“You dared me to show you a side of me that no one sees. And I have, Austin. Now I’m daring you to give me a chance to be more than the guy who hurt you.” I give her a soft smile. “Move in with me and let me show you that I can be what you need.”
AUSTIN
Cole and I walk into my father’s house. “What do you wanna do today?” he asks me with a smile on his face. It’s been two weeks since my birthday, and things have been going great. Too great if you ask me. I’ve never considered my life to be normal, but things have been just that. Cole and I spent all of spring break together hanging out with Becky and Deke or just chilling at my house with Lilly. My bruised face had healed some by the time we went back to school. Shelby removed the stitches, but the bruises are still visible without makeup. But no one questioned it. Shane and Bennett have been calling Cole, but he keeps their conversations short when he does answer. I think he’s mad at them for not throwing Kellan out of the group when he and Deke first suggested it. And as for Kellan—he’s been everywhere this last week. Over spring break, it was easy to avoid him, but now that school is back in session, not so much. He’s everywhere I look and always smiling at me. It gives me the creeps and pisses Cole off. And I hate that I’m always looking over my shoulder. When I’m not in school, I always have the Taser on me, prepared to use it at any given second.
“Let’s take Lilly to the zoo,” I offer.
He nods. “Sounds good to me.”
“Austin? Is that you?” I hear Celeste call out.
Instead of answering, I walk down the hall, Cole’s hand in mine, and enter the living room. I come to a halt when I see she’s not alone.
Cole’s hand tightens on mine. “Mom?” I shriek. “What the hell are you doing here?”
I never did respond to her text she sent me on my birthday. And she never sent me another one.
She smiles brightly at me. Her green eyes go to my hand in Cole’s, then she looks him up and down before her eyes return to me. They trace over my face, and I square my shoulders, knowing she can see the faint bruise. We just got back from spending the night at his clubhouse, and I didn’t put any makeup on. She allowed Phillip to hit me, but he also hit her. I’m sure she thinks Cole did this to me.
Celeste clears her throat and pushes her blond hair behind her ear nervously. “Your mother wanted to come and give you the good news in person,” she says.
“Good news?” I ask arching a brow.
My mother smiles brightly and holds out her left hand. “We got married.”
My eyes go to Phillip for the first time as he sits on the couch next to my mother. He doesn’t smile at me; instead, his eyes take in my face. My freshly fucked hair and lack of clothing. I’m wearing Cole’s black zip-up hoodie and a pair of cotton shorts and tennis shoes. That’s it. No shirt underneath and no bra, which is why it is zipped all the way up to my neck. Cole ripped both off me last night.
Cole takes a step forward, jerking on my hand, reminding me he is here. I pull him to a stop.
“When did this happen?” I ask, trying to figure out why she’s here. Why she thought I would need to know this. I couldn’t care less what they do. You would think she already knew that.
“Two weeks ago.” She claps her hands. “On St. Paddy’s day.”
I’m not surprised.
“You married this piece of shit on your daughter’s birthday?” Cole growls, finally speaking.
My mother narrows her eyes on him, and Phillip stands, bowing out his chest, thinking he’s the superior man in this room. He’s not. “I don’t know who you are, son, but I’d suggest you not talk to her mother that way.”
Cole snorts. “I’m not your son, and she’s sure as hell not a mother to her.”
My mother shoots to her feet. “Who the hell is this, Celeste?” she demands.
“His name is Cole, and he’s my boyfriend,” I snap.
Celeste runs a hand through her hair. “I think it’s time you and Phillip go.” She clears her throat. “You got what you were promised.”
“Promised?” Cole questions.
I don’t care what they are talking about. I just want them gone.
Phillip chuckles, throwing his arm over my mother’s shoulders. “It’s adult business, son. You wouldn’t understand.” Phillip looks at me. He stares at my eye again and smirks. “Guess I trained you right.” Then he looks at Cole and winks.