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I bite my lip. Cole is being weird, whether he wants to admit it or not.
“Let’s change the subject.”
“Glad to.”
“Do you want to be my not-date to put flowers on my mom’s grave next week? My Grandad, my sister, and Dex will be there. It’s not really a memorial ceremony. More of a walk in the graveyard.”
It’s been months since I put flowers on Mom’s gravestone. Since her birthday in October, at least. I want Cole’s companionship to brace me against the torrent of sadness and bitterness that are sure to drift to the surface of my mind.
But Cole looks at me with horror. “I think your family will know that something is going on between us if I turn up and hold your hand at your mother’s burial site.”
I roll my eyes. “They already know. You made me invite them to charbroil oysters!”
“Grilling oysters is a world apart from a cemetery visit.”
I run my tongue over my teeth. I’m annoyed. Cole’s hot one minute, cold the next view of our relationship is exhausting. First everything is perfect and we are fucking in his sex nook. Then things are complicated and I need to be more understanding of his plight.
It’s hard not to show the anger on my face.
“So that’s a no?” I ask.
“Yeah, I would say so.”
Grabbing Cole’s hand, I lock eyes with him. “There’s nothing you want to talk about?”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cole blush. But, for the first time since I’ve known him, two spots of red appear in the apples of his cheeks.
He shakes his head, carefully disengaging from my touch.
“I should go. I have to run an errand.”
He stands up and moves past me. I flatten myself against my seat to accommodate him. Then I decide I’m not letting him literally run away from this conversation, and stand up to follow closely behind.
As soon as we are a safe distance from the doors, I turn to Cole, palms upturned.
“What is going on?” I demand.
“Nothing.” He scowls at the ground. “I’m just busy.”
I hear my mom’s voice. Cleaner than sunshine, sweeter than honey. My fists bunch, but I try to hide my frustration.
“Are you trying to break things off with me?”
Cole looks like I’ve just knocked him upside the head with a two-by-four.
“What? No! Not everything revolves around you, Savannah.”
I take several seconds before I reply.
“So, there’s nothing that I need to know?”
“No!” he shouts.
I reel back. “Why are you yelling at me?”
“I just–.” His phone buzzes, and he stops talking to look at it. “Shit. I’m sorry. Can we talk later?”
I take a step back. My heart aches in my chest. I’m confused about what’s going on.
