We pull up outside Denny’s, and Cole turns off his truck. Then, he reaches over to my side and flips down the glove box. I catch the smell of his hair, freshly showered and washed, and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I must be losing my mind because the thought of Cole, naked in the shower, has me heating up. What I wouldn’t give to watch the water droplets fall from his body.I wonder what he looks like completely naked?Just as I imagine tracing one of the water droplets down his chest with my tongue, I hear him clear his throat.
My cheeks heat when I turn to look at him and see him smirking at me. “Take a picture; it lasts longer.” I’m snarky, but he doesn’t bite. Instead, he hands me the little package he took from the glove box. I take the square gift box, no bigger than a phone, from him. The box itself is white, with pink and blue flowers decorating it all around.
“Open it.” He sounds nervous, so I put him out of his misery and open it. When I do, my hand flies to my mouth, and tears pool in my eyes.
“Oh my god, Cole. This is beautiful.” My voice is barely a whisper.
Inside is a half-pink, half-blue photo frame surrounded by balloons and bears, and inside the frame is Peanut’s scan picture. I trace my finger over the image, still in awe that this little Peanut is growing inside of me.
“Is it okay?”
“Cole, it’s beautiful and thoughtful. I love it so much.” My watery smile wavers. I feel myself starting to fall for this man even more. The love I have for him has grown into something…more. Something I can’t fully put into words. If only he felt the same.
He gets out of his truck, oblivious to my internal monologue, and helps me out.
I look around nervously, expecting to see Ted, but then I remind myself that Brimcrest is a big town and he won't necessarily be at the same place as I am. So we head into the diner and take a seat at our usual spot.
Like the little creep I am, I watch Cole instead of looking at the menu. We do this every time we come here. I sit and wait impatiently for Cole to decide he’s going to get the same thing he always gets. He likes to browse the menu in case he changes his mind. The thought makes me snort out loud, and Cole’s head snaps up.
“Something funny, Wild Cat?” The way he uses my old nickname makes my stomach flutter.
“I was just thinking that it’s funny how you sit there and browse the menu when you already know…” I trail off when I notice who just walked through the door.Ted.
Cole turns around, his brow creasing before he looks back at me. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I shake my head. I did not want this to happen. I did not want Cole to meet Ted; that realisation crashes into me. Ted is the walking, talking, very real person I made a baby with, and now he’s about to crash into this non-date I have with my best friend.
“Let’s go somewhere else,” I practically beg Cole, but he isn’t moving a muscle. He only nods once.
“Don’t worry about it.” Four words, that’s all he says to me.
Ted reaches our booth, his eyes narrowing as they look down at me. He gives Cole a haughty once-over before turning his hateful eyes on me. “You have got to be kidding me. I thought I told you that I wasn’t interested?”
Usually, the Wild Cat would scratch and bite his head off, but lately, I’m more House Cat. So I sit there not saying a thing, my cheeks flaming as shame courses through me. He carries on talking, but I can’t hear the words as I block them out, before I realise what’s happening.
Cole is standing outside the booth and towering over Ted. He grips the front of his shirt and yanks him forward as he says something low in his ear.
My ears are ringing as the room starts to spin. Sweat beads on the back of my neck, and my hands begin to tingle. That’s when I hear it.
“She’s obsessed with me!”
“Say that again, I beg you.” Cole’s voice is low and dangerous. Something I have never heard from him before.
Ted must sense the change and shift in power because he immediately backs down and starts to tap Cole on his shoulders. “Yeah, it’s all good, bro. Don’t worry, my mistake.”
“I’m not your fucking bro.” Cole lets go of him, and he scurries off in the opposite direction. I don’t realise I’m crying till heleans down and gently swipes my tears away with his thumb. Taking my hand, he helps me up, and we leave.
He doesn’t talk to me as he helps me in the truck and buckles me in. He storms around the other side and gets in himself, puts on his belt and starts it up.
“Cole?” I want to make sure he’s OK, because right now he looks livid.
“Lace, please, just give me a minute. I’m not mad at you, but if I have to see your face fall like it did in there, I’m going to go back into Denny’s, find that prick, and rip his fucking head off.” His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel, and I chance putting my hand over the top of his.
“I’m okay, Cole, I promise you.” Something in my voice must click within him, and he releases his grip ever so slightly.
“Do you still want all of the food?” He cracks a smile when he looks at me, and I nod. “Okay. I discovered a place this week that I think you will love. Do you feel up to a bit of a drive?”
“So long as I can pick the music.” Before he can say no, I’m already switching the music to my playlist, and as the tune ofGreasefills the car.
