“I’m back in my apartment,” I said, before he could begin spouting whatever bullshit he had prepared. “I left the guys, so—”
“For good?” he interjected, skeptically.
I looked down sullenly. Eventually, I nodded.
“Hayden. I need you to hear you say it.”
God, how I hated him. But for now, I needed to play his game.
“I left them for good,” I stated blankly. “There. You happy?”
Cole seemed to loosen up a bit, as much as the high-strung fighter could relax, anyway.
“I’ll be happy when you’re back in my arms,” he said smoothly.
“Yeah, well, that’s not gonna happen.”
“Oh no?”
“No.”
“And why not?”
Staring out at the pylons, I sighed into the wind. “Because you’re crazy, Cole. And violent. And you’re the most vindictive, ruthless asshole I’ve ever—”
“Vindictive?”
He spread one of his giant paws over his chest, as if I’d somehow offended him.
“Yes, Cole!” I shouted. “You’re vengeful! You went after three perfect strangers you don’t even know! You destroyed their lives for no reason other than you couldn’t have me.”
“I did nothing of the—”
“Know how this works?” I snapped loudly. “You tell me thetruth. That’s why you’re here. That’s why I called you.” I crossed my arms and shook my head. “Otherwise I drive the fuck away.”
His chest heaved as he took in a long, deep breath. Mentally, I knew a war was going on in that thick skull. It was always crazy, how hard he had to fight just to tell a simple truth.
“Fine,” he eventually relented. “I did what I had to do. I needed you to come to your senses.”
“And I have,” I lied to his face. “I’ve come to my senses, and I’ve moved out of their place and back into mine. And that’s where I’m staying, Cole. Far away from everyone.”
There was a beat of silence, broken only by the wind. As it whipped my hair against my face, he reached to fix it.
“Even me?”
I stepped back, trying to contain my revulsion. And itwasrevulsion. The closer he got to me, the deeper the memories of us ever being happy together seemed to sink.
“Especially you,” I growled.
As expected, my words seemed to enrage him. I used to be surprised by what set him off, but now I was becoming an expert.
This time though, he kept his anger in check. He could do it sometimes, I’d noticed, when he needed to be on his best behavior.
“Hayden, I love you,” he faltered. “I’ve always loved you.”
“Cole—”
“No, please,” he begged. “I drove here because you called me. Hear me out.”
