Page 63 of Chasin' Cole

“What do you think Cole’s doin’ right now?” I give her a sad smile.

Lacey exhales. "I don't know. Probably trekking through a jungle in search of bright yellow anaconda."

“Or he’s in the Alps, takin’ in all the snowy sights.”

“Do you still miss him?” she asks.

"Doesn't matter," I shrug. "We had our chance, and it didn’t work out."

"He's been gone for a year," Lacey reminds me. "You've changed a lot. Maybe he has, too."

"He talked about this sanctuary in Australia once," I give her a wry smile. "He...I don't know. I pictured myself there. With him. It was the first time I'd ever thought about leavin' this place. Not forever. Just for a trip."

"It's OK to have both roots and wings, Rose," Lacey leans forward and taps my knee.

"I've only ever had roots," I laugh.

"I used to only have wings," Lacey chuckles. “They’d carry me to Rodeo Drive almost every day.”

"Do you ever miss your old life?"

"Not for a second," Lacey shakes her head. “I wouldn’t go back, even if someone paid me to. Some things in life are irreplaceable.”

"Like my horses,” I wink at her. "What would I do with them?"

"You can always take them with you," Lacey flashes her eyebrows at me.

"Well," I sigh, "doesn't matter now."

There's a knock on the cabin door. I sit up and look around. Who would be knockin' this late at night?

Lacey's face cracks into a smile. "You sure about that?"

"What have you done?" I whisper-yell at her.

She hops up from her seat beside me and nudges Brock on the shoulder. "Baby, it's time to head to bed."

"Lace!" I quietly holler at her. "Who's at the door?"

She winks at me. "You better go find out. We're going to bed."

I exhale heavily. "I hope it's not—"

Knock, knock, knock.

"Go get the door," Lacey bluntly states as she cradles a sleepin' Annabeth in her arms. "You never lost your chance, Rose. It was just...delayed a bit. Until you knew what you really wanted."

Brock squeezes my shoulder as he shuffles past me. "Get the door, Sis."

I take a deep breath before throwin' the blanket off me and standin'. I smooth down the sweatshirt I'm wearin' before walkin' over to the door. My heart pounds like horses hooves on the green plains.

My hand grips the cold handle. I turn it and lick my lips nervously. When his dark, charcoal eyes come into view, I nearly faint from how much I've missed him.

I stare at him as he stares back at me, his face serene and peaceful. A few snowflakes dot his dark, inky hair as the soft yellow glow from the front porch light fills his face. His handsome face dotted with stubble. He must have hopped on a plane and come right here.

"Hi," I finally say, breakin' the silence.

"Hi," he replies. "I didn't realize you would—"

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