“I don’t know. It was a surprise for me. It’s a great school.”
“I’m sure it is, and I’m sorry for my reaction, but, Charlie, that’s so far away.”
Forcing down the lump in my throat, I nodded. “I know. Technically, when I lived in Colorado, it wasn’t that far. I never intended on being in Virginia.”
Cami set the tablet down and placed her hand on mine. “Except you are. Tell me what you’re thinking. Because my selfish heart will want to keep you here. I know we haven’t been friends for very long, but I really like you, Charlie.”
“Me too,” Harley added before saying, “We all do.” My nose tingled, and my eyes began misting over again. “You need to be happy, and our feelings aside, your feelings are the only ones that count. You’ve worked so hard, and you’re only twenty-one. You’re truly an inspiration to so many. Believe me, I know what it’s like to branch out on your own.” She paused, I swiped away a tear, and then she asked the one question I’d been silently asking myself. “What about Collin?”
“What did he say?” they both asked in unison.
“He doesn’t know about it. I just saw it myself. I’m not sure what he will say. It’s not as though we’ve declared our love for each other. A few months ago he didn’t recognize me.”
Cami’s ponytail swung back and forth. “Doesn’t matter, sweetie. You’ve been together practically twenty-four seven. You don’t get closer than that.”
I wanted to tell them that I was in love with Collin, but saying that out loud felt strange. It should be him who heard that first. Sally had most likely figured it out, because she knew things about me before I did, and we hadn’t discussed it either.
“There’s nothing wrong with a long-distance relationship. It’s not unheard of,” Harley offered as a solution.
“Stolen moments don’t equate to a solid relationship. Distance aside, when he’s not playing, I’ll be studying, and when I have a break, he’ll be in the throes of practice, then games. What are we going to do, have a night or two together?”
“Can he ask for a trade?”
“Lucas might die if that happened,” Harley blurted, horrified at the notion.
“True, my brother is quite fond of him. But still, he’s her soul mate.” Cami brought her focus back on me. “Would you rathernonights? Why does it sound as though you’re talking yourself out of the relationship?”
“So it will hurt less when it ends?” I offered as a pathetic reason.
She wrapped me up in a hug and promised everything would work out.
“I’m getting wine.” Harley popped up off the couch and scurried into the kitchen.
No sooner had she come back into the family room than we heard the door swing open. In walked Collin, and the entire atmosphere changed.
“Hey, ladies. What’s going on?” His eyes darted to my leg. “Are you okay? Did you need help?” Collin walked over to where I sat, crouched down, took my hands in his, and kissed my knuckles. A surge of fire swept through my veins. The man was beautiful. Inside and out. It didn’t matter if he was sweaty from a game, dressed up for dinner, or freshly showered and in jeans and a hoodie, like right now; he made my mouth water.
“I’m fine. The girls surprised me with cookies and cocoa.”
“Since when is cocoa pink and come in a wineglass?”
Ignoring him, I shrugged. “How was practice?”
“You’ll be happy to know that DiNardo hit one from fifty-seven today. Granted, no wind or rain to contend with, but he did well.”
“That’s great.”
“Well, we should get going,” Harley said, shrugging on her jacket. “If you’re here, I’m sure Lucas will be calling me any minute.”
Collin offered me his hand and slowly pulled me up. I hobbled toward Cami and Harley. “Thank you for coming over and keeping me company.”
Harley was the first to hug me. “He cares a lot about you. Just be honest with him.” Her embrace tightened before she was replaced with Cami.
“Call me later, okay?”
“I will.”
Collin walked them out, and the cool winter air sent a chill down my spine. “Do you want dinner? I was thinking Chinese.”