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“Hey, you went to Georgia too, right?” one of my fellow cheerleaders, Monique, asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Why?”
“Jasmine and I have a bet going. Help us settle it?”
“It’s not a bet,” Jasmine said with an eye roll.
Monique looked victorious. She pointed toward the sidelines. “That guy, is he Cole Davis?”
My heart stuttered as I followed her finger. “Holy shit.”
“I knew it!” Monique said. “It’s him, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I whispered.
She held her hand out to Jasmine. “Pay up.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said and then left formation.
I’d nearly crossed the line into the Falcons sidelines when Cole turned around, as if he’d been waiting for me all along. He fumbled with the DSLR camera he was holding when he caught sight of me.
“Lila?”
“Oh my God, Cole.”
I ignored everything else around me and threw myself into his arms. He picked me up as if I weighed nothing. Neither of us cared that people were watching us. What else was new?
“What are you doing here?” I demanded. “I thought you were in San Francisco.”
“49ers played on Thanksgiving Day,” he said, placing me back on my feet. He threw the strap of his camera around his neck. “I booked a flight for after the game and spent the weekend with my family. Dad got me a guest pass for the game.”
“That’s amazing. I wish I’d known. Are you back into photography?”
He ducked his chin. “Sort of. I’m not any good, but I carry the thing with me anyway.” He brushed back his hair, which had grown longer than a year ago. It curled at the edges around his Falcons hat. “I had no idea you were a cheerleader.”
“Yeah, I made the team this spring. It’s been quite an experience.”
“Are you in PT school here?”
“No, I took a year off.”
“What? Why?” His eyes were round with surprise. “That’s all you’ve ever wanted.”
I didn’t want to admit the truth. That I’d been lost after he dumped me. That our breakup had shattered me into pieces I didn’t know how to come back from. I was still stitching them back together.
But I said the half-truth instead, “I decided to take a year off school and work in a PT clinic first. Make sure it’s what I really want to do. What about you?” I quickly changed the subject. “How’s marketing going in San Francisco?”
“Boring,” he admitted. “I’ve started a side project with a friend. We’ll see if it goes anywhere. I’d rather spend all my time on that, but I have to afford San Francisco.”
“I get that. I’m living with Josie, not that I ever see her.”
Cole shook his head. “Isn’t she on that new show? What’s it called?”
“Academy,” I said. “She never thought it would go anywhere, and now, it’s one of the most-watched shows on television in its first season. Who knew she’d ever become the face of a supernatural school?”
“Probably everyone who met her knew she’d make it big. She has that thing.” He snapped his fingers. “You know what I mean?”
“Yeah. Charisma.”
“The it factor.”
“Gah,” I said, glancing back at the sidelines. My friends motioned for me to return. “Look, I’d love to chat more, but I have to get back to the team. Do you have plans after?”
“No plans.”
“Can we play catch-up then?”
He nodded.
“Okay, I’ll text you.”
He snagged my elbow and pulled me in for another hug. “I’ve missed you, Sunflower.”
I shivered at the nickname. I’d missed him so fucking much that I felt tears spring to my eyes. Just his arms wrapped around me felt right. So damn right.
“I’ve missed you too.”
He reluctantly released me, and I headed back to my fellow cheerleaders.
Monique arched an eyebrow. “Damn, girl. That is how it’s done.”
Jasmine fluffed her Afro. “Get it.”
I laughed at them both. I wondered what our interaction had looked like from the outside. For people who didn’t know our history.
“Tell me you got his number,” Monique said.
I winked at her, and both girls crowed with excitement for me. As if I’d just snagged myself a man. Instead of found a way to get back together with the one I’d always wanted.
When all the fans had left the Georgia Dome, celebrating the Falcons victory, the cheerleaders finally left too. I stepped out into the brisk November weather, pulling my jacket tight around me. And standing outside, waiting for me, was Cole Davis.
“Hey.” My stomach fluttered at the sight of him. Everything should have hurt to even see him, but instead, all I saw was possibility.
“What a game,” he said.
“Yeah. Falcons victory always makes for a good day.”
“Dad thinks so too.”
“I bet,” I said. Considering Hal Davis was the offensive line coach, I would think that he’d been pleased. “Where are you parked?”
“I drove in with my dad. Can I catch a ride with you?”
“Definitely.”
Cole fell into step with me, his elbow brushing against mine as we walked. We cleared the parking lot and came up to my little Hyundai. I tossed the keys to Cole to get the car warmed up, and then as he did that, I dropped my bags in the trunk.
