I should have shoved off his lap, but I couldn’t, not whenI was secure in the cage of his arms, not when his scent wrapped around me like a drug.
“Fuck you,” I said weakly, making a token attempt to push away from his chest.
He dragged one hand up to my face and traced my bottom lip. “You just had heart surgery, and instead of taking care of yourself, you’re running yourself ragged. Not sleeping. Barely eating because you’re too angry to let us help you carry the fucking load.”
My phone buzzed, and I ignored it until it buzzed again. My second phone—it could only be his father.
“I can’t—” My voice broke. “I can’t keep doing this.”
“Then stop.” Cole’s arms tightened around me. “Stop fighting us. Stop carrying this alone.”
“You blackmailed me,” I whispered.
“I know.” His jaw clenched. “But—” He cut himself off. “I need you to be okay,” he rasped, the confession sounding like it cost him to admit. “Even if you hate me, even if you never forgive me, I need you to be okay.”
My phone buzzed again.
“Is that my father?”
I nodded into his chest.
“What’s he asking for?”
“Information about your rehab.”
Cole’s laugh was bitter. “Are you going to give it to him?”
I shrugged, unwilling to fight with Cole today, no idea how I was going to get myself out of this fucking mess, let alone help my father.
“You’re going to fucking take care of yourself,” Cole said finally.
“Or what,” I snarled, even though my fingers still clutched at his shirt, and I didn’t make a move to untangle myself from him.
“You’re going to take your medicine on schedule, you’re going to attend every fucking class, you’re going to accept rides from the team. If you don’t, I swear to god, I will make you regret it.”
Gently, he unclenched my fingers from his shirt, brushing his fingers over them before depositing me on my feet, looking me up and down, as if confirming I could stand on my own two feet.
He reached out to cup my cheek, but when I flinched, he stormed off, leaving me staring at his back, unable to order my thoughts.
Tristan
WTF, Eva?
Why hadn’t I blocked him?
Because I wanted to forgive him. So fucking bad.
Tristan
Cole said you almost passed out.
Fucking traitor.
My phone rang.
“What’s going on, kitten?”
“How the fuck is it any business of yours?”
