I shift in bed, equal parts uncomfortable and grateful at his declaration because Enzo is here. He cares, and I need someone to care, but a growl from the door brings our eyes around before I can even begin to figure out how to respond.
Cole stands on the threshold with a dark scowl on his face and Enzo drops his hand with a sigh. “What?”
Cole smirks but his eyes are cold when he looks between Enzo and me. “Getting cozy, already?”
“Fuck you, Cole,” Enzo rasps before turning back and kissing me on the forehead. “Okay, baby doll, I’ll be back later to get you. We’re being moved to couples’ housing, and I need to get everything set up.”
“Uh, okay,” I say, but my head is spinning with how fast everything is moving.
Cole stands at the door, blocking the exit with his arms crossed over his chest and a nasty glare on his face. When Cole doesn’t so much as twitch at Enzo’s approach, Enzo raises his arms out to his sides and snarls. “What do you want, Cole? This is the only fucking way, and I don’t see you fucking jumping up to do anything.”
Cole growls again and drops his hands to his sides, forming fists. Bewildered, I watch them square off, eyeing each other as they circle like fucking dogs.
As quickly as I can, I move to the end of the bed and slowly push myself off before saying, “Guys, I have no idea what’s going on, but stop it.”
“Stay out of this, Lola,” Cole growls.
“No, you stay out of this! Last I checked, this was none of your fucking business.”
At my words, Cole’s face spasms and he drops his hands, bowing his head as he steps aside to allow Enzo to pass. Enzo looks back at me with an unreadable expression before walking out and leaving me alone with Cole, who still stands at the door with his hands fisted at his sides staring at the floor.
Once again, we find ourselves back in the same position as always, fighting each other, fighting our feelings, fighting the circumstances, and I’m suddenly bone-achingly tired of it. “Cole, I don’t know what’s going on, but you made your choice. This is what you want, and I can’t do this anymore. So, please, please, stop. Stop everything.”
My voice breaks at the end and his head shoots up, his eyes softening as he steps forward and grabs my cheeks. Startled, I stare at him wide-eyed while he strokes my skin with his thumbs before he leans forward and brushes his lips against mine.
I’ve missed his touch so much that instead of stepping away, I close my eyes and revel in the familiar tingle that Cole always produces.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I keep causing you more pain, and I am trying so damn hard not to. I just,” he hesitates, his eyes caressing my features, “I need you.”
“I—what?” I stutter, searching his gaze.
My heart jumps within my chest before falling into a dull ache. I’m so confused. He’s as much as told me he’s moved on, so what the fuck does this mean?
“I need you to trust me, Lola. Can you do that? Can you trust me?” he urges, his eyes bright.
“Cole, I don’t . . . understand.”
“I know, baby. Please, just trust me. Please,” he begs.
“O-okay,” I stutter, softening when he leans into my forehead and closes his eyes, relief and something more passing over his features.
My heart stutters at the sight, and I fight the kernel of hope even as I wonder if I’m being stupid to entertain him.
After a moment, he opens his eyes and stares at me before saying in a guttural tone, “I missed you.”
With that, he presses his lips to mine once more, and I open at his invitation, moaning when his tongue sweeps inside.
“Fuck,” he groans, crushing me to him, his desperation feeding my own.
We press together so roughly that the pleasure is equal to the pain and only the sound of footsteps approaching causes Cole to step back and drop his hands. Desperately, I search his face, now closed off, before I turn away from him because although I’m baffled, I’m also hopeful.
Still, I don’t know what he wants me to do, so I walk away from him and stand at the window, cringing when Marie interrupts, her voice cautious. “Cole, we have to go now, for my appointment.”
Shit. My stomach twists painfully because I forgot she’s pregnant, and I turn slightly to search her frame, trying to determine whether she’s showing, but her skirts hide her figure easily. Is the baby Cole’s? I don’t know, and I’m not sure all the trust in the world is going to see me through watching him devote himself to another relationship for a child.
When Cole says nothing, I glance his way to see him looking at Marie expectantly, but when she doesn’t move away, he approaches the door with a frown, murmuring as he exits, “I’m ready, honey.”
My heart drops at the endearment, and I close my eyes against the betrayal as Marie says behind me, “Lola.”