Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Cole

Fuck! It’s never bothered me that Layla and I broke up over three months ago and didn’t go public with it. We’ve just never confirmed or denied it. She didn’t want the media to twist the narrative and make her image worse. But I think it’s time we lay it out in the open.

Why do I care if she thinks I’m not single?

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I walk up the stairs to the apartment over the garage to drop off Adriana’s items. I open the door and clear my throat to give the girls a heads up.

“Where would you like these?” asking her to be nice.

“Can you please put them in the living room?”

I nod, going to place them where she requested before coming back to the kitchen. “I’m heading out. Heather, can you give Adriana my number in case she needs something, and you guys aren’t around?” Asking with a smile. “Welcome to your new home.”

“Yes, that is a great idea! I’ll text it over to you.” Heather says. Adriana’s phone vibrates in her pocket a second later.

“Thank you so much for picking me up and making sure I ate. Much appreciated.” Adriana says to me.

“You are very welcome. Happy to help. I’ll see y’all later for dinner.” I say, walking out of the kitchen.

Once back in my truck, I make my way back to my apartment to continue packing and have a shower. Heather came in clutch with the dinner invitation. It’s one less thing for me to worry about tonight.

What was I thinking of deciding to move when the season was just starting?

Am I excited to be living next door to my brother and my sister-in-law? Hell yes, and it just got even better with my other new neighbor. Ty and Heather are planning to have kids sooner rather than later. We all know that I’m going to be the most amazing kick-ass uncle ever, so it just makes sense for me to live close by. The house next door being for sale at the same time felt like fate.

Unfortunately, it’s just us left. Our parents passed away four years ago in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. When it happened, Ty was twenty-seven, and I was twenty-four. I don’t know what I would have done without my brother. He was and continues to be my rock and best friend. Being able to play for the same team and be there for all the good and bad life has to offer is a blessing and has helped us heal from that loss.

Making it home, I park my truck and take the elevator up to the fifth floor.

Once in my apartment, my eyes look around and see there are boxes everywhere. Yeah, I don’t want to deal with that yet. Instead, I go to my bedroom to finish packing up what is not used daily.

“Cole, where you at?” my brother calls out. He got here sooner than I thought he would.

“In my bedroom.” I shout.

Ty walks in and looks at me with a sheepish grin. “What is with that grin?”.

“Oh, nothing. Just happy that you’ll be living next door and I’ll have a front-row seat to your life, little brother.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh, you know just that Heather is giving the down low on you since Adriana asked about you.” He responds.

“Okay, and that means a front row for what?” I hedge.

“For when you fall. Heather told me how you didn’t even flinch when she asked you to pick Adriana up from the airport for her. And don’t forget you asked when she was coming too.” Ty says sheepishly and blows me a kiss.

“What are you doing here again?” Ignoring everything he said and throwing a pillow at his head instead.

“Just left the stadium and thought I’d stop by to see how picking Adriana up went.”

“It was fine. She seems like cool people.” I say, answering him.

My phone rings and I look down and see it’s my agent, our agent, Art.

“It’s Art, I have to grab it.” I tell Ty. He waves at me and mouths, see you soon.

“Hey Art, what’s going on?” answering my phone.

Art beats me to speaking about going public about the breakup with Layla. Apparently, she met someone and wants to be seen with him. We will let the world know that we broke up three months ago and took time to be on our own. I told Art that was good with me and thanked him for coordinating the statements. With that taken care of, my need for a shower takes over so I can get dressed and head back over to Ty and Heather’s for dinner.