The guy next to him snickers. “Good luck, dude. No one has gotten into her pants. Believe me, my buddy has tried many times.”
Cole actually laughs, which totally throws me for a loop. Jake looks at me, confused. I shake my head. “Well, that’s good to know.” Cole takes another sip of his brandy. “I wouldn’t want to have to kill someone.”
I chuck my rag at Cole, knowing he isn’t joking. He catches it and holds it out at each end. “This reminds me of last weekend.”
I grin and shake my head. He’s so playful right now, and it’s fun. “Where were you?” I ask, tugging at my shirt and nodding at him.
“Meeting,” he answers, finishing off his drink. I reach down to make another, and when I look up, the bottle nearly slips out of my hand.
“You!”shescreams, pointing a finger at me. “I’m going to kill you!”
“What?” I gasp, trying to play catch-up with the crazy charging my way. “What are you talking about?”
She picks up a saltshaker and chucks it at me. I manage to move, and it flies past me. Cole is on his feet, holding a hand up to her.
“Don’t act innocent, you bitch.” She glances at Cole. “Your whore gave out my apartment number to Don, and he showed up on my doorstep, handing me a stack of cash and wanting me to screw him.”
I move to Cole’s side. “Christina, I never gave your address to Don! I don’t even know where you live.”
Jake bursts out laughing. “Maybe he knew your address because you screw every customer we get, Chris.”
“Fuck you, Jake.”
“No, thanks,” he chuckles.
She suddenly charges me, but Cole blocks her path. Grabbing her arms, he waits until she cries out because of his grip. “You ever touch Savannah, and I’ll make sure it’s someone looking to do more than have a shitty fuck with you at your door, Christina. Leave my family alone. This is your only warning.”
Christina is still heaving with anger when he lets her go, tossing her forward. She spits at my feet, and then Zack appears out of nowhere and kicks her out the door.
Cole ducks down so he’s eye level with me. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I look around at a few stragglers, embarrassed, though I shouldn’t be. She was the one who looked like a fool. “Can you drive me back to my place?”
“Of course.” He takes my bag from Jake and offers him a ride, but he has plans with Graham.
Cole parks the car and walks me to my apartment but stops in the doorway. “I can’t stay, baby. I have an early meeting.”
I feel my disappointment hit hard but push it aside. It was my choice to live here in town.
“Hey,” he brushes my hair out of my face, “you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He leans in, stopping right before he hits my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cole.” He gives me a long kiss before turning away.
My eyes glaze over as I dip my fry in the ranch dressing, twirling it around then popping it in my mouth. Jake has been talking a mile a minute about Graham and what they’ve been up to. I love Jake, but he doesn’t have a filter when it comes to his sex life.
“Hey, you don’t like your burger?” He points his fork at my untouched bacon cheeseburger.
I shrug, feeling off. I think I’m just tired. Cole had to fly to Washington to deal with some things in person for four days, so sleeping has been a little hard again.
“You’re not going to freak out on me again, are you?”
I chuck the rest of my fry at him. “You’re an ass.” I hand my plate to a waiter who is going by and slip behind the bar, fastening my apron around my waist. “I think I’m just tired—”
A guy comes busting through the door, cupping his mouth. “Honey, I’m here!” I look at Jake, who is very obviously checking him out.Shameless.Graham appears from out back.