“I want to know all about these new things Callie.” Callie stares at Creed in wonder and nods her head jerkily.
“Daddy?” It still shocks me to hear that name come out of Harlem’s mouth. Creed beams every time he says it.
“Yeah?” The love in Creed’s voice fills me with warmth.
“I want you to have a tub-tub with me.” Creed turns to me and cocks a brow in question, but I don’t get a chance to answer.
“He wants you to have a bath with him.” Cole says as he pushes back from the table and stands. I stare up at him and find his gaze on me. His green eyes shine with so much hurt; I don’t know how to fix this between him and I. I had no idea Cole even had feelings for me!
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Cole is slow to pull his gaze from mine to look at his brother. The hurt in his eyes is quickly replaced by anger.
“Whatever you got to say, you can say it here.” Creed nods and takes a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you and said the things I did––“
“So, what, because you say sorry, I’m supposed to forgive you?” Creed tenses and I can see he is trying to control his temper; Cole is acting like an ass.
“No, I’m just trying to say that I don’t want to fight with you. You’re my brother and I love you, but Jess is my mate––“Cole slams his palms down on the table and glares at Creed, Cole’s eyes change to the yellow of his wolf. I have to give Creed credit, he doesn’t react and remains calm, Ro and Zeke sit forward ready to intervene if they have to.
“I know! We all know, you don’t deserve her.”
“You’re right. I don’t deserve her Cole, but what makes you think you do? I know you love her brother, but I will never let her go. I’m trying to right my wrongs here and I don’t want to be at odds with you. This is my one and only warning little brother, you ever and I meaneverkiss her again or make a move on her, I won’t hold back.”
“You kissed Jess?” Callie snaps.
“And if she chooses me?” I stand, I’m sick and tired of listening to these two battle over me like I’m not even in the room. I pick Harlem up and turn to leave, but stop and turn to Cole.
“Don’t ask me to choose Colton.”
“Why?”
“Because it won’t be you, it will be him. I love you Cole but not the way you want me to love you. You’re my best friend and I couldn’t have gotten through losing Katy without you, please don’t ruin what we have.”
Chapter Twelve
Credence
After Jess left to bath Harlem, I helped the others clean up and I’ve been sitting on one of the loungers out the back since. I know she meant it in a brotherly way, but she told Cole she loved him and not me. Does she not feel the same way about me as I do her? Have completely ruined things between––.
“You frown any harder and your face will stay like that.” I peer over my shoulder and glare at Cairo, he and Zeke make their way over to me and drop down into the other chairs. We sit in silence for a while, each of us lost in our thoughts. “Why are you here and not with my sister?”
“I’m not sure she wants me around.” Zeke scoffs and I pin him with a look. “Got something to say?” I snap.
“Actually, yeah I do. Pull your head out of your ass and stop feeling sorry for yourself for fuck’s sake.”
“The hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means don’t be dumb Credence. Jess loves you; you can sit there and deny it, but we all know that’s why you’re out here sulking.”
“Am not!” Zeke rolls his eyes.
“You’ve been quiet ever since she told Cole she loved him.” Am I that obvious? I have never been insecure before; women came and went, and I liked it that way. Ever since meeting Jess no women has even caught my eye, my dick won’t even get hard unless I’m thinking about her! “She didn’t mean she loved him likethat.” I glare at Zeke; he is the last person I want to be talking to about any of this. I know he harbors feelings for Jess, and it pisses me off.
“You don’t think I know that?”
“Then why are you so pissed, Creed?” I swing my gaze to Cairo, his question has me stumped. Why am I so pissed that she told my brother she loved him? I run my hand through my hair in frustration. “You’re pissed because she hasn’t said it to you.” A whoosh of air rushes out of me, Cairo is right I drop my gaze to my lap. We sit in silence and get lost in our own thoughts, again. I should be worried that we are on an island of vampires but instead my thoughts are plagued by a beautiful blonde woman who manages to set me ablaze by just looking at me. I know Jess cares about me, I can feel it through the mate bond. Feeling it and hearing it are two totally separate things though, those three words spilled out of her mouth so easily tonight when she was talking to Cole. I’ve told her that I love her, but she hasn’t said it back, she just smiles and that’s it.
“You know Cole loves her, right?” I don’t bother to look at Zeke, I just nod my head. “Cole bent over backwards for her after she had the twins. We were all there with her––“I snap my gaze to Zeke and growl; Corbin and I don’t appreciate the reminder that we weren’t there for the birth of our pups. Zeke raises his hands as if surrendering. “Easy, Alpha. There is a point to all of this.” I nod my head and sit there stiff as a board as Cairo leans back and closes his eyes. “When she went into labor, she was so scared and all she wanted was her mom and…you.” My eyes double in size.