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“And the time isn’t right?” He doesn’t sound angry, just confused.
“We have so much to look forward to… graduation, college, moving to a new place. I don’t need a ring to know you love me, Cole.”
“You don’t want to marry me?”
“One day, maybe. But I don’t want you to give me a ring because it’s what you think you should do.”
“I want you, Hadley,” he says with conviction.
“And I want you, so much. But we have time.”
“Huh.” Cole lets out a small breath. “I got the ring now,” he grabs my hands and pushes it onto my ring finger, “so you might as well wear it.”
“Cole!”
“It doesn’t mean anything. Not if you don’t want it to.”
I glance down at my hand, and something inside me melts. The ring is perfect. Simple yet beautiful. A small diamond set in a white gold band. I love it. And I love that Cole is ready to take this step... but I don’t want us to rush into something we’re not ready for.
“Cole, I’m not sure—”
He presses a finger to my lips. “Just wear it for now, see how it feels.”
Oh God. He’s not playing fair. He looks so happy, so at peace. I can’t take that away from him.
“Okay, just for a little while,” I say, knowing full well the ring will still be there come tomorrow. “You really want this? Me and Colton U?” Brushing my nose along his jaw, I kiss the corner of his mouth. “You’re going to be a hotshot football player, and I’ll be—”
“Mine. You’re mine, Hadley. I don’t want you there with me, I need you. It’s either you come with me or I come with you. But since you still haven’t made any real plans—”
“Hey, I have plans.”
He gives me a pointed look, and I poke my tongue out at him.
“There’s something else,” Cole says. “We need to talk about your living situation.” His expression turns serious.
“I thought you said James would cover the final semester?” I hate the idea of taking his money, but it’s either that or I’m out on the streets.
“And he will.” Cole plucks his wallet off the nightstand and pulls out a key. “But I want you to have options.”
“Options?” I gasp. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”
“A key to the house.” He folds it into my hand.
“A ring and a key... Cole, this is a lot.” My heart gallops in my chest.
“I’m a lot, Dove. Surely you know that by now.” He smirks. “I spoke to James and he agreed it made sense for you to be able to come and go as you please. We want you to feel part of the family because you are, Dove. I hope you know that.”
“But I can still keep my dorm room?” Because God, this is a lot to get my head around.
“Yeah,” he grumbles. “If I had my way, I’d move you into my room tomorrow. But I know you’ll probably want your own space. So this is a compromise. You take the key, I let you keep your room on campus.”
“You’ll let me keep it, huh?” My brows quirks up and I fight a smile.
“This is me trying, Hadley.” Cole’s eyes turn black, sending a bolt of lust through me. “But don’t make any mistake, Dove. You are mine. If you want to run, it’s too late. Because I will chase you to the ends of the Earth, and even then I’d never stop.”
“Cole...” I stare down at the ring on my finger, the key in my hand.
After the miscarriage, I thought I’d lost everything. My shot at happiness. At something to call my own. But Cole is offering me a future.
