“Seriously?” Lana mutters.
I know this isn’t what she meant when she told me to tell Cole, but at least everything is out in the open now.
Well, kind of.
Maybe he doesn’t need to know about mine and Gracie’s masked antics.
That’s not something any brother needs to know about his little sister.
“What,the fuck, is going on here?”
I stay completely still, my expression and posture completely relaxed, and I see a flicker of irritation in Cole’s eyes when I don’t react to his words.
“Cole,” Gracie says patiently. “It’s not what it?—”
“Looks like?” I interrupt and turn to her. “You don’t need to lie, love. It’s exactly what it looks like.” I hate the fact that she was about to deny what we have. I. Fucking. Hate. It.
“Love?” I hear Cole ask, but my gaze doesn’t stray from Gracie.
Her eyes stay locked on mine, a myriad of emotions passing between us. Flashes of our time together while wearing the mask, our dates, the time we spent watching movies or me working on assignments while she drew. The times we laughed and ate and just spent time with each other.
Every single second of our time together has led to this moment, and I find myself regretting sending the message, because I’m not sure if I really want to know the truth.
Because if it’s not the answer I’m looking for? Well, that might very well kill me.
I know in my bones that she was made for me.
She’s the other half of me.
The other piece of my soul.
She’s the reason my heart beats and the reason for every breath I take.
But does she feel the same way?
A hand fisting the material of my hoodie quite literally yanks me from my thoughts and I turn to face Cole as he pulls me to stand in front of him.
His eyes are cold and there’s a darkness swirling behind them.
It’s a look I’ve seen from him only few times in all the years I’ve known him, and I know he’s past his breaking point. Nothing and no one will be able to pull him back to reality right now.
His anger is controlling him, and I’m distinctly aware of Gracie’s cry as Cole’s fist flies towards my face but I welcome the pain. It’s a nice distraction from the emotional pain and upheaval I’ve been dealing with in the last few days since I first found the note pinned to my car and everything else that followed.
I don’t fight back, I just stand and take what Cole needs to give me. Every hit he rains down on me is more freeing than the last, the physical aches and pains feeling like nothing but a gentle glide across my skin and I revel in the momentary break from my thoughts.
Every fist flying towards me is another moment of peace.
Every growl tore from my best friend’s throat is another breath of fresh air.
I grin at Cole, silently daring him to keep going. I’ve never been one to like pain, but I guess anything is better than feeling the heartache of Gracie’s maybe-betrayal.
But then Gracie’s sobs reach my ears, andthat’swhat has me wanting this to end.
I fucking hate it when she’s sad.
“Enough,” I murmur to Cole and grab his wrists, pinning them to his chest. He struggles, but I manage to keep a hold on him, and I look to Lana for help.
If anyone can get through to him right now, it’s her.
