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He likes to put a brave face on things, but I can only imagine how he really feels about watching Ace and then me find a girl. It must bring back things that he’d rather not think about.
“You really expect me to believe that?”
“I let you kiss her…strip her…” Anger wells inside my chest, but I force it down. He was only doing what I asked of him.
“It wasn’t like that. I’d do anything for you, your girl too, and you fucking well know it.”
I swallow. I fucking know it. All I can hope is that he doesn't have to do more than he should because I know that if something were to happen to me, if Donny were to come after me and succeed, he’d put his own life aside to make sure Hadley was looked after. He loves her. Not in the same way… but fuck.
“You okay? All the color just drained from your face.”
“Y-yeah, I’m good. Just want to get going. So move your ass, yeah?”
“Sure thing, lover boy.” I flip him off as I back out of his room and go to see what Ellen has whipped up for breakfast this morning.
I’m not sure if it’s my warning or the scent of Ellen’s frying bacon. but not ten minutes after I left him does Conner appear in the kitchen, looking to fill his stomach.
“Come on then,” he says after he’s finished his second plate. “I thought you wanted to check on your girl.”
“Let’s go.” He doesn't need to ask me twice.
I shoot Hadley a message once we set off to tell her we’re on our way and that I’ll walk to meet her.
Something I’m not used to twists in my stomach as we get closer to school, and I start clenching my fists, but unlike usual, it’s not in preparation to fight.
“Fuck, are you nervous?” Conner asks, after glancing over at me a few times.
“Fuck off. It’s just Hadley.”
“Hmm.”
Every few minutes he flicks a glance at me, but I school my reactions to the fact that we’re almost there in the hope that he can’t read deeper.
“I’ll see you later, yeah?”
“Sure thing, man. Say hey to Hads for me.”
“Con?” I ask, turning back before I disappear between the buildings where she’ll be waiting for me. “Thanks for the other night. I know it was… well yeah. I just want you to know that I appreciate it.”
“Uh… sure. I’ve got your back, always.”
I nod at him and continue toward my girl before I show too much affection for my idiot twin brother.
As I emerge from the building, I spot her blonde hair at the entrance. She notices me a second later and begins moving toward me.
She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes, not like it usually would when she sees me.
Something inside me twists uncomfortably knowing that she’s still suffering after the other night. I know it’s to be expected, but I can’t help but want my usual Hadley back. I hate that she’s lost some of her fire because of me.
“You should have waited inside. It would have been safer,” I say as she steps into my arms. She reaches up on her tiptoes, her lips a whisper from mine, but she doesn’t kiss me immediately.
“I was safe, Cole. I was right under the CCTV camera.” Her lips brush mine, driving me crazy.
Not happy with her game, I wrap the length of her ponytail around my fist and tilt her head up to me.
“Kiss me,” I demand, not that I give her a chance not to as I slam my lips down on hers. “I missed you last night,” I mumble into her mouth.
“Aw, my big bad Cole Jagger was lonely.”
