“No hello?”
“Hello, Cole.”
Laying back on my bed, I grinned and gripped the phone tightly in my hand. “You and Jasper are coming out with us tomorrow night.”
I didn’t give her an option. She needed a night out, and I needed to see her.
“If it’s a strip club, I’m walking straight out of there.”
I could hear her smile.
“Prude. No strip club, I promise. We’re just going to a couple of bars.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight. Wear something short,” I said, hanging up and laughing to myself. I’d bet she was blushing.
Seconds later, I received a text message.
Oakley: What will you do if I wear something short? X
Cole: I can think of many things to do. X
Oakley: I look forward to it. X
I pushed my phone into my jeans pocket, and I closed my eyes.
Yeah, there was no easy way out of this anymore.
I was pretty useless at work all day, my mind drifting to the suggestive texts we’d exchanged the night before. She was flirty and bold.
Something short.
My mouth watered at the thought of seeing those bare legs again. We’d messaged each other most of the day, something my boss would kick my arse for if he knew. I still got everything done, so where was the issue?
The need to be with her had buried any anger I’d felt, but I knew it would resurface. We were glossing over so much, pretending the past didn’t happen. I didn’t want to dwell on that. It could wait.
I took longer getting ready, scrubbing myself in the shower and styling my hair. I stood in front of the mirror and couldn’t miss how much more alive I looked. The excitement of a nightout with her, something I’d looked forward to getting to do when we were younger, vibrating through my body.
My phone dinged.
Ben: outside
Cole: coming
Chelsea was working tonight so it was just Ben and Kerry in the Uber. We’d needed a seven-seater because Jasper was coming, too.
“Nervous?” Kerry asked as I got in and closed the door.
“Why would I be nervous?”
It was a bullshit reply because I was. I had been since I walked into my house and saw Oakley standing there.
Ben chuckled and nudged Kerry’s arm. “Give him a break.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
The driver pulled up outside Ali’s, and my stomach clenched. Seconds later, Jasper and Oakley stepped outside.
