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“Was it you or Coulter who picked the twentieth?”
My mouth is dry, and I swallow a couple of times, then take a drink of my soda before I answer. “Cole’s” I say, blinking a few times. Still trying to understand what she’s asking me.
Jill sneers at me, “you’d better hold on tight to him. A year is a long time to wait to get married.” I watch her get up from the table and make her way outside. Why does she care?
Needing some air, I stand up and walk out onto the front steps. I hear the familiar roar of the Ferrari and look up just in time to see it disappear around the corner. I run over to the house. I’m so panicked it takes me a few tries to open the door. “Cole,” I scream, running into the house. He isn’t here. I run into the bedroom and the bathroom, but nothing. Then I notice the suitcases on the floor are gone. What happened? Where’d he go? Why did he leave? Maybe he heard the conversation in the kitchen. He loves me, he wouldn’t leave me. I reach into my pocket for my phone, but it’s not there.
I dash out of the bedroom and when I come around the corner to the kitchen, I plow into Cole. I cry out and sobs rack my body.
Cole tugs me to him, and we wrap our arms around each other. He grips my face looking me over. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
I press myself into him, tightening my hold. “I saw the Ferrari turn the corner, and then I couldn’t find you. I thought you left, and then my family…what’s going on? Who took the car?”
“Morgan took it. He’s putting it on a truck to take it back to Las Vegas.” I scrunch my eyebrows, confused. “Kate, we’ve got to go back to tonight. I’m sorry, I thought I’d be able to do this here for a couple of days, but it’s getting out of control, and we need to go back. The jet should be ready to leave in about forty minutes. You need to pack.”
“Wait—what? The jets already here? I don’t understand.”
Cole pulls out his handkerchief and dries my eyes. “First, I’m sorry for being so uptight. I wouldn’t leave without telling you.” He kisses my forehead. “Morgan came on the jet this afternoon with those documents I needed to sign. I thought I could manage staying here until tomorrow, but the situation has turned volatile, and we need to head back today as soon as you’re packed. Now, what happened with your family?”
This gets my water works going again. “My family, they—they don’t think we’re married, only engaged.” Cole’s chest vibrates with laughter. “It’s not funny.” I sniffle.
“Baby, no one knows we’re married. They all think they stopped it. My father, Olivia, Ben and Laura. I thought maybe we should give your family a few days to get to know me, to accept that we’re together before we told them we’re married.”
“I’m an idiot.” I sob.
“Kate.” Cole runs his hands through my hair, tilting my head so I’m looking at him. “You were hopeful. You were so anxious over it, I thought it would be better if I waited to bring it up.”
Someone yells, “hello,” from the back door.
“Jill,” I mutter into Cole’s chest.
“Oh, hey! There you two lovebirds are. Everybody wondered where you went off to. I said I’d come and find you.”
I keep my head pressed against Cole’s chest. I’m sure my face is a wreck from crying. I don’t want to look at her. The fact that Jill has found me crying on Cole’s shoulder will generate gossip in my family for a good week.
Cole pats my back. “We’ll be right out.”
Jill puts her hand on her hip, smiling that she’s caught us. “Oh, is everything all right? You’re not having a lovers’ quarrel, are you? That’s a bad sign so soon in a relationship. Maybe I was wrong Katie, and it’s a good thing you and Coulter are waiting until next year to get married.”
I fist my hands into the back of Cole’s shirt. Because you would know, right Jill? You’re an expert in the love department. Oh, wait—that’s right—you don’t even have a boyfriend, but I met and married my man in four days. Take that bitch. I want to say this, but I don’t. She’d go crying back to Aunt Kathy and my mom like she was twelve again and cause even more drama.
“Thanks for your concern, Kathy, but we’re great,” Cole says with sincerity.
I stifle my laugh by biting lightly on Cole’s shoulder.
Jill audibly gasps, and I turn my head so I can peak at her. “I’m Jill. Kathy’s my mother.”
“Oh.” Cole puts on the charm. “My apologies. If you could give us a moment, we’ll be out in a few minutes.”
I watch Jill turn on her heel and stomp out the way she came.
“Did you really mix up their names?”
“Cookie.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“What did she mean about not getting married until next year?”
