Page 32 of No Going Back

He shakes his head fast. “Her mom’s nurse said she just came back for a trip.” His voice breaks again. “Cole… she dropped out of college weeks ago.”

I pull back, frowning, holding his face. “Wait… what?”

He nods, face crumpling again.

I laugh in complete shock and disbelief. “Hannah? We’re talking about the same person, right?”

He nods, tears spilling fresh.

I shake my head. “Hannah lied to you? She came back here to… to get knocked up and then fuck off again?”

He sobs hard, broken, and falls forward into my chest.

Fuck. Why would she do that? What the hell has gotten into her? I pray to God she’s not pregnant from this ‘trip.’

Remy’s voice is muffled against my shirt. “I’m sorry, Cole… I didn’t know…”

He’s breathing hard, panicked still, clearly terrified I think he planned this.

I stroke his back in slow circles. “This isn’t your fault, Remy. Fuck… I can’t believe this.”

He shifts, straddles my lap properly, and wraps himself around me. Not sexual, just close. “Please believe that I don’t want her. I had no idea. I swear to God, Cole.”

I nod into his shoulder. “I believe you.”

He lets out a relieved, sad little laugh, half-sob. I hold him tighter, stroking his back, shushing him softly, rocking him gently until his breathing evens out.

Then I pull back just enough to look at him. “How do you want to handle this?”

He shakes his head fast. “I want her gone. I never want to see her again.”

I nod. “Okay. But if she’s not in class… where the fuck is she?”

He shrugs, still on my lap, face to face now. Wipes his hoodie sleeve across his eyes and nose, face red and tear streaked. “I don’t even know.”

I can’t help it… I reach up, wipe the tear tracks off his cheeks with my thumbs. He leans into one of my hands like it’s the only thing keeping him upright.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “About last night.”

I shake my head. “I had no right to be mad. She’s still technically your girlfriend.”

He frowns. “I was only hard because of you.”

I blink, just staring, not expecting him to say that.

“That’s why my eyes were closed…” He swallows hard. “Cole… I was picturing you the whole time.”

I grin suddenly, stupid, even though the whole thing is fucked up. Because yeah… he shouldn’t have been inside her at all, but knowing he was thinking of me instead? That pleases some possessive, petty part of me I didn’t know I had.

Remy raises his brows at my grin.

I shrug. “Just… please promise me… no sympathy sex with anyone, you idiot.”

He nods fast. “I promise. I’m sorry.”

“Good.” I lean in close, voice low. “Unless it’s me.”

He laughs, shaky but closer to real relief this time.