Font Size:  

He also hadn’t again approached me, though there were times at the Vault when I’d thought he might. He slanted me the occasional sad glance, looking on the verge of heading over and blurting something out. But he kept his distance. He also kept glaring at Cole, though he’d quickly look away before Cole could catch him at it.

Considering Ryland was still in one piece, I could trust that my mum had convinced my father and brothers not to beat the crap out of him. I’d spoken to her on the phone a few times over the past month. According to her, Richie was no longer Ryland’s agent, though she didn’t know which of them had severed the contract. She wasn’t much bothered so long as Ryland was firmly out of the picture.

Plus, she was more interested in casually questioning me about Cole anyway. Three weeks ago, I’d stupidly mentioned him in a throwaway comment. She’d pouncedon it lightning fast—as was her way.

My attempts to brush off her questions had failed, so I’d told her I was ‘loosely dating’ him. She had only hummed in response. Which basically meant that she was reservingjudgment until she’d torn into his background. It was a classic move of hers when men entered my life.

Pushing myself up off the hard ground, I dusted the dirt from my arse with my hand and then arched my back.Crack.Lovely.

Having changed the lens on my camera, I took some close-up shots of the trees, bringing the lines and swirls of the bark into stark detail.

It wasn’t until I checked the time on my phone a short time later that I realized I’d been at the park for an extra thirty minutes than I’d planned. Ugh. Time seemed to fly by while I worked. I often got so caught up in what I was doing that I didn’t feel the hours tick by.

I packed up my stuff, slipped on my backpack, and then made my way to the meandering path that would lead to the parking lot. A plane flew overhead, reminding me that I hadn’t yet booked a flight home. I’d never stayed at Redwater this long before. But each time I thought about returning to London—about leaving behind Redwater, my friends, and yes even Cole—my stomach did a nauseating tumble.

Ever since the conversation I’d had with my mum shortly after the article was published, I’d found myself wondering what it would be like to quite simply just … stay. I wanted a base. A dog. Even a boyfriend at some point. But I could only really imagine settling permanently in Redwater.

It would be a shame to live so far away from my family, but they traveled a lot anyway. They even occasionally came here for business. There seemed no sense in my remaining in London to be near them when they had busy lives that required them to hop on planes often.

Hearing the rhythmic slap of a jogger’s footsteps, I idly looked to my far right. And then I almost tripped over my own feet.

Cole.

He was running along another of the many paths, his earphones in, all sweaty and far too edible.

He hadn’t noticed me. He probably wouldn’t, since he wasn’t heading in my direction. I turned toward him, intending to somehow get his attention, but then I stilled. He wouldn’t want this. Wouldn’t like it.

Or would he?

No, no, he wouldn’t. He didn’t want our personal lives to intersect. He’d made it clear when he suggested—okay, firmly laid out—the terms of our arrangement that he wanted us to keep things simple.

Much as it bit at my pride, I had to consider that he might not want to be seen with me in the outside world anyway. This was a very public place. It would only take a few photos of us talking to be posted online for everyone to speculate that we were dating, and then people would no doubt be like ‘I wonder if Cole indulges her fetishes’ and stuff like that.

It was best to hang back. Not that I believed he’d snub me or act all aloof if I crossed to him now. Cole wasn’tthat bloke.But he might feel uncomfortable. I’d see that, feel the sting of it, and it would sit between us from then on.

So I didn’t call out to him. Didn’t approach him. I resolutely turned back to the path and made a beeline for the parking lot, refusing to acknowledge the dangerous regret that sat in the pit of my gut.

Regret that all we had was an arrangement.

Regret that it would never be more.

Regret that I was so far removed from his everyday life that I couldn’t even say hello to him in the park without crossing a bloody line.

Once in my car—and yeah, I shut my door a little harder than necessary and all but jammed on my seatbelt—I drove off, intent on scratching the first errand off my to-do list.

I let myself get lost in the mundane. Headed here and there. Picked up this or that. Only once all my errands were done did I return to my apartment. There, I went to the small bedroom my parents had converted into an office for me since I came here so often. I jumped straight onto my laptop, uploaded my photos, and got to work.

A knock at the front door later on made me blink. I checked the time. I’d been working for over two hours but it only felt like thirty minutes or so.

Opening my door, I found Briar waiting with a smile. “Hey,” she began, walking inside, “I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.”

I rolled my eyes, not fooled. “You mean you want to choose my clothes for tonight.”

“Do I ever lead you wrong?”

Well, no. “I’m going to make a cup of tea and munch on something,” I told her, heading for the kitchen. I hadn’t realized how peckish I was until I snapped out of my ‘work’ zone. “You want anything?”

“I’m good. I’ve had way too much caffeine today.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like