“He didn’t though. I know you’re going to try to take this on, but you don’t have to.”
“I know, but?—”
“Adele.” Cole’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You really don’t.”
I blinked away the tears stinging my eyes. “I just…”
“Adele, you didn’t even know he was there when we got back. What are you supposed to do, see into the future?”
“No.” I blinked harder. “I just…”
“Sweetheart, as soon as you sensed what might be happening, you took care of it. You are an absolute badass, and I love that about you.” He cleared his throat. “If you haven’t figured it out, I’m falling in love with you.”
His tone was wondering, almost as if he was surprised at himself. My heart felt cracked open with sunlight pouring inside.
Cole continued gently, as if he sensed the emotional earthquake inside me. “I know you’re not ready. I get that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you’re not ready to say anything about love, and I sure hope I’m right that you actually feel it, but please know I don’t expect you to say it because I did. I honestly don’t.”
“Cole,” I whispered, scrambling inside.
He trailed his knuckles along my cheekbone and down the side of my neck. “For what it’s worth, there’s a lot I’m still trying to figure out.”
I swallowed, my throat thick and aching with emotions. “Okay.”
“I understand a little bit more about why you are so protective of your heart. And I’m willing to wait.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, while anxiety and fear clanged inside me, dueling with the love I knew I felt, but which terrified me to the point of shaking.
“You know the whole story about him now,” I whispered. “That’s all there was to it.”
“He’s a fucking asshole. I guess it’s good it played out the way it did,” Cole replied.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he got arrested this time. Before you go feeling bad, let me remind you that you didn’t know he was here today. When you saw him before, he was in the public eye the whole time, and we left. There was nothing you could have done.”
“I know.” I blinked again, feeling all clangy inside, my emotions loud and messy.
“Promise me you’ll stop worrying about this.”
“I can’t promise you that I’m not going to worry about it,” I said dryly.
His low chuckle reverberated over my nerve endings, which were already spinning. He dipped his head and gave me a lingering kiss.
“I’m glad I know a little bit more of your story.”
I took a quick breath, nodding as I gathered myself. Cole’s calm, level response to this whole mess had given me the gift of some composure. “Thank you. Now I need to go find Ashley.”
I searched Ashley out to check on her. When I told her I was sorry, she looked at me like I was absolutely nuts.
“Adele, he was there at the beginning and, like, literally we left for the hike within—I don’t know—a half hour? We never saw him again. You didn’t even know he was here this time. I would not have expected you to tell me something like that.” She shook her head firmly. “I’m fine. The reason why you heard me scream is because I was already shoving him away.” Her voice was steady. “Sure, he freaked me out, but I’m fine. I really am. And I’m grateful you were here to kick him in the balls.”
I rolled my eyes but let out a short laugh, a real one. It wasn’t funny, not really. But you find humor where you can, even when it hurts.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
