Out of the Shadow Read Online Free

bite to eat, and then the show.”
    She laughed at his rambling. “Wow, I guess I have nothing to complain about.”
    “ Nah, princess,” he said. She heard a click and then heard him suck in a deep breath. He was smoking, she was sure. “You’ve worked hard.”
    “ Are you smoking Cole Nathan?” she demanded.
    “ Um, maybe,” he said. He sighed. “Fine, I’ll put it out. Happy?”
    “ I thought you were going to quit,” she pouted. “It’s an ugly, filthy habit.”
    “ I will,” he relented. “Promise.”
    “ Fine,” she said. “Thank you.”
    “ I have to go,” he said. “I’ll try to call you before your game tomorrow but if not, good luck. I love you.”
    “ Good luck tonight,” she said. “I love you, too.”
    She hung up and fell on her pillows, a sad little smile on her face. She kept telling herself just a few more days and she’d see him again. She closed her eyes, remembering the day she’d kissed him goodbye when he’d dropped her off at the softball complex back in Illinois about six weeks ago. Two days later, he’d boarded a tour bus and took off across the country, opening for a couple different bands and putting in appearances in popular clubs.
    “ Just a couple more days,” she repeated as Lisa stormed into the room.
    “ Hey,” Lisa said, pausing to frown. “Are you all right? Is something wrong with your boyfriend?”
    Ally sat up and shook her head. “No, he’s fine. What’s up?”
    Lisa continued to frown as she sank to the bed next to Ally. She concentrated her gaze on Ally’s face until she was satisfied Ally was being truthful. “Okay. Oh!” she exclaimed as her face lit up. “Sorry. Um, there’s some guy outside who says he knows you. I told him I was your roommate and he asked me to come get you.”
    “ Some guy?” Ally asked, puzzled. A brief bolt of excitement shot through her heart but she quelled it quickly. It couldn’t possibly be Cole – he was in Sacramento. She knew that for a fact. “Did he say who he was?”
    “ No,” Lisa said slowly, something akin to worry on her face. “We were standing outside, talking, and he came up to us and asked if we knew you. I said I was your roommate and he asked me if I’d come get you.” The worry was replaced briefly with a flash of confusion. “He said something weird – something about telling his cuz to get out there and that he wasn’t waiting forever.”
    Ally jumped off the bed, excitement raging through her blood. “No way!” She grabbed Lisa’s arm and dragged her out of the room. She pushed through the doors and spotted him, charming her teammates. She released Lisa and ran to him, jumping on his back. “James!”
    He waited for her to slip off his back before turning to face her, grinning madly. “Hey, cuz! How are you?”
    The smile wouldn’t leave her face as she continued to beam at him, overjoyed by his presence. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I’ve missed you, James!”
    “ Great,” he muttered, prying her arms loose. “Can’t breathe!”
    She stepped back, only slightly embarrassed, and continued to grin. “What are you doing here?”
    “ I thought I’d come watch you try to play ball,” he smirked.
    Ally’s teammates watched the exchange, half amused and half confused, but Ally paid them no mind. She was too happy to see her cousin.
    “ I thought you were at football camp?” she asked.
    “ It ended Wednesday. I flew out this morning,” he said, shrugging. “Mom, Dad, and Trevor will be here tonight.”
    “ Great,” Ally said. She glanced at Lisa who still seemed sort of confused. “Oh, did you meet my friends?”
    His smirk widened as he rolled his eyes, reminding her so much of Cole and RJ. “Of course I did. Come on, cuz, you know me better than that!”
    “ Of course,” she replied dryly.
    “ Hey, can you leave or are you stuck here?” he asked. “I passed this pizza place and I’m craving a slice.”
    “ Let’s get out