COLE
When Jules shows up that evening, she looks around in alarm. "Where’s Sophie?"
I glance back into the tumbler I’m swirling the amber whiskey in. "In her room."
"Why?"
"Stop getting on my nerves," I grumble, emptying the glass in one gulp when I realize the whiskey is almost the same damn color as Sophie’s eyes.
The moment we got home, she barricaded herself in the small room and ignored me. She’s pissed; I get that. After all, I’m not stupid. I even understand her to a certain extent, but I can’t take that dog just because she wants me to. I mean… who am I? Mother Teresa? Fuck no.
So when we got back, I made myself a drink to calm down and relax. It didn’t help that I kept seeing Sophie’s sad and disappointed face, but since the third whiskey, it’s a little more bearable. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. But in fact, my thoughts have only gotten more confused.
"What have you screwed up with now?" Jules’s voice is accusatory, which sends my mood plummeting further.
I lift my head and look at her angrily. "Why do you automatically assumeIdid something?"
Jules tilts her head and raises an eyebrow.
Defeated, I groan. "We went to the vet clinic. She wants me to take that damn dog."
"Rightly so."
"Are you for real? Are you both conspiring against me now? If so, you’re welcome to join her," I reply gruffly and reach for the bottle of Jack Daniel’s.
"Stop drinking," she snaps and walks to the door I’ve been staring at helplessly for the past two hours. Tentatively, she knocks. "Sophie? Can I come in?"
Seconds later, the door opens, and Jules slips through, closing it again behind her.
"Ah, fuck you," I murmur softly, taking a hearty swig straight from the bottle.
For a second, I consider asking Steve if there’s a fight tonight, but then decide against it. The past night was enough for me. In addition, I’d been drinking, so I couldn’t drive anyway.
Leaning my head back, I close my eyes and force myself to think of nothing for just a moment.
I must have dozed off, which is no wonder, given the past forty-eight hours, the far too short night, and the damn whiskey. When I open my eyes and sit up straight, the muscles in my neck are as hard as rocks because I fell asleep sitting upright.
Cursing, I get up and rub the aching spot while I go to the fridge to get a bottle of water. After I have emptied it halfway, I look around.
Neither Sophie nor Jules is to be seen, so I go to Jules’s old room. When I knock on the door, it simply gives way. It’s only ajar, and when I push it open, I find the room empty.
"Jules?" I call out and turn. "Where the fuck are you?"
The bathroom door opens, and Jules comes out, wearing hot pants, a crop top, and tons of makeup.
Knowing exactly what’s about to come, I begin to shake my head before she can even say it. "Absolutely not. Don’t even think about it."
"Oh yes," she declares energetically. "We’re going out."
"Jules… what the fuck?" I rub my temples because my skull is suddenly pounding.
How could I have lived with her for so long? I really don’t know, but her voice doesn’t give me the opportunity to think about it any further.
"Come on, Cole. We’re young, it’s Saturday night, and Sophie’s never been out," she says, sounding a little softer.
"She’s not even of age."
"So what? As if that would bother anyone in the pub."
