Out of the Shadow Read Free

other on the weekends and some of those weekends had found Cole in L.A. with the rest of the band, working on the CD which they’d released in the early spring.
    But they’d made it work and he’d been proud of how grown up they’d seemed. They’d learned from past mistakes and talked out any problems that had cropped up and understood that they were going to be separated from time to time.
    But they hadn’t been this far apart for this long in their entire lives. And it bugged him just like he knew it was bugging her. It spawned a burning desire inside of him to step things up and take their relationship to the next level – one he wasn’t certain that they were ready for just yet.
    He’d visited a jeweler outside of San Francisco and contemplated an engagement ring but RJ, who’d tagged along for the fun of it, had reasoned with him, reminding him that Ally had just graduated high school and already enrolled in college.
    “ Wait at least six months, man,” RJ had urged. “Or a year. Let her get some college experience in so she can make an educated decision.”
    He’d been exactly right, even though Cole had hated to admit it. So, he settled for something a little more appropriate and couldn’t wait to see her again so he could give it to her.
    He dialed her number, deciding that he’d leave a message if she was still out practicing and had her phone off – she’d call him back as soon as she was finished. But she surprised him by answering on the first ring.
    “ Hi, Cole,” she said, a smile in her voice. “Everything okay?”
    “ Yeah, princess,” he said, his heart flipping. He pulled his legs on the bunk and stretched out, folding his free arm under his head. “How was practice?”
    “ Don’t call me princess,” she gently chastised. “And practice was fine. The team is coming together nicely and I think we have a real shot at winning this thing.”
    “ That’s great,” he said as he closed his eyes and pictured her in her warm-up gear, her dark hair secured in a ponytail behind her head. “First game is coming up pretty quick, huh?”
    “ Yes,” she said slowly. “I’m hoping I’ll have a cheering section – you know, besides my parents.”
    “ You will,” he laughed. “My dad and Stacy will be there.”
    “ I meant you and RJ and James,” she huffed. “You know that.”
    “ I’m trying, Al,” he said, his voice softening. “You know I want to be there more than anything.”
    “ I know,” she said, her breath whistling in the phone. “I just miss you, that’s all. I miss you the most, of course, but I miss RJ and Jamie, too.”
    He’d known all along that the summer would be toughest on her. She loved her friends like they were close members of her family and she wilted a little every day they were separated. “We’ll all be together soon, don’t worry.”
    “ Not soon enough,” she whined, sounding exactly like a tired child.
    “ Hey, listen,” he said. “This tour will be over soon and then RJ and I will be home. You and James will be running off to college. We’ll all get together every weekend possible, just like we did last year. Just think about that, okay?”
    “ Okay,” she said, mollified for the moment. “But I’ll get to see you this weekend, right?”
    He smiled at the hopeful note in her voice. “Yes, you will. If I don’t make it to the Friday night game, I’ll make it to a Saturday game.”
    “ I can’t wait,” she said, suddenly cheerful. “I’m counting down the hours.”
    He chuckled, his heart full of affection. The bus lurched to a stop and he sat up to glance out the window. “Hey, Al, we’re at the hotel. I gotta get going, okay? I’ll try to give you a call later tonight.”
    “ Okay,” she said. “I love you, Cole.”
    “ I love you, too,” he said and snapped the phone shut just as RJ opened the accordion door and peeked his head around the corner.
    “ You ready, man?” he asked.
    Cole jumped off the bunk, some