Page 34 of This Means War

Cole, however, does not stay home and wonder what me and the fourteen girls on my track team are up to. Instead, he shows up at the track about halfway through the meet. My heart does an unwelcome flip-flop in my chest as I catch sight of him sliding into one of the bleacher rows. He’s looking impossibly good in dark wash jeans and a V-neck t-shirt. I force myself to avert my gaze before he catches me staring.

His presence here unnerves me, and not just because I’m worried he’s here to play a prank on me, but also because I want him to be impressed by my coaching. Which is stupid. I coach middle school track and field. Whether they win or lose this meet is of very little consequence to anyone outside of our eight-school conference. Cole thinks I didn’t get into law school though, so it would be nice for him to see me do well at something.

I wish I could sit him down and explain about law school, but I don’t think he would understand. Not even Jamie knows the truth. She is forever telling me that she’s sure God has a plan for me despite me not getting into law school. Which, of course, is true, but what she doesn’t seem to grasp is that in my heart I know God’s plan for me has nothing to do with law school. I don’t know where exactly He wants me to be, but I do know He doesn’t want me wandering the ivy halls of Vanderbilt Law School. That’s why I lied and told everyone I didn’t get in. I knew if I told my parents that I just didn’t want to go, they wouldn’t accept it. They would’ve found a way to make me go. And even though I’ve had to endure their constant disappointment in me ever since, it’s still better than ending up on a job path I never wanted.

Tisha takes her place at the start line for the 200-meter dash, and I pull my attention back to her.

“Relax your shoulders, Tisha,” I call to her and see her visibly try to move her shoulders down.Tisha is naturally fast, but she tends to get anxious before races and forget about her form. “You got this, Tisha!”

The starting gun goes off, and she shoots down her lane. Behind me her teammates join me in cheering her on. As she crosses the finish line in first place our cheering gets even louder. In the stands the Faith parents join in. My traitorous eyes search out Cole, widening as they take him in. He’s standing with the rest of our fan base, cheering loudly, his fist pumping the air.

Tears unexpectedly fill my eyes, and I shake my head to clear them. It’s stupid to have this reaction, it’s just…I’ve never had someone cheer for me like that before.

It’s not that I had a tragic childhood. I grew up with wealthy parents who cared about me and told me they loved me on regular occasions. They paid for me to do any extracurricular activities I wanted and showed up to my sporting events whenever their work schedules allowed. But the most effusive cheering I ever got from them was the nod of approval my dad gave me from the stands after I won first place in the 200-meter dash at state finals. Afterwards, he told me if I’d pumped my arms a little faster, I could’ve shaved half a second off my time. They’re not cheerleaders. They’re critics. Cole is over there whooping like his team just won the Super Bowl.

His gaze travels over to me, and he grins. I can’t help it; I grin back.

Cole is waiting for me by the exit to the track after the meet. “Great job today, Coach.” He offers me his fist for a bump. I meet his knuckles with mine and try to pretend that this simple contact doesn’t affect me. In truth it sends shivers of pleasure down my arms. I chock this down to me still feeling sentimental about his crazy cheering.

“What can I say?” I tell him. “We had a pretty good cheering section.”

He doesn’t flush or try and play off his overzealous cheering, just lifts his chin in acknowledgment.

“I’m surprised that you’re up and walking after our run this morning,” I tease, hoping to take away some of the significance of the gratitude I just expressed. No need for me to get weepy on him or something.

Cole opens his mouth to answer, but a familiar voice interrupts.

“Lydia? Cole?” I whirl around to see Josh approaching, looking confused as his gaze moves back and forth between me and Cole.

“Josh!” I exclaim in a squeak. “What’re you doing here?”

“I came to find you of course.” He stops a few feet short of us, still looking wary. “I stopped by your apartment, and Jamie said you had a meet today so you’d be at the school.”

“Oh.” I squirm under his gaze. “I actually meant what are you doing here in Michigan?”

His posture relaxes slightly and he smiles. “Actually, I have some exciting news.” Josh rubs his hands together. “At the wedding Grandma spoke to Delia and I about giving us the Robin’s Nest.”

“What?” My mouth drops open. Growing up we used to spend a few weeks of every summer in Grand Haven at Robin’s Nest, our grandparents’ bed and breakfast. It was during those weeks that I fell in love with Michigan. It’s why I was so thrilled to get a running scholarship to Hope College. Why I stayed here after graduating. “Josh, that’s amazing!”

“Yeah.” Josh grins. “We couldn’t believe it. It’s a dream come true for us.”

Josh and Delia met at the luxury hotel where they both work, him as the executive chef and her as the general manager. They’ve always wanted to open their own place. Grandma giving them her bed and breakfast really is their dream come true.

“So you’re moving here to Michigan?” I confirm.

“We are.” He nods. “We came up here this weekend to look at houses. Delia’s at the Robin’s Nest right now with an inspector, but I wanted to drive out here and surprise you. We thought you might want to go to dinner with us to celebrate.” Josh looks back over at Cole, some of his excitement dimming as he addresses him. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you out here, Cole. Delia and I were going to make a stop in Holland tomorrow, but if you and Ashley are free tonight you could join us for dinner too.”

Annoyance flickers across Cole’s face as a chill runs through me. Why would Josh think Ashley would want to join them for dinner? “Josh, youknow Ashley and I aren’t together anymore,” Cole tells him.

“Oh.” Josh touches his forehead, like he’s an idiot for not remembering. I don’t buy it for a second. “I forgot. You two always seem to be breaking up and getting back together. Plus, she told Delia at the wedding that you two were talking about starting things up again. I just assumed you had.”

Josh is looking straight at Cole as he speaks, but I can tell his words are meant for me. He’s the big brother warning me away from Cole. My hand goes involuntarily to my stomach. Too bad he’s too late. My happy glow from a few minutes ago fades, then flickers out completely.

“Well, we haven’t. And I don’t plan on getting back together with her,” Cole states.

This should strike a chord of victory in me, but the words fall short. Where’s the emphasis and the conviction? Honestly Taylor Swift could’ve made it sound more convincing. We are never, ever, ever getting back together and all that.

“We’ll see,” Josh replies easily, but the tension beneath his words is clear. “Anyway, what are you doing out here in Grand Haven with my little sister, Cole?”

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