“Rowan,” I force out, my voice cracked and shaky.
Cole steps closer and pulls me into his body, his arm wrapping around me and holding me tight. Protecting me.
Rowan looks me up and down, his top lip peeling back in disgust, which is a joke, if you ask me. He really should look in a mirror before judging anyone else.
“I see you’ve given up chasing musicians around. Pivoted to athletes, huh? Watch this one, Hansley.” Rowan lifts his hand as if he’s going to whisper a secret to Cole, but he ensures I both see and hear exactly what he says. “Leech.”
Cole’s body turns to stone, giving me a millisecond to predict what’s about to happen.
“No,” I cry, jumping in front of Cole before he has a chance to step forward and throw the punch that Rowan deserves.
The last thing we need is him landing an assault charge in Cole’s lap.
That’s what he wants. The drama, the press. He lives for it.
Rowan lets out a dark chuckle as I clutch Cole’s arms, staring up at him with pleading eyes.
Let it go, please.
But Cole doesn’t look down at me; his eyes are locked on Rowan’s, and they’re promising a whole world of pain.
“Right, well, I hope you two enjoy the rest of your night. Although I should warn you, you probably won’t. Dead fish…if you know what I mean.”
Cole vibrates with anger as a deep growl rumbles in his throat.
“Come on, we’ve got people waiting on us,” Rowan says, before walking away with his latest catch.
Cole watches them go, and it’s not until the elevator doors close that he lets out a breath that allows his chest to deflate and turns to me.
“Rowan Conaway?”
I flinch at the way Cole says his name.
It’s full of confusion, shock, and pure hatred.
My bottom lip trembles, and my eyes burn with unshed tears.
I don’t want to cry. Rowan doesn’t deserve for me to shed any more tears over him. But I can’t stop them, and they flow over under Cole’s intense stare.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I should have?—”
“Whoa, shush,” Cole breathes, stepping closer and wrapping me in his arms.
I tremble violently in his hold as I break down.
“It’s okay,” he says softly between kisses to my head. “I’ve got you, baby.”
I don’t know how long we stand there in the hallway, but by the time I pull back from his chest, his shirt is soaked through from my tears, my eyes sting, and my chest aches.
“I’m—”
He presses two fingers to my lips to stop the next word that was going to spill free.
He shakes his head before pulling me into his side and guiding me toward his apartment.
We’re silent as we step inside, then hand in hand, Cole leads me to his bedroom.
He gently nudges me to sit on the end of his bed, and the moment I do, he drops to his knees before me. I watch in awe as he gently slips one of my shoes from my feet. He doesn’t immediately go for the other; instead, he massages it. The second he presses his thumb into my arch, a filthy moan spills from my lips.
