Page 6

For maybe thirty seconds, standing at that register with Gabriel blocking Cole out like it was nothing, I didn't want to smooth anything over. I wanted to let someone else be the wall for once.

And now I'm going to pay for it.

I call Cole because not calling him will only make it worse.

He answers on the first ring.

"About fucking time."

"I'm sorry," I say immediately. Automatically. "My shift just ended—"

"Don't give me that shit, Paige. You've been ignoring me for two hours."

"I was working. I can't be on my phone during my shift, you know that!"

"You could've taken a break. You could've done something instead of leaving me sitting there wondering what the hell is going on with you."

I close my eyes. Grip the steering wheel with my free hand. "Nothing's going on. That guy was just…"

"Just what?" Cole's voice rises. "Just some random asshole who decided to get in my face for no reason? And you didn't say a single word to defend me. You just stood there like I was the one in the wrong."

"You were blocking the lane…"

"I was visiting my girlfriend at work!" He's shouting now. Full volume. I pull the phone slightly away from my ear. "I was trying to be nice, trying to surprise you, and you let some tattooed piece of shit talk to me like I'm nobody. Do you have any idea how that made me look?"

"Cole—"

"Do you know him? Is that what this is?"

"What? No. He's just a customer!"

"A customer who thinks he can defend you?"

"I don’t know! He comes twice a week and that’s it!"

"So, you do know him."

"Not like you’re imagining."

"Right. So, some guy you barely know decides to play hero and you just let him?"

"I didn't let him do anything. I was trying to finish my shift—"

"You embarrassed me, Paige."

The shift in his tone makes my chest tighten. Quiet now. Somehow worse than the shouting.

"I'm sorry," I say again.

"You should be." He exhales slowly. Gathering himself. "We need to talk about this. I'll pick you up from work. Day after tomorrow."

It's not a question.

"Okay," I whisper.

"And Paige?" His voice softens. Almost gentle. "I love you. You know that, right? I just don't appreciate being disrespected in public. Especially not by my own girlfriend."

"I know."