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“I agree to disagree on that one. Your family isn’t known for being chivalrous, shall we say with women.”
“My father has been married and faithful to my mother for almost forty years. Walker is in a committed relationship with Hope’s best friend. JD, while he certainly enjoyed being young and stupid, has slowed down considerably since he came back to New York. And of all people who should be calling out my family for their way with women, it shouldn’t be you.”
“We aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about you and Hope and what your intentions are with her. If you’re just playing with her, if you’re going to push her aside when you get bored, then do it now. Don’t drag anything out. She deserves better than that.”
I could understand brotherly concern, I could admire his gumption coming into my office, but I didn’t like that he was insulting me with his comments.
“What makes you think for a second that I’m going to push her aside? We just started dating and things I would say are going extremely well. I see no need for that to change. Has something happened, I get the impression you know something that I don’t know,” I said.
“It isn’t my place to say,” Cole said.
I leaned forward on my desk and glared at Cole. He might have come into my office worried about Hope, but now I was too. He knew something that might change Hope and my relationship and I needed to know what that was.
“What’s going on?” I asked slowly.
“Answer my question first and I’ll answer yours. Assuming I like the answer.”
“It’s only because I have a sister and know where you’re coming from and the concern you have that I’m still talking to you and not throwing you out of my office.”
“Care to go a round?” he asked and glared at me.
He looked mad enough to want to fight but I wasn’t going to let it come to that, or at least I was hoping to avoid that at all costs.
“Possibly. Depends on how you answer my question.”
“You first,” Cole replied.
Whatever Cole knew, I had a feeling Hope hadn’t wanted to tell me or had withheld the information on purpose. I wasn’t sure why or what it was but if Cole could give me the answers, then I would give him what he wanted, even if I had to admit something I wasn’t completely ready to admit to him much less Hope.
“Fine. But you need to tell me what’s going on with Hope, no matter what my answer, or we can finish this outside. Your choice.”
“Tell me,” Cole said and crossed his arms.
“I’m in love with Hope. I have been for a long time. I never thought I would even have a chance to be with her. I know we didn’t start off with the best of circumstances, but I wouldn’t change any of it, because it brought her and me together. I want to be with her, no matter where, no matter how, as long as she’ll have me.”
“Are you talking about marriage, kids, house, all that?” he asked.
“Eventually. If that is what Hope wants.”
I realized I had told her I wanted all those things but never asked her if she did. What if she didn’t, what if she had found out she couldn't have kids and was worried I would push her away as soon as I knew.
“Does she not want kids? Can she not have them?” I asked.
“Dude, I have no idea. Why would you ask me that?”
“The way you were asking me about marriage and kids it sounded like it was something Hope didn’t want or couldn’t do. I want to be with Hope. If she isn’t into marriage or kids, then we can discuss that, and while I want all those things, I want Hope more. Does that answer your question?”
It had better, as the more I talked with Cole the more concerned I got about what was going on.
“You’re that committed to her. You would be willing to wait for her, if need be. Do the long-distance thing?”
“I answered your questions, now answer mine.”
“It isn’t my place to say,” Cole said.
“Then you shouldn’t have come storming into my office demanding answers. You started this, now finish it,” I said and held his gaze.
I needed answers and I wasn’t going to let him leave until I got them. I didn’t like where my mind was going with my answers, and it didn’t help that Cole wasn’t giving me any.
