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“Then why ask?”
I'd think him rude if I hadn't already spotted the subtle sparkle of mirth in his dark eyes or the creases on either side of his lips.
“Can I expect this level of belligerence from you for my entire stay here?”
He shrugs good-naturedly. “I imagine so.”
I'm surprised by how good it feels to be like this with him. Teasing and relaxed. Not at each other's throats about something or other. Just existing in each other's spaces. Comfortable.
Natural.
But I'm not blind to what this is. A temporary truce. An act of kindness in the face of grief. He'd do the same for anyone in my position. Tomorrow, the compassion in his gaze will fade away and the flames of resentment will reignite.
For now, though, I enjoy the peace.
“I didn't know you could cook,” I say as he snaps a handful of spaghetti noodles in half and drops them into a pan of boiling water.
“There's a lot you don't know about me, princess.” His tone is light enough that I know he's not being accusatory, but still, it causes my heart to twinge with regret.
“Maybe you could teach me. We could…I don't know“—I tuck a strand of hair shyly behind my ear—“get to know each other again, maybe?”
When he says nothing, I chance a look at his face and wish I hadn't. His lips are set into a grim line and his jaw is clenched so tightly I'm afraid he's going to shatter his teeth. His eyes that were shimmering with easy humor before are now hard and stormy.
Immediately, I know I've said the wrong thing.
“Sorry,” I whisper quickly. “I didn't mean anything by that.”
He sighs, his knuckles white where he grips the kitchen countertop.
“It doesn't matter.” I stand, wiping my hands down on my leggings just because I need something to do with them. “I shouldn't have said anything.”
I turn to leave the room, but my name being growled all surly and masculine has me stopping short.
“Thea.”
Looking over my shoulder, I see that Cole has followed me out of the kitchen and is standing just a few paces behind me.
“Yeah?”
“I'm not saying this to be an asshole, okay?” He holds my gaze as he speaks, dark and intense. “But the only reason you're staying here is 'cause I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone right now. Do yourself a favor and don't convince yourself that this is an opportunity to rekindle whatever it was we had when we were eighteen. You broke my heart once and I'll be damned if I let it happen again.”
I stare at him, struck into dumb silence.
“You understand?” he asks.
I nod because that's all I can bear to do. Tears burn my eyes, but I don't let them fall. Rejection seeps into my soul and drags my heart to my stomach like an anchor falling through the ocean.
He has every right to feel the way he does, but I can't pretend it doesn't hurt. Not when I've thought about him every day for the past six years. I still care about him. Still...love him.
It's stupid, I know, but that's just the way it is.
“I'll give you a shout when dinner's ready.”
“I'm not hungry,” I whisper.
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “There'll be none of that bullshit while you're here either, princess. So long as you're staying under my roof, I'll be damn sure that you fucking eat.”
Then, he storms away. And I can do nothing but stare after him with stinging eyes and a hole in my scarred heart. A hole I've had since the day I left. A hole that only he can fill. A hole that, I've now come to realize, will remain vacant and fathomless forever.
