Good. I’ll see you then.
I lock my phone and smile as I look out the window. I’ve been back to Collins a few times since we’ve moved to Texas. I hate that place, but I have unfinished business there.
Deke pulls up to Cole and Austin’s house and jumps out, still not saying a word. It’s obvious he’s pissed. I need to try to smooth things over with him. I ignored him earlier when we were with the others at Silence because I didn’t want them questioning me. Austin would be all over that. She still thinks we can work through our problems, but my sister would just tell me I’m a stupid fucking bitch.
They both need to understand that I don’t give a fuck what they think. I don’t want their opinions or need their advice.
We enter the house, and Misty greets us.
Reaching into his jeans pocket, Cole grabs his wallet and pulls out some cash. “Here you go …”
The teenager waves him off. “Mr. Biggs already paid me before you left earlier.”
“Deke,” he growls.
“It was my idea,” he mumbles before storming up the stairs and slamming his bedroom door.
“Thank you, Misty,” Austin tells her. “I’ll walk you over to your house.”
“I’ll do it,” Cole interjects, and she doesn’t argue.
Austin turns to face me. “Want me to take you home?”
I look up at the top of the stairs and then at her. “Yeah.” Tonight is not the night to try anything with Deke. I’m not in the mood to kiss his ass or suck his dick. Plus, I’ve got an early flight out in the morning.
“Wait until I get back and I’ll drive you guys,” Cole orders Austin.
“I can drive myself, Cole.” She sighs.
Just when I think he’s going to argue with her, he bends down and kisses her forehead. “Hurry back, sweetheart.”
“Deke was being nice tonight.” Austin speaks once we’re alone in her car. “Until he wasn’t.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “He can be like any other man. Hormonal.”
She laughs. “Things will work out.”
“I know.” Because I’m going to force them to. Just like Cole forced me into being friends with her.
I walk through the back door and step out onto the patio of the Reynolds’ house. I stop when I see Cole swimming laps in their Olympic size swimming pool. I knew he’d be here. Even before the car wreck, he lived in the water. It’s only been six weeks, but it hasn’t slowed him down. Now he uses it for his physical therapy because he can’t afford to lose his position as captain on the swim team.
“What You Deserve” by No Resolve plays through the outside speakers while he swims his laps.
He stops and pops his head out of the water. I know he feels me watching him. I shouldn’t have come, but he’s been ignoring my phone calls. Running both hands through his hair, he steps out of the pool and looks at me.
“Isn’t it too soon to swim?” I ask, sitting on one of the chaise lounge chairs under the awning.
He doesn’t answer. Taking the towel off the table, he wipes his face.
I hang my head. “I’ve been texting you. I came up to the hospital.”
“I didn’t want to see you then, and I don’t want to see you now,” he snaps and rolls his shoulders.
Tears instantly spring to my eyes. “I lost someone too, Cole. Eli was my friend too …” I lie. He wasn’t my friend. I barely knew him, but I’m too ashamed to say that out loud. And now I can’t let anyone find out I was there or what I had planned that night.
“No, you were just another girl he was fucking.”
His words sting, even if they aren’t true. I jump to my feet. “You don’t know …”
