“Thanks Daddy!” Bri took the card and hugged her dad again. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Pumpkin. Just do me a favor, and don’t go crazy with that thing!”
Connor had to get to the airport to catch his flight home, so he followed Bri back to her dorm to say goodbye. Bri felt tears roll down her cheeks as she hugged him.
“I’m so proud of you, Bri. There is no doubt in my mind that you can do anything you set your mind to. Now, go and make your dreams happen.” He kissed her head and climbed into his car. “Oh, and don’t forget to call home every once in a while! I love you, Ambria.”
“Love you too, Dad.” Bri waved goodbye, and walked back up to her room, ready to start this new phase of her life.
Chapter 30
Dance practice started on Monday, and Bri’s life quickly fell into a predictable pattern. She had practices every morning, with weight training and cardio twice a week. Even though she felt busy, she still seemed to have plenty of free time. Too much free time. She almost couldn’t wait until classes started.
She spent her spare time exploring the beautiful Duke campus, and looking for Cole. It hadn’t taken much digging to find out that the basketball team was on campus already, and where their dorms were. They were a little ways down from where Bri lived, and she began taking walks down that way whenever she could, hoping to see him.
One day, after quite a few walk byes, fortune finally smiled on her. She spotted Cole leaving his dorm with another guy, who she guessed was his roommate. They were talking and laughing as they walked away, and didn’t notice her standing there. Bri’s heart began pounding as she watched Cole from across the commons. She stood rooted to her spot, unable to decide if she should run and hide, or if she should chase after him, screaming his name. But, before she could force her brain and body into action, Cole disappeared around a corner. Her moment of opportunity was gone.
Seeing him again sent all of her emotions spinning, and added that much more urgency in her. She needed him back. Now. She didn’t want to waste another day without him. She was tired of feeling like only half of herself. She needed to feel whole again.
The problem was she needed the right opportunity. She didn’t want to just show up at his door like some stalker, which admittedly, she kind of was. No, she needed something that would prove that she was really here, and invested for the long run. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to come up with anything plausible yet. So, she’d have to be patient a little longer. She really loathed patience right now. But she may only get one chance to get Cole back, and she didn’t want to waste it.
Finally, after so much time spent waiting, the perfect opportunity to talk to Cole presented itself. News had spread about a party the soccer and lacrosse teams were throwing Saturday night in the commons outside their dorms. Bri received confirmation from Stephanie, who was their resident social butterfly, that the basketball team would be attending, and her mind began racing with the possibilities.
Since it was the first official party of the year, new outfits were definitely in order. So Friday, after practice, Bri, Addison, Stacie, and Stephanie all piled into Bri’s Jeep and headed to the mall. Bri was pretty sure her dad wouldn’t be too upset with her for buying clothes with her credit card. Clothes were incidentals, after all.
After a Layla-esc shopping marathon, Bri bought two outfits, unable to decide which would be best. She wanted to look perfect for Cole, but couldn’t decide if she should go dressy and sophisticated, or cute and casual. Too much was riding on this to mess it up. Unable to come to decision, Bri realized she needed an outside opinion, and there was only one person she trusted with something this important. Laying out both outfits, she snapped a picture and sent it off with a quick text to Layla.
Help, I need you! Going to my first Duke party tomorrow night. Cole will be there, and this will be the first time he’s seen me in months. I want to make an impression without looking like I’m trying too hard. I’m in desperate need of your expert fashion advice!
A few minutes later, Bri’s phone rang. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Layla.
“Hi, Lay! Thanks for calling me back. I’m seriously going crazy here, and can’t decide what to wear. What do you think, which outfit would be best?”
“Both outfits are great, Bri. But,” Bri could hear the hesitancy in Layla’s voice. “If you want to make an impression, then make an impression! You need to make him remember what you two had together, and what he’s been missing. My advice, don’t hold back. Throw everything you’ve got at him. You may only get one shot, use everything to your advantage.”