Cole (Protecting You, Finding Us), page 2
I was hoping it was going to be a good day, but I should have waited for that assumption until after I got out of bed. It always hits when you least expect it. Some days, I can go for a run and work all day and feel totally fine for days. And other days, I blink and I’m out for the weekend. Today, it takes more effort than it should to put on one of the old T-shirts and a pair of sweats I keep in the bottom drawer of the dresser next to a set of clothes for Levi.
The last time I stayed the night here, I had nothing to wear to bed other than Cole’s clothes. He seemed so irritated to see me in his shirt, so the next day, he insisted that I bring a set of clothes for me and some for Levi just in case we stayed the night again. I didn’t think I’d ever need the clothes because I didn’t plan on staying the night in Cole’s house again. So of course, I brought an old T-shirt that I used to paint in and sweatpants that are a touch too small.
After I’m dressed in my most stylish getup, I hear Cole leave out the front door. I wait a minute, gather my red minidress, heels, and my purse in my hands, and head out of the bedroom into the hall. Turning left would bring me to the living room, so I turn right toward the garage door. The ache in my body just pisses me off, and I try to ignore it, but when Freddy goes sprinting between my legs in the hallway, I lose my balance, and my shoulder hits the wall next to me.
“Steph?” Cole’s voice sends a shock wave through me, and I straighten as I turn my head around and see him at the other end of the hall.
“I thought you left.”
“Are you okay?” He rushes toward me, dominating the space of the hall.
I push my hair behind my ear and readjust the heels dangling from my fingers. “I’m fine! Your damn cat keeps trying to kill me.” I turn back toward the garage door.
“You sure that’s all it is?”
I spin around. “Goddammit, yes.” The second the attitude comes out of my mouth, I feel terrible. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep well, I just want a hot shower, and I’m moody. I didn’t mean to snap. Thanks for getting me last night.”
He nods as he crosses his arms, and I know he watches me walk out of his house. I’m nervous this is going to turn into a flare, and the last thing I need right now is Cole asking questions.
CHAPTER TWO
Cole
I stare out the window at Sunrise Deli, watching the maple leaves dance on their branches that dangle over Main Street as Zayn and Jaxon laugh about something mundane. The sun beats against the redbrick buildings, and I dread having to go back out there when we’re done eating. If someone asked me one thing I hate more than anything else in the world, it’s summer. The Georgia heat isn’t my cup of tea, and I don’t care who gives me shit about it. You’d think after a lifetime of living here that I would be used to it. Not only is it miserable to be outside in what feels like a wet sauna, but the warm weather brings out every fucking short skirt and dress Steph owns. And every goddamn one of them pisses me off. Or drives me crazy. I’m not sure which one because both make me want to take her into my arms and lay claim to her so no other man’s hands would.
I shouldn’t admit that. Not even to myself. Steph is not mine for the taking. Nor will she ever be. Jaxon is like family to me, even though I’ve never once looked at his sister in the same light. I wish I did. It would have prevented many years of longing, heartache, and the undying burden of comparing every woman on Earth to her. When Steph settled down for a short time with Levi’s dad, Isaac, I thought I’d finally be able to let her go. She was happy, and that would be enough to release my heart. It didn’t.
Jaxon wipes his mouth with a napkin before slinging it over his lap. “Where did you say you saw Steph this morning?”
Fuck. I didn’t say where I saw her. “After I picked up cereal. Her phone was dead, so I figured I’d text you before you got worried.” Sometimes, I fucking amaze myself. Not one word in that sentence was a lie. I did pick up cereal…from my kitchen.
“I appreciate that,” Jaxon says, grinning. He seems chipper this morning. He reaches both of his arms out, putting one hand on my shoulder and one on Zayn’s. “Holly and I want to get married before the baby comes.”
Zayn sits up straight in his chair. “That’s great news,” he says with a wide smile.
I set my coffee cup down and rest my elbows on the table. “Couldn’t be happier for you.”
I glance at Zayn, who catches my wink. He slightly rolls his eyes and then aims his focus back on Jaxon. I’m sure he’ll pay me the twenty bucks he owes me later for winning the bet that they’d get married before the baby comes.
“Now, listen,” Jaxon says, dropping his hands from our shoulders as he tilts his head to the left, then to the right, which he does to loosen the tension he gets when his anxiety sneaks up. “I think I’m supposed to ask you in a clever way, but you guys know I’m a basic guy, and I think we all know there’s no one else I’d have at my side than you two and River. I’d love it if you’d all stand up there with me.”
“I wouldn’t miss it, brother,” Zayn says.
“You know I’m there,” I say. “So when are we talking here?” Please be during my aunt’s birthday party…please…it would be the perfect excuse for why I’m not going.
“Have you and Ella decided yet?” Jaxon asks Zayn. “We don’t want to mess up any plans you all might have.”
“It’s not official yet, so don’t go making plans, but we’re thinking it’s going to be during Saige’s winter break from school. I’ll let you guys know as soon as I do, but it won’t be for a few months.”
“Perfect. Then August first.”
“Oh, shit,” I blurt out and take the last sip of my coffee to ease that sandpaper feel when I swallow. Damn, still no excuse.
“That’s only six weeks away,” Zayn says.
“Yep.” Jaxon nods. “Holly wants to get married before she gets too big. Those were her words, not mine. And we want it to be a small event, so I don’t think it’s going to be hard to pull it together. Plus, I have strings I can pull if I need to.”
Zayn and I meet eyes for a moment, and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. Jaxon is about to go all out for Holly in this wedding. Whatever she wants, she’s about to get. Because Jaxon has more money than he knows what to do with, and his heart is even bigger than his pockets.
“Just let us know what we can do,” I say.
“We need to go get tuxes, and probably soon. Can you two and River figure out when you can all take a ride to the city with me, and I’ll make it work whenever it’s best for the three of you.”
“Done,” Zayn says. “I’ll get that set up.”
Jaxon pushes out a sigh. “That’s one thing off my chest.”
“You’ve got more?” I ask.
Jaxon looks around the small deli before bringing his elbows onto the table and leaning in. “I’m a little nervous about Juneberry.”
“What’s wrong with Holly’s shop?” I ask, and Zayn leans in, looking just as concerned as I just got.
“Nothing. Business is booming, and she’s busier than ever. But Kalina is only one other person, and she’s hesitant to hire anyone else. I don’t know what’s going to happen when she needs to take time off for the baby. I wish I could talk her into hiring at least another employee, but after what happened to us in her shop, she trusts people even less than she did before.”
“River mentioned that Kalina is trying to talk her into finding at least a part-time employee too,” Zayn says.
“I’m sure she is. She wants to be home with River when he’s not at the firehouse. The only thing we’ve got going for us is that the baby is due in December, which means it’s the off-season.”
“You know my barbershop is only open until four during the week. If you need me to pitch in at Juneberry, I’ll do it.” I adjust myself in the chair as a large man with a swollen cheek gingerly walks in the front door. I don’t know how he got all the damage to his face because it wasn’t there when we left last night. I can only assume he smarted off to one of the country boys down here. They don’t mess around. As he walks up to the counter holding his head, I pray to God he doesn’t remember my face from last night when I threatened him if he ever came near Steph again. I have no problem making good on that promise, but Jaxon is going to flip out if he finds out what went down.
“We’ll make sure the shop is handled. Between all of us, I’m sure there will be plenty of hands to pitch in when Holly can’t be there,” Zayn chimes in. “But I don’t know how the chicks are going to like us helping them pick out their clothes. Have you seen how this asshole dresses?” Zayn points to me, and I swat at his finger. Then I glance at the man again, who casually looks at me, then walks to a table on the other side of the room. He was either too fucking drunk to remember what anyone looked like last night, or he’s smarter than I thought.
“Joke’s on you. I hardly ever pick out my own clothes.” I lean back in my chair and smirk.
Jaxon laughs. “Yeah, the baby needs Steph to order his jeans. I bet he doesn’t even own anything other than jeans, graphic T-shirts, and those hideous cat pajama pants.”
“How dare you,” I say, placing my hand over my heart as I gasp. “Those pajamas are the epitome of class and elegance.”
Jaxon and Zayn chuckle, and just as quickly, Jaxon’s face pales. “Fuck, there’s a lot happening.”
I reach over and place my hand on Jaxon’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be fine. There’s so much to celebrate. Everyone is happy. That’s all that matters.”
Zayn nods. “Agreed.”
“Are they?” he asks, aiming his glare at me. I look away, hoping he gets the hint that I’m not about to start talking about me here. Only once I move my eyes from Jaxon to the other side of the room, the dude from last night is looking at me. I narrow my eyes briefly before turning back to Jaxon as he continues to speak. “Is everyone happy? Do you have a date for the wedding?”
“We’re not starting this again.” I pick up my phone and unlock the screen to message Steph about Balls still being in town. And to avoid this conversation.
I type fast on the keyboard, but I can feel the burn of a stare. Lifting my head, I lock eyes with the man across the room, and his expression isn’t readable.
“Louis,” Neal, the manager of Sunrise Deli, calls as he holds a brown paper sack over the counter. The adrenaline surges as he rises from the table and walks closer. There’s only so much I can do to keep last night’s events quiet. I have no problem laying this guy out right here if he opens his mouth about Steph. He gives me another glare, and my fists ball up, but he turns to the counter. “Here you go. Have a nice day.”
Interesting. Balls…Louis…I happen to like Balls better. He looks as though he feels like a walking dead man. He touches her ever again, and he’ll lose the walking part.
“Who the fuck is that?” Zayn mumbles.
“What?” I ask, coming out of my daze to see Jaxon and Zayn both staring him down, too, as he walks out.
“Who was that?” Jaxon asks. Shit.
“Looks like someone who doesn’t belong here,” I say, not wanting to lie to my best friend but not wanting to tell a story that isn’t mine to tell.
“I’ve never seen him before.” Jaxon leans back in his chair to watch the man out the window. Airabelle Valley is a tight-knit community, and we know just about everyone in it. “Then again, there’s been so many strangers in town that don’t live here after that damn news station came into town to write that story about what happened to Ella.”
The three of us watch him as he gets into his sports car and takes off down Main Street in the opposite direction of Steph’s house.
While I think their attention is still drawn out of the window, I add more to my text message and send it to Steph.
ME: FYI, I just saw the idiot from last night in Sunrise. He was heading away from your house but keep an eye out. You have a problem, call me immediately.
Within a moment, my phone chimes.
STEPH: At least he didn’t drive last night, I guess. I’m assuming since you’re texting me you’re not in jail so good job.
“Who are you talking to?” Zayn asks, wagging his eyebrows like a moron. “Judging by that smile on your face, looks like it could be a new girl? Maybe one you’ll actually see more than once?”
“Holy shit, maybe I was right. Are you seeing someone?” Jaxon asks.
“Like I wouldn’t tell you if I was. It’s just a friend,” I say, not lying but also not telling the truth because it’s actually kind of fun.
“A friend, huh?” Zayn asks. “What’s her name?”
I look between the two of them staring at me with such hopeful eyes. “Steph,” I say, smiling. But as both of them fall back into their seats, rolling their eyes, the darkness creeps back into my soul.
“Is she home now?” Jaxon asks, and I nod. “Good. I’ll stop by there and talk to her, and then everyone will be caught up with everything. You guys just let me know when we can take a ride to the city.” Jaxon wipes his mouth and stands from the table. He may be putting a smile on his face right now, but I noticed he only ate half of his sandwich, and that’s out of the ordinary for him. It’s not the only indicator I’ve picked up on that he’s stressed, but it’s a worrisome one.
“Don’t worry, this wedding is going to be great,” I say.
“The last thing I’m worried about is marrying her.” He pushes his chair in, flings a hundred-dollar bill on the table, and rushes for the door. Ever since he and Steph sold all the remaining shares of their family’s dynasty, he can’t stand it when we try to pay, and it’s usually a fight between us. We don’t need him to pay every single time. Jaxon gives Zayn and me one last head nod as he walks out of Sunrise.
“So,” Zayn says, casually taking the last drink of his lemonade. “Steph didn’t go home last night, did she?”
“That’s not my fucking business, Zayn.”
I watch him slowly lean back in his chair, draping his arm over the now empty chair next to him. It’s the same position he always takes when he’s about to drill me about something. Zayn and I became close early on in grade school. I don’t remember much from when we were so little, but he would come into school in the same clothes every day. I remember the shirt he wore so vividly. It was a dull blue with a faded basketball on it. He said it was his favorite shirt, and that’s why he wore it every day. We were playing on the playground, and it snagged on a piece of the swing, tearing a huge hole in it. He cried so hard, and I heard him mumble it was the only shirt he had. That night, I went home and put half of the T-shirts I owned in my backpack. I’ll never forget his face when I gave them to him the next day. It was worth the beating I got from my old man for giving away my clothes.
“Saige had an upset stomach last night, so I ran to the gas station to pick up some ginger ale. I saw you get in her car at the bar last night, which means I’m assuming something went down. And judging by the way Jaxon had no idea about it, I’d be willing to bet it wasn’t great. So, spill it. What happened?”
“She had a date with some loser who thought her no meant yes. By the time I showed up, she already had him on the ground, crying about his balls.”
Zayn adjusts forward, leaning his elbows on the table. “Damn it,” he says under his breath. “I’ve tried to be supportive about these dates she goes on, but it’s getting harder and harder with every bad one she has.”
“Tell me about it. But it’s not like we can stop her, Zayn.”
“I know,” he says, blowing out a long, defeated breath. “So she slept at your place, then? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, and she’s fine. She must have been tired, though, because she slept until after eleven.”
“That’s weird.”
“I thought so too,” I say, running the palm of my hand over my scruffy chin. “Anyway, I’ve got to head to the shop. Levi and Isaac are coming for haircuts this afternoon, and I need to get Levi’s stuff situated before he gets there.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to get going, too, so I can make sure we have everything for our new project in the morning. Faith hired us to put in a firepit.”
I slowly stand from my chair and feel Zayn’s eyes move with me. It’s coming. I can hear his words already, and I’d like to hit him in the nose before he even says it. “Zayn, don’t.”
“Mrs. Tetson mentioned Faith still gets a little sparkle in her eye when she sees you around town. I don’t understand why you won’t even try to see if there’s something there.”
“Because I know there isn’t. I’m not into settling down and having a horde of kids. I like being able to hop in my car and disappear for weeks at a time whenever the fuck I want to. I’ve said it a hundred times—I’m happy being alone.”
Zayn bows his head in drowning disappointment as he rises from the table and motions for me to walk in front of him. We head outside and stop in front of our vehicles as he faintly chuckles. “I think you two spend too much time together.”
“Who?”
“You and Steph. Either you’re rubbing off on her, or she’s rubbing off on you. Neither one of you seems to have any desire to settle down anytime soon.”
I pop on my aviator sunglasses and take a step off the curb toward the driver’s side of my car. “Why does it bother you so much?”
“Because I hope you don’t discover too late the things you really wanted out of life. If this is what makes you happy, Cole, then I’ll support you. But I was always under the impression you wanted to be a dad.”
My blood runs cold as an uncomfortable ice settles inside of my chest. “I don’t think I ever said that.”
Zayn walks between our vehicles and peers over the roof of my car. “It was indirect.”
“Really? Tell me. What did I say?”
He hesitates. “Forget it.” Zayn opens his driver’s-side door.
“I never said I wanted kids. So tell me what I said to make you think I do.”
“Fine. I’ll never treat my kids this way. That’s what you said. Over and over and over again. I also saw the way you lit up like the sun when Levi accidentally called you Dada when he was a toddler. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with not wanting to have kids, Cole. I’m just not sure I believe you.”
