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heart raced as he tried to decide what to do. Would she want to cry alone or did she need consolation?
    Finally, he gave into his own needs. There was no way he could lay here and listen to the woman he cared about crying.
    He climbed the stairs and opened the door slowly. He could barely make out her trembling form on his bed through the darkness.
    “Ellie,” he whispered, walking toward the bed.
    She sniffled and he listened to her try to hold back her tears.
    “Shit. Don’t do that, baby.” He pulled the covers down and crawled in next to her. She froze for a moment and then she curled into his embrace, freeing the tears she’d been holding back.
    He held her tightly, letting her cry out her fears, her anxieties. He tried to whisper soothing things, knowing nothing he could say would change the fact that she’d just dodged one hell of a scary bullet.
    “It’s going to be okay. You’re safe here, Ellie. I’ll always protect you. I promise.”
    She didn’t respond. Instead, she clung to him tighter. He stroked her soft hair, rubbed her back consolingly.
    After several long minutes, her crying grew softer and soon her breathing evened out. He tilted his head until he could see her face. She’d fallen asleep.
    He considered heading downstairs to sleep on the couch, but he dismissed the idea as soon as it popped into his mind. Instead, he tightened his hold on her and closed his own eyes, letting the slow rise and fall of her chest lull him into peaceful slumber.

Chapter Four
    Second Quarter
    Trey watched the last car pull out of the parking lot and released a loud whoop. Ellie laughed at his response.
    “You’re insane.”
    He shook his head. “Not insane. A winner.” He picked Ellie up and spun her around as she giggled and demanded he put her down. To say their basketball season had gotten off to a rocky start would be an understatement. They’d lost the first three games in a row—miserably.
    Tonight—finally—something had clicked for his girls and they’d managed to come back from a twelve-point deficit to win during an away game. He’d known going in to the season, his team wasn’t likely to see the level of success they’d enjoyed in previous years. His players were too young—three of his starters only sophomores—but they had raw talent and drive. With Ellie at his side on the bench, he was starting to think the season wouldn’t be as abysmal as he’d feared. She was a great teacher, but she was an amazing coach.
    “Come on,” she said. “It’s getting late.”
    Alone in the parking lot, Trey followed Ellie to her car. She didn’t chastise him for the act. In fact, he was fairly certain she’d gotten used to his over protectiveness. It had been a month and a half since the break-in at her house. Since then, Trey had insisted on following her home every single night and escorting her to her door. He’d spent an entire Saturday installing stronger locks on all her windows and doors.
    He’d promised to pack her up and move her himself if she’d sign a lease on an apartment in a better neighborhood, but she’d stuck to her excuses for staying put—claiming lack of money and time as her main reasons.
    She’d just reached her car when his happiness bubbled over. Unable to resist, he turned her around, before pushing her against the car and kissing her lightly. It was meant to be friendly, quick buss, but once Trey got there, he found himself lingering, her lips too irresistible. “I’m pumped up. Too excited. There’s no way I can go home and go to bed,” he murmured against her lips. “Let’s celebrate somewhere. Go dancing.”
    Ellie pushed away and for a moment, he thought she was going to reject him. He hadn’t kissed her in months, not since that night at Bristols at the beginning of the school year.
    “It’s a Tuesday night. There’s nowhere in town to dance. Besides, I have an idea. The perfect way to celebrate. Can we go to your house?”
    He nodded, shocked by her