They both need to understand that I don’t give a fuck what they think. I don’t want their opinions or need their advice.
We enter the house, and Misty greets us.
Reaching into his jeans pocket, Cole grabs his wallet and pulls out some cash. “Here you go …”
The teenager waves him off. “Mr. Biggs already paid me before you left earlier.”
“Deke,” he growls.
“It was my idea,” he mumbles before storming up the stairs and slamming his bedroom door.
“Thank you, Misty,” Austin tells her. “I’ll walk you over to your house.”
“I’ll do it,” Cole interjects, and she doesn’t argue.
Austin turns to face me. “Want me to take you home?”
I look up at the top of the stairs and then at her. “Yeah.” Tonight is not the night to try anything with Deke. I’m not in the mood to kiss his ass or suck his dick. Plus, I’ve got an early flight out in the morning.
“Wait until I get back and I’ll drive you guys,” Cole orders Austin.
“I can drive myself, Cole.” She sighs.
Just when I think he’s going to argue with her, he bends down and kisses her forehead. “Hurry back, sweetheart.”
“Deke was being nice tonight.” Austin speaks once we’re alone in her car. “Until he wasn’t.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “He can be like any other man. Hormonal.”
She laughs. “Things will work out.”
“I know.” Because I’m going to force them to. Just like Cole forced me into being friends with her.
I walk through the back door and step out onto the patio of the Reynolds’ house. I stop when I see Cole swimming laps in their Olympic size swimming pool. I knew he’d be here. Even before the car wreck, he lived in the water. It’s only been six weeks, but it hasn’t slowed him down. Now he uses it for his physical therapy because he can’t afford to lose his position as captain on the swim team.
“What You Deserve” by No Resolve plays through the outside speakers while he swims his laps.
He stops and pops his head out of the water. I know he feels me watching him. I shouldn’t have come, but he’s been ignoring my phone calls. Running both hands through his hair, he steps out of the pool and looks at me.
“Isn’t it too soon to swim?” I ask, sitting on one of the chaise lounge chairs under the awning.
He doesn’t answer. Taking the towel off the table, he wipes his face.
I hang my head. “I’ve been texting you. I came up to the hospital.”
“I didn’t want to see you then, and I don’t want to see you now,” he snaps and rolls his shoulders.
Tears instantly spring to my eyes. “I lost someone too, Cole. Eli was my friend too …” I lie. He wasn’t my friend. I barely knew him, but I’m too ashamed to say that out loud. And now I can’t let anyone find out I was there or what I had planned that night.
“No, you were just another girl he was fucking.”
His words sting, even if they aren’t true. I jump to my feet. “You don’t know …”
He wraps his hand around my throat and pushes me back against the wall of the pool house. He’s in my face, growling, “You have no fucking clue what I lost! What I did for you!”
I take in a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry.” Tears run down my cheeks. I’m not sorry for walking away from the accident. I’m sorry for ever being there. “You shouldn’t have taken the fall.” I’ve never known Cole to be a good guy. I don’t know why he took the responsibility for me that night, but I know it will cost me in the long run.
“You shouldn’t have been there at all!”
My eyes narrow on him. Then why did he let me walk away? “I was responsible—”
“You wanna owe me, Becky? Huh? Is that why you came here? To tell me that you’re fucking sorry that my friends are dead?” he interrupts me.
I swallow nervously against his hand that holds me hostage. I knew he’d make me pay in some way. Cole Reynolds does nothing for free. Hell, maybe he saw this coming and knew he could use me.
“I owe you, Cole,” I whisper after a long second, accepting my fate.
“When I need you for something, you will do what I say?” he asks, arching a brow.
I give him a slow nod, and whisper, “Whatever you need.”
“I don’t wanna talk to you or fucking see you until then, do you understand?”
I’ll gladly stay the hell away from him. “Yes.” My shoulders physically shake, and I can’t stop the tears that run down my face.
“Good. Now leave.” He lets go of my neck and takes a step back from me. I rub my sore throat as he turns and dives back into the pool.