Why couldn’t the distance be farther?
Cole’s Jeep is already parked in the driveaway. I leave my backpack in the car and follow Aiden up the steps.
“Why did Cole ask to meet us here?”
“Don’t know.”
I narrow my eyes. “You mean to tell me that you came without a plan?”
“I did have a plan.” He tilts his head in my direction. “Anything that involves having you by my side is the perfect plan.”
My temperature gets ten degrees hotter, but I clear my throat. “Did you spend the morning with Cole? Is that why you didn’t come to school?”
“I had a meeting with my consultant about Oxford.”
Oh.
Right.
Aiden will go to Oxford. That piece of information has always been tucked into the back of my mind, but hearing it aloud makes it real and… final.
At the end of the year, Aiden and I will go in different directions, whether we like it or not.
The thought feels like stacking bricks at the bottom of my stomach one by each heavy one.
I’m dragging my feet by the time we’re inside the Meet Up.
“Not a word, Silver.” Cole’s steel tone cuts through the silence of the cottage. “I don’t want to hear your voice.”
“Screw you, Cole.”
Silver is here, too? How come Aiden didn’t mention that?
On the other hand, this should mean she’s not in danger from Adam.
Not that I should worry about her.
“What are you doing here, Queens?” Aiden barges inside without as much as making his presence known.
“Ask Cole,” she hisses. Which means Aiden didn’t know she’d be here.
I walk inside with careful steps. “Hey.”
“Elsa.” Cole smiles, but there’s no warmth behind it. It’s like he has to smile, but doesn’t want to. “Sit down. There’s something you need to know.”
I glance at Aiden with questions written all over my face. He lifts a shoulder and flops down beside me. His arm stretches on the back of the sofa, almost touching my skin, but not quite.
The fucking tease.
Silver sits opposite us in a chair. Her legs are tucked close together to the side. The paleness of her face has nothing to do with her skin complexions and more to do with a wild look in her gaze.
Cole stands beside her like a statue. Unmovable and cold.
If Cole is involved, this must be serious.
My limbs shake despite themselves. If Aiden still has something to do with Silver, I don’t know how I’ll react.
I’m barely holding on as it is. If Aiden breaks my trust one more time, I won’t survive. One thing’s for sure, I’ll destroy him with me. It’s only fair with how much he destroyed me.