“You can; you just choose not to.”
“It’s none of you Goddamn business, Austin!” I snap.
“It is when you’re sleeping with my stepmother,” she yells back.
I run a hand through my hair. “What makes you think I slept with her?” I ask trying to settle my rage. It’s gonna get us nowhere.
“I told you. I heard her.”
“Heard her what?”
She rolls her watery eyes but indulges me. “When I got home yesterday after taking Lilly to ballet, I walked into the kitchen to get a bottle of water, and I heard her yelling your name from my father’s and her bedroom.”
My eyes widen.
“Shit.” Deke hisses.
“But you should know that since you were there with her.”
I reach out for her. “Austin …” But she pulls away and starts to walk down the hallway once again.
“I’ve never slept with Celeste,” I say, watching her come to a stop, and I swallow. “And I haven’t slept with anyone else since …” I trail off.
She spins around. “Since you started sleeping with me? How original, Cole.”
“No.” My eyes meet hers. “Since the accident,” I say, not caring that Deke is here. She deserves to know.
She’s breathing heavy, and her eyes still narrow in suspicion. “That was almost nine months ago.”
I nod. She doesn’t take a step toward me, but she also doesn’t make a move to turn and leave. I run my hand through my hair nervously. “After the accident, people steered clear of me. I had so much hate, so much rage, that the guys were the only ones not afraid to talk to me. Be around me. If I wasn’t with them, I was at physical therapy or in a pool.” Her eyes drop to her hands, inspecting her nails. “But when I showed up with you at school, everyone thought I was back to my old self. The old Cole who partied every night of the week and slept around …” I walk over to her, needing to close the distance. I place my finger under her chin and lift it to where she has to look up at me. “I know I’ve hurt you.” My free hand runs over her scar on her forearm. “And I’ve forced you to do things that you didn’t want to do.”
“Blackmail,” she corrects me.
I smile down at her. “But I’ve never cheated on you.” Pushing her hair behind her ear, I say. “You’re all I want.”
She sighs. “Cole …”
“Please,” I beg. “Believe me.” She bites her bottom lip nervously. “I need you to believe me.”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know.” My teeth clench. “But I’m gonna figure out what went on and why.”
She finally nods her head once, and I lower my lips softly, kissing her forehead. “I’ll come over after practice, okay?”
She looks over at Deke, who watches us like a nosy little bitch. “Okay,” she says and turns around, walking out the door.
I turn around, get what I need out of my locker, slam it shut and head toward the guys’ locker room. “Are you really fucking Celeste?” Deke asks.
I come to a stop and glare at him. “No. Kellan is.”
His eyes widen. “How long have you known this?”
“Couple of months,” I say truthfully.
“Why haven’t you said anything?” he asks, his brows pulling together.
“Because it wasn’t important.”
“And now?” he asks.
“Now, it’s become a problem I’m gonna fucking fix.”
_________________________________
I get out from underneath Austin’s arms—she passed out about an hour ago—and pull my jeans on and nothing else. I make my way out of her room and down the stairs. The rain pours on the house and lightning fills the dark halls. It’s late. Has to be past midnight.
I walk into the formal dining room to find Celeste sitting at the table. Her back to me. She’s on her phone. “Yeah,” she whispers. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you,” she says and then hangs up. When she stands and turns around, she startles, placing her hands on her chest. “Cole!” she squeals. “What are you doing here?”
My eyes go to her phone in her hand and then back to hers. “I’m gonna take a guess and say that was Kellan.” She glares at me. “Love already, huh?” I run my fingers along the wood of the china cabinet. “That was fast.”
Her eyes narrow. “Like you’re one to talk. Everyone can see how obsessed you are with Austin.”
“Funny you should mention her.” I take a step forward. “You’re trying to fuck up what’s mine.”
“She told you?”
“No,” I lie, and she snorts in disbelief. I close the small space and cup her cheek. She stiffens. “I have a way of making people talk, Celeste. Am I gonna have to make you talk?”
Her bottom lip trembles. “It was his idea …”
“She heard your voice. Not his.”
She lets out a long breath. “He said you’re falling for her. That you won’t let her go. That she needs to go, and since you won’t step away, she needs to.”