“We’re both adults, Cole,” Gemma said. “You need to figure out how to let go of me.”
Now Cole did laugh. “You’re absolutely insane if you think there is any part of me still pining away for you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “But you’re still angry.”
He swore under his breath. “I’m going back inside now, Gemma. And it would be great if you’d find somewhere else to eat when you’re here this summer.”
“I can eat wherever I want,” she said.
“Yeah, you can,” Cole said. “But if you have even a shred of decency, you won’t eat here.”
She straightened.
“But I suppose if you had a shred of decency, you wouldn’t have done what you did, now, would you?” Cole stared at her for a long moment, wondering if he’d regret this conversation later.
He started back up the street to the corner, but before he turned, Gemma called out, “Max asked me to marry him.”
Cole stopped, but he didn’t respond.
Gemma faced him now, he heard her turn. “I just thought you should hear it from me.”
He bit back a sarcastic comment and walked away.
16
For days after the meeting at the dance studio, Charlotte busied herself with her morning run, with observing dance classes, with meeting parents—most of whom thanked her profusely for ensuring the kids would have their recital.
She’d managed to stay busy, even without the rigors of a strict dance regimen, and that busyness had allowed her to avoid the thing she really didn’t want to do
But unfortunately, the time of procrastination had come to an end.
Which was why she now sat in the parking lot at the high school, watching from a distance as Cole and another guy barked orders at the boys on the field, boys who all complied with whatever the men told them to do.
She opened her phone and saw a missed call from Marcia. Seconds later, her voicemail alert rang.
She couldn’t deal with her mother. Not now. Not today. She tucked the phone in her purse just in time to see the boys run to the center of the field and huddle up, all eyes on Cole. She had to wonder what the man was saying, considering that he seemed to find it impossible to 1. Talk and 2. Be nice.
But then maybe high school football coaches didn’t have to be nice. Those boys probably all needed a little tough love.
How many dance teachers had she had over the years that subscribed to that tough love method?
What she wouldn’t have given for one who actually cared enough to be kind.
Marcia would tell her to stop complaining. It wasn’t kindness that got her where she was. As a teacher, her mother certainly subscribed to that theory—and as a mother, even more so.
She drew in a deep breath and pushed open the chain-link fence, making her way out onto the field. It didn’t escape her that she’d drawn the attention of at least half of the football players, something she pretended not to notice. She’d almost reached Cole when he glanced up from his clipboard.
Recognition washed over his face. “Charlotte?”
She smiled, but even she knew it probably looked as forced as it felt.
“You know her, Coach?” one of the lingering players said. “Lucky man.”
Charlotte felt herself blush, but she quickly looked away.
“Matt, would you take the equipment? I’ll be right in.”
“Sure thing, Coach.” The other adult on the field shooed the boys away, leaving her standing in the middle of a circle that had been painted in the grass. With Cole.
“What are you doing here?”
She felt self-conscious. “Lucy said I could find you here.”
His face didn’t budge—not even the hint of a change.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
He tucked a clipboard under his arm. “Actually, I’m heading out to Haven House. Fixing a fence, checking on my nieces and nephew.”
His curt reply flustered her. She quickly recovered. “I actually need to go there too.”
His eyes darted to hers. “Why?”
“Same reason I need to talk to you.”
He stared at her but didn’t say anything, nothing to indicate he was listening or that she could continue.
She let out a slight scoff. This guy was unbelievable. She shook her head—what was she doing here? And how could someone as sweet and kind as Julianna have a brother who was so incredibly horrible? She was embarrassed to think that she’d thought his thank-you text had signaled some sort of friendship between them. He was just as rude as ever.