“We’re so happy we could come.” I returned her embrace. “And I’m sure you recognize Cole.” I gestured to where he stood right beside me with a plate of pineapple and veggies in his hand.
“I certainly do.” Zara held out her hand for him to shake, a huge smile creeping up her face. “Though the haircut is obviously new, it’s hard not to recognize him when he’s on my screen nearly every week during football season.”
Cole dipped his head humbly. “On behalf of the Dragons, I guess I should thank you for your support.”
“Well, on behalf of all the women of the world, I feel I need to thank you for wearing your Dragons uniform so well.” She touched his arm flirtatiously.
I couldn’t be sure, since Zara’s dark complexion hid the glow of her cheeks well, but from the way her skin tightened across her face, I was pretty sure she was blushing.
I couldn’t really blame her, though, since I’d basically been constantly blushing in Cole’s presence since yesterday.
But since our friendship was based on mutual teasing, I raised my eyebrows at her and asked, “Does William know the tight pants are the only reason why you watch football with him?”
“Oh.” She let out a light giggle and looked around for her husband. “He’s been around me and my sisters enough to know exactly why we watch it.” She winked.
And I just had to laugh with her, because yeah, I knew all too well about the appeal of Cole in his football pants.
But when I peeked at Cole, I caught a slightly uncomfortable expression in his eyes.
Which was so funny. Because as much as he joked around about how ridiculously good-looking he was, he never really knew how to take it when people actually agreed with him.
Cole cleared his throat. “Your home is beautiful, by the way,” he said, turning the conversation away from himself. “Thank you for welcoming me into it.”
“You’re so sweet.” Zara put a hand to her chest. “But let me just say that the pleasure really is all mine. And I do hope that everyone has behaved themselves around you.”
“You mean aside from your talk of ogling him on the TV every Sunday?” I laughed.
She shrugged. “It’s my house. I can do whatever I want.”
Cole took a sip of his drink then gave my friend one of his dazzling smiles. “Everyone has been very welcoming.”
Which was true. I was pretty sure every woman in the room had tried to take a photo of him with his new haircut, and then offered to give Cole a tour of the house so they could steal a moment alone with the superstar whether they came here with a date or husband or not.
Cole had, of course, politely declined all their offers and had thankfully stuck to my side.
“Wait,” Zara said with a frown. “Where’s Chad?” She glanced around at the group gathered in the living room. “I don’t know if I’ve seen him yet. Did he go out of town again?”
And here we were.
My heart pounded hard in my chest as I realized the moment had officially come to put our plans into motion. Cole and I had only been warming up so far, getting comfortable at a party where no one expected us to be anything more than the best friends we’d always been.
But now it was time for us to officially kick our plan into gear because—as if Zara’s curiosity over Chad’s whereabouts had summoned him—the front door opened at that moment and Chad stepped into the room.
I hadn’t known whether to expect him to show up with Amber on his arm or not. But when he walked in alone, wearing a tailored gray suit I’d helped him pick out and looking every bit as handsome as he’d ever been, I suddenly felt lightheaded.
Because even though I hated the way he’d treated me, I knew my weaknesses and I’d always had a huge weak spot for that man.
He’d always made me feel weak.
But as if sensing exactly what was going on in my stupid brain, Cole slipped his arm around my waist and in a low voice next to my ear, he said, “We’re in this together, okay?”
I gave him a grateful look and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Chad!” Zara stood on her tiptoes and waved a hand to get Chad’s attention. And before I could tell her that Chad and I were no longer a couple, she said, “Arianna’s