I stop and turn to her, running my fingers through my hair before resting my hands against my neck. “Did he say where he was going?” Panic builds in my chest and mixes with hysterics.
Emma holds my gaze for a long moment and then gives me the slightest shake of her head.
Releasing a ragged breath, I clutch my stomach and try to make myself breathe.
“Jenna,Jenna,” Emma says, and I feel her hands clasp my shoulders. “Calm down. We’re not going to have any luck finding him if you have a panic attack.”
I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and nod my head.
Deep breath in. Slow breath out. Think.
“I need my car,” I say, determination taking the dominant spot in my erratic emotions. I hurry down the steps with Emma behind me.
“Where are you going?” she asks me.
“Back to the lake house,” I tell her. “His stuff’s there, and if he’s bolting like we think he is, I’m hoping he’ll get his things before he does.”
Emma grabs my purse and hands it over to me. “If he’s not there, you call me, and I’ll come help you look for him.”
“I will,” I say as she hugs me.
“Good.” Emma pulls back and gives me a small smile. “Now go get your man.”
Cole’s truck is in the driveway when I arrive back at the lake house. Relief washes over me at the sight.
Thank heavens he’s here.
Parking my car next to his truck, I turn off the ignition and glance around when I notice none of the lights in the house are on. A dark figure standing by the lake catches myeyeand my heart leaps at the sight. Stepping out of my car, I slowly make my way over to Cole—stopping at the grass line to take my heels off before I hit the sand.
“Cole?” I say, a bit timid as I approach him.
“Please don’t come any closer,” he replies, his voice low and empty.
I take another cautious step. “Cole, please.”
“Jenna,” he warns. “I’m not in a good place right now, so please, for once, just listen to me.”
I’m pushing it, I know, but I move next to him, keeping a fair amount of distance between us. “I’m not afraid of you,” I assure him and soften my voice when I say it.
“You should be,” Cole says. “I’m unpredictable.” Neither his eyes nor his body has moved as he stands there with his hands in his pockets and stares out over the lake.
“Look at me, please.”
Cole’s jaw ticks and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard.
“Cole, please,” I beg.
Closing his eyes, Cole reluctantly turns to look at me—his eyes glinting with unshed tears.
“Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
We stand there in strained silence. Tears sting my eyes, and my throat feels like it’s closing up as I know what he’s about to tell me.
“I can’t do this,” Cole says, his voice barely audible as he releases a shaky breath. “I can’t stay here.”
My lips quiver, and I swallow against thesobthat wants to break through. “Yes,” I tell him. “You can.”
Cole briefly closes his eyes and turns his body to mine. “Please don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
