Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I took in a shuddering breath. Why did he always make me want to cry?
“Yes,” I croaked out past my emotions. “I can do that for you, all of it.” Easy.
He smiled at me sadly and pulled on my hand, tugging me towards him. I stumbled and crashed into his chest. The hand not holding onto mine wrapped around my shoulders as my forehead came to rest on his collarbone. He kissed the top of my head and whispered, “Christ, you’re such a good kid.” The arm around my shoulder gave me a quick squeeze before he let me go and backed away from me. He gave me another sad smile, and s
aid, “Don’t wreck the Ranger Rover while I’m gone, and if you want to drive the Merc, and, sweetheart, I know you do, I saw your face, the keys are hanging up with the rest of them. Knock yourself out.”
I smiled at him, flat out, not holding anything back. I absolutely loved his sleek, black car that purred every time I got into it. Did I want to drive it? Hell yes. I was so glad he’d noticed my lust for his car and approved of it.
He smiled warmly at me and the lines around his eyes crinkled.
He sobered, the smile slipped, and he asked, “You’ll text back?”
“Yes,” I said while nodding.
“Within a half an hour?”
“Unless it’s during school or while I’m sleeping, yes.”
“And the alarm?”
“I won’t forget to set the alarm,” I promised.
“Good girl,” he whispered.
My mother chose that moment to stroll into the room and dropped her luggage off next to Mr. Cole’s. She no longer looked like she’d just been woken up in the middle of the night due to a phone call relaying a tragic event. She’d put on makeup and heels. Her clothes were toned down and a whole lot less slutty than she normally wore. In fact, they kind of looked like my clothes. Black leggings with a black tank top, cleavage still there for all to see, but a little less than the norm. Her hair still hung down and loose around her shoulders. She wore no jewelry, likely due to her lack of time.
“Are those my pants?” I blurted out.
I should have let it go.
“There’s no time for your nonsense, Ariel.” She snapped at me without answering my question. That was answer enough for me. Yes, she was wearing my leggings which meant she’d been in my bedroom while I was at school.
God, I hated her.
And I really did not like seeing her in my clothes. I didn’t know why, it was irrational, but I wanted to rip the clothes from her body. She had no right to go through my things and take whatever she wanted for herself.
My mother dismissed me with a look and focused on her lover. “I’m ready to go whenever you are, honey.”
I wanted to gag. She was so fake it was disgusting. Honey. Puh-lease.
“I’ll be out in a minute. Why don’t you go wait in the car.”
Mr. Cole had his back to her as he so easily dismissed my mother, the same way she’d so easily dismissed me, which is why he missed her look. And it had been a good one, too. Anger and outrage mixed together, when showed on my mother’s face, did not make for a pretty picture.
She wordlessly picked up her luggage and stormed out of the kitchen and through the door leading to the garage. She was probably pissed she had to carry her own bags.
I fought the urge to giggle hysterically.
Mr. Cole was quickly becoming my most favorite person in the known universe.
His back was turned to me while he poured coffee into a travel mug. He turned around as he screwed the lid on top of the mug. When he had the lid secured he came right at me. When he stood before me he leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek.
“Call me if you need me and stay safe.”
Then he was gone.
And I wanted to cry. Again.