Page 113 of Rookie Moves

One new voicemail, and it’s from Colby.

I quickly hit the Play button to listen and bring my phone to my ear. The second I hear his voice, my throat turns thick.

Fuck, I’ve missed him so much.

He talks about Beau Rousseau, and I let out a quiet snort of laughter, imagining him trying to play it cool. But then I hear those three words leave his lips, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

I didn’t mean for this to go on as long as it did. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I can’t dwell on it anymore. I can’t change what’s happened, but I can make a difference going forward.

I can be the guy Colby needs and make sure he never doubts how important he is to me again.

The sound of heels clicking against the shiny floors has my eyes shooting open, and they land on a blond woman in a dazzling navy blue dress heading toward me.

She’s grinning with a wild expression in her eyes, and it takes my brain a second to piece together the similarities.

“Callie?” I ask, making sure it’s really her, as I’ve only seen her in photos.

“Tyler!” She beams, then wraps her arms around me in a bone-crushing hug. “I can’t believe you’re here! Colby is going to be over the moon.”

My laugh comes out as a cough, and I hug her back.

“Really? You don’t think he’s going to be mad at me for turning up unannounced?”

She shakes her head firmly. “No, absolutely not. He’s going to be so happy you’re here.”

As soon as I booked my flight, I messaged Callie and asked for her help. I wanted to surprise Colby but not take away from this special moment in his career. She managed to snag an extra ticket, then let me know what hotel they were staying at and when he would be leaving.

“How fast can you get changed?” she asks as we walk to the elevator banks.

“Five minutes?” I reply, pointing to my suit bag draped over the top of my suitcase. “Ten, max.”

“Great. There’s a car picking us up in fifteen.”

“Didn’t they ask why you couldn’t go with them?”

“No, I just said I was running late and I’d meet them over there,” she says with a shrug.

I follow her into the elevator, my heart pounding with adrenaline.

“They left ten minutes ago because Colby is expected for the red carpet walk, but the doors open at six.”

My eyes widen in surprise. I forgot he’ll be expected to do that as a top prospect.

“Red carpet walk? I bet he’s hating that.”

Callie snickers. “Yep. It didn’t help that my mom has been pleading for him to get a haircut for weeks, but he’s been in his sad boy summer mood. She’s lucky he was even taking a shower.”

My face falls as pain laces through me at her words, stealing my breath from my throat.

“Hey,” she says softly and takes a step forward. “He’s okay. I’m sure you’ve been in your sad boy summer too.”

Her smile is crooked, and I give a small nod.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

The doors open to the sixteenth floor, and she leads me down the hall to her room.

“Colby’s in that one,” she says, pointing to the door next to hers. “My parents are in a suite further up. I’ll wait for you out here. Leave your bag in there, and we’ll sort it later.”