful. “I’m counting down the hours.”
He chuckled, his heart full of affection. The bus lurched to a stop and he sat up to glance out the window. “Hey, Al, we’re at the hotel. I gotta get going, okay? I’ll try to give you a call later tonight.”
“Okay,” she said. “I love you, Cole.”
“I love you, too,” he said and snapped the phone shut just as RJ opened the accordion door and peeked his head around the corner.
“You ready, man?” he asked.
Cole jumped off the bunk, some of the loneliness dispelled from his heart. “Yeah. Do you think they’ll let us get some food before the sound check?”
“I certainly hope so,” RJ said rubbing his stomach. “I’m starved.”
Cole grinned at his friend as he exited the bus and made his way through the hotel lobby, earning curious glances from the guests. Soon, he thought, they’ll know us by sight and we won’t be able to walk through a room without heavy security.
Soon.
Chapter Two
Ally plopped on the bench, her body screaming for sleep, and slowly lifted her leg, resting her foot on the bench. Her arm muscles protested as she stretched to yank her shoelaces and she wondered what kind of shape she would be in for the first game of the tournament the following evening.
This was the second year she’d made the State Team and while they’d played in plenty of tournaments back home near Chicago, this was her first time in the National Tournament and she was burning with the desire to win the whole thing.
Each state of the continental U.S. formed a team of their best female softball players and every four years, they took their teams to the designated state for the National Tournament. The Tournament usually lasted about a week, with all the pomp and circumstance of the World Series. This year the Tournament was to be held in L.A.
“I think I discovered muscles I never knew I had,” Lisa Morlan moaned as she sat next to Ally. “The coaches preach about how beneficial all this conditioning is but I don’t see it.”
Ally flashed her roommate a commiserating smile as she finally won her battle with her shoelaces. “Yeah, I hear them sing the praises of working out and conditioning but I have yet to see one of them on the participating.”
“Too overweight,” Samantha Morales joked as she leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.
Lisa giggled as she removed her sweat-stained t-shirt and dropped it at her feet. “So, do you guys think we have a chance at medaling this year?”
“Yep, as long as Jones keeps hitting like she did in batting practice,” Tara Horning, a stocky third basemen commented.
“That was yesterday,” Ally said as she set to work on her other shoe. “My timing was totally off today. I don’t know why. If only my cousin was here, he’d figure it out and point me in the right direction.”
“Where is this cousin?” Lisa said. “And is he cute?”
Ally laughed. “Sure, I suppose he’s cute, but don’t tell him that – his ego is big enough as it is. Besides, he’s a player. He has a new girlfriend every week.”
“Aw,” Tara grinned. “I’m sure Lisa here can tame him.”
Lisa blushed furiously and kicked off her cleats. “I doubt it.”
“Jones!”
Ally turned to find Cheyenne Duncan, the only other teammate from the year before, strolling toward her. “Girl, what was up with your hitting today? That’s not like you.”
Ally groaned and rolled her eyes, wishing she could snap her fingers and be magically transported to her bed. “I don’t know and I’m just too tired to think about it right now.” She stood up, moaned, and walked to the showers, snatching a fluffy towel from the stack on the shelf near the doors.
Ally felt a bit better after her shower. She shouldered her bag and left the locker room with her small group of friends, other girls streaming around them. Her mind had shifted from her batting problems to Cole and her heart lifted as she imagined the reunion scene she’d have in just a couple of days. A small smile graced her lips as her teammates excitedly discussed the upcoming game.
“Right, Ally?” Lisa asked.
“Huh?” Ally said, suddenly realizing that they were speaking to her. “Sorry, my mind was elsewhere.”
“Obviously,” Cheyenne smirked. “It doesn’t matter anyway.” She grabbed Ally’s arm and urged her to continue walking. “So, do you have a huge group coming to the game tomorrow night?”
Cheyenne knew Ally had a large, “extended” family as not only did her parents and brother attend the local State Games last year, but also Jamie’s, RJ’s, and Cole’s families. Ally had never admitted that her father was indeed the Jay Jones of Tight Control fame, but she had an inkling that Cheye
nne knew and she was grateful that the girl had never mentioned it.
“Um, I’m not sure who will be there,” Ally admitted. “My parents and brother, of course, but I’m not sure who else.”
She did know that Nate and Stacy would be there and possibly her Aunt Gretchen and Uncle Mark, but she wasn’t sure who else would make it. She wished they’d all make it – it would be nice to have the whole gang together – but she understood that it was quite the trek from Chicago to L.A.
“What about your boyfriend?” Lisa asked, skipping sideways to watch Ally’s reaction. “I saw his picture on that little table by your bed. He’s cute.”
Ally shrugged, a little thrill shooting up her spine. She was happy that Cole’s band wasn’t hugely popular yet and the other girls wouldn’t mob him. At least she hoped.
“He’s trying to be here,” she said with a small smile. “He might not make it until Saturday.”
“Why not?” Tara asked, her bushy brows dipping over her eyes.
“He’s, um, working,” Ally said lamely. She shrugged again. “He travels a lot but he should be in the area and he’s going to try to be here.”
“That really sucks,” Samantha said, rubbing her shoulder with a wince. “Jeez, Coach told me I was starting on the mound tomorrow but the way he worked us tonight – well, I just hope my shoulder is up to it.”
“It will be, don’t worry,” Ally soothed, hoping she was right. Samantha was their star pitcher – their ace – and they needed to start out strong if they expected to make it to the finals.
As they approached the dorms, Ally’s phone rang. She dug it out of her bag and grinned when Cole’s name popped up on the screen. She answered it excitedly.
“Hey, how are you?” she asked.
“Tired, princess, but good,” he said and his voice lifted her spirits. “Are you ready for the game tomorrow?”
She picked up her pace and waved over her shoulder, leaving the other girls behind. She didn’t usually mind if they overheard her conversation but at that moment, she just wanted him to herself. “I think we’re ready. We had a rough workout tonight but hopefully it will be worth it.”
“You’ll do great, Al,” he said. He released a long, drawn out breath that signaled bad news. She whipped the door open and hurried to her room as she prepared herself for his announcement. “I’m sorry but I don’t think we’ll make it to town in time for the game tomorrow night. We’ll probably have to go straight to the venue for sound check.”
Tears of disappointment burned her eyes but she managed to keep them out of her voice. She could tell he was as upset as she and didn’t want to fill him with guilt by gushing tears all over the phone.
“I understand, Cole,” she said as she sank to her bed. “But I’ll get to see you Saturday, right?”
“Yes, I promise,” he said. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to see you Saturday. Maybe we can meet for breakfast or something, huh?”
“I’d like that,” she whispered, consoled by the thought of spending as much time Saturday with him as she could. “We have an early morning workout but I can meet you after that. We won’t have to be at the field until an hour before the game.”
“Good,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll spend the day together.”
“Perfect!”
A voice bellowed for him and she scrunched her brows, wondering who would dare interrupt their phone call. It didn’t sound like RJ, Ren, or Parker, that was for sure.
“That’s Doug,” he said. “We’re in Sacramento, you know, and we have an interview at a radio station this afternoon and then we have to come back for sound check, maybe a bite to eat, and then the show.”
She laughed at his rambling. “Wow, I guess I have nothing to complain about.”
“Nah, princess,” he said. She heard a click and then heard him suck in a deep breath. He was smoking, she was sure. “You’ve worked hard.”
“Are you smoking Cole Nathan?” she demanded.
“Um, maybe,” he said. He sighed. “Fine, I’ll put it out. Happy?”
“I thought you were going to quit,” she pouted. “It’s an ugly, filthy habit.”
“I will,” he relented. “Promise.”
“Fine,” she said. “Thank you.”
“I have to go,” he said. “I’ll try to call you before your game tomorrow but if not, good luck. I love you.”
“Good luck tonight,” she said. “I love you, too.”
She hung up and fell on her pillows, a sad little smile on her face. She kept telling herself just a few more days and she’d see him again. She closed her eyes, remembering the day she’d kissed him goodbye when he’d dropped her off at the softball complex back in Illinois about six weeks ago. Two days later, he’d boarded a tour bus and took off across the country, opening for a couple different bands and putting in appearances in popular clubs.
“Just a couple more days,” she repeated as Lisa stormed into the room.
“Hey,” Lisa said, pausing to frown. “Are you all right? Is something wrong with your boyfriend?”
Ally sat up and shook her head. “No, he’s fine. What’s up?”
Lisa continued to frown as she sank to the bed next to Ally. She concentrated her gaze on Ally’s face until she was satisfied Ally was being truthful. “Okay. Oh!” she exclaimed as her face lit up. “Sorry. Um, there’s some guy outside who says he knows you. I told him I was your roommate and he asked me to come get you.”
“Some guy?” Ally asked, puzzled. A brief bolt of excitement shot through her heart but she quelled it quickly. It couldn’t possibly be Cole – he was in Sacramento. She knew that for a fact. “Did he say who he was?”
“No,” Lisa said slowly, something akin to worry on her face. “We were standing outside, talking, and he came up to us and asked if we knew you. I said I was your roommate and he asked me if I’d come get you.” The worry was replaced briefly with a flash of confusion. “He said something weird – something about telling his cuz to get out there and that he wasn’t waiting forever.”
Ally jumped off the bed, excitement raging through her blood. “No way!” She grabbed Lisa’s arm and dragged her out of the room. She pushed through the doors and spotted him, charming her teammates. She released Lisa and ran to him, jumping on his back. “James!”
He waited for her to slip off his back before turning to face her, grinning madly. “Hey, cuz! How are you?”
The smile wouldn’t leave her face as she continued to beam at him, overjoyed by his presence. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I’ve missed you, James!”
“Great,” he muttered, prying her arms loose. “Can’t breathe!”
She stepped back, only slightly embarrassed, and continued to grin. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d come watch you try to play ball,” he smirked.
Ally’s teammates watched the exchange, half amused and half confused, but Ally paid them no mind. She was too happy to see her cousin.
“I thought you were at football camp?” she asked.
“It ended Wednesday. I flew out this morning,” he said, shrugging. “Mom, Dad, and Trevor will be here tonight.”
“Great,” Ally said. She glanced at Lisa who still seemed sort of confused. “Oh, did you meet my friends?”
