I watch Cole as he turns around, heading past the creamery and down the street. My gaze lingers, following after him as he makes his way to his truck.
“Is there somethin’ goin’ on with you and Cole?” Wyatt questions me, his voice breaking through the moment.
I swallow roughly, tearing my eyes from Cole as I glance at my brother. “No, we’re just friends,” I say in a rush, clearing my throat. I push my spoon through the melted ice cream. Chloe laughs, reaching over to dip her spoon in with mine. “I’m perfectly content with it only being Chloe and I.”
“Okay,” Wyatt says, almost with hesitation. His eyes slowly search mine, his chest rising and falling. “He’s one of my best friends.” He pauses, blowing out a breath. “The thought of there bein’ anything between the two of you is weird and I’m not sure I wanna think about it, but if there’s one person I would trust to keep you safe, it’s him.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head at him. “It’s not like that, Wy.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Maybe for you, but I’m not so sure about him anymore.”
My heart stutters inside my chest. “I doubt that,” I chuckle, the sound foreign and I try to ignore the nervousness thatflips my stomach. “We’ve only been spending time together as friends.”
Chloe flicks her wrist, splashing the melted ice cream from the bowl. It flies across the table, almost hitting Wyatt as he moves out of the way.
“Okay, I think we’re done,” I chuckle, pulling the bowl away from Chloe. Wyatt is already on his feet, collecting all the trash and takes the melted ice cream from me.
“Good idea,” Wyatt laughs, as he throws the trash away and comes back over as I’m lifting Chloe into my arms. “Let’s go find something else to do to keep that little monster busy.”
“Rawrrr!” Chloe bellows at him, her voice too high to be frightening, but he cowers anyway, earning a belly laugh from her. I fall in step with my brother and Chloe reaches for him. I hand her over to him as we head down the sidewalk to his truck.
Wyatt and Chloe are both making monster noises at each other when I hear a soft beep from the street. Whipping my head to the side, I glance over, catching a quick glimpse of Cole as he drives past us. He holds his hand out the window, waving as he passes.
Wyatt stops beside his truck, waving back at him before putting Chloe into her seat. I step out onto the street, walking to my door when I catch Cole’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
He stares back at me, his mouth curving as he shuts his right eye, winking at me. He gives the truck more gas, the rumble of the engine echoing down the street as he zips away. My breath catches in my throat, my heart hammering against my ribcage and I watch his taillights fade into the distance.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
COLE
Ella
I hate to do this, but unfortunately I’m having some babysitting issues so I have to cancel tonight.
Ireread her message again, wishing that the words on the screen would change. Standing in the bathroom, I reposition my towel around my waist before typing out a response. I was supposed to be leaving in thirty-five minutes to go pick her up for dinner. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.
It’s okay. I hope that everything is okay.
Ella
It is. Remi is working and Iris had something come up with a vendor for the bar, so she has to go out of town for the evening. Would we be able to reschedule?
A sigh escapes me and I set my phone down to finish drying off and get dressed. I understand with Ella’s life there are a lotof moving parts, so I’m not upset with her that this happened. I only wish there was something I could do about it.
And then I realize there is something I can do about it.
Maybe I can’t take her out to dinner, but I can certainly bring dinner to her.
What if we don’t have to reschedule?
I watch the three small dots show up and disappear three separate times and it feels like my heart may spontaneously combust in my chest. Her response finally appears in the message thread.
Ella
What do you mean?
Even though I’ve already met Chloe, I don’t want to impose on her life. I don’t want to insert myself somewhere I may not be welcome, out of respect for Ella and her daughter. Meeting her was a chance encounter at the grocery store that one day. I don’t intend on seeing her again until Ella wants me to or would be comfortable with it.
