I was shook the other afternoon when the buzzer went off and Melvin informed me that I had some visitors. But I couldn’t have been happier when I pulled my front door open to find Casey and Mom standing there with big smiles.
I can’t lie. I burst into tears.
Other than Cole, and Hailee through a screen, they were the first people I’d seen in days. I didn’t realize how much I needed them until they were standing in front of me.
They both gathered me up in their arms, and I sobbed on their shoulders for longer than I’m willing to admit to.
It was a relief I very much needed. And as my sobs subsided, I felt lighter. Almost like I could take on the world—or at least I could with Cole standing by my side.
They stayed the whole afternoon, and by the time Cole arrived home, I felt like a new woman. He could tell as well.
But as good as I felt, his impending departure was constantly on my mind.
I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. A part of me wanted to go back to my parents’ and hide out with them until he got back. But there was another, more defiant part that didn’t want to cower any longer.
I’m building a life here. A life with an incredible man who has done nothing but support me.
And I want to embrace it.
Being with Cole is always going to put me in the firing line with the media. It’s something I’m going to have to get used to again. Hiding isn’t going to get me anywhere.
I need to pull up my big-girl panties, forget about everyone else’s opinions, and just live my life the way I’d like. It’s going to take time, but I’m confident I’ll get there.
With an early flight tomorrow, Coach is letting the guys finish a little early this afternoon, and as soon as I get the message from Cole that he’s on his way, I set about getting his snacks ready.
It’s not the first time he’s been away since I started with him, and it most certainly won’t be the last, but this one feels different. Maybe it’s the crowd outside who are desperate to get a shot of me. Or maybe it’s just because it’ll be the first time he’s been away since we made us official. Whatever it is, all I know is that I don’t like it.
“Honey, I’m home,” Cole calls the moment he steps into the apartment.
His duffel hits the floor at the same time I take off running.
He spots me a beat before I launch myself at him.
“Fuck,” he grunts, catching me with ease.
I wrap both my arms and legs around him, squeezing tight.
“Whoa, someone missed me,” he teases before I find his lips.
His mouth opens instantly, kissing me just as eagerly as I am him. A deep groan rumbles in his chest, and it hits me right between the thighs.
I gasp as my back presses against the hallway wall. “I could get used to this,” Cole breathes as he kisses along my jaw and down my neck.
“Missed you,” I pant, my fingers clawing at his broad shoulders.
“Missed you too, baby,” he groans as he palms my ass, grinding himself against me.
“A-are you hungry?” I manage to force out, trying to at least pretend to be professional.
“Fuck, you have no idea how fucking hungry I am right now,” he says as he pins me against the wall with his hips and drags my shirt from my body.
“Cole,” I cry as the fabric hits the floor and his hands cup my lace-covered breasts.
“Starving,” he groans as he tugs the cups of my bra down, exposing my peaked nipples.
He blows a stream of air across them, and they harden further. “Oh god,” I cry, my head hitting the wall behind me.
He groans as he ducks his head and sucks one of my nipples into his mouth.
