I take a breath. “Tell me what happened after Cole and I left yesterday.” There’s silence on the other end. “That bad, huh?”
“Everyone tried to go back to normal, but your mom disappeared into the house and didn’t come back out. Kurt went and sat at your house for the rest of the night. Ben and I had to finally go get him around eleven. He was eating licorice and watching Star Trek. Everyone left as soon as dinner was over. Nobody really talked about it. Until tonight. They had a family council. They let me come. I think more because I’m your friend than Ben’s girlfriend.”
“A family council, that’s bad.”
“Yeah, I remember you telling me about them, so I was really worried. It was good, though, Kate. Your dad said that he could tell that Cole loves you by how he treats you, that he was willing to let you make up your own mind about whether to stay or go. I agreed. I rescinded all I said. I told them I was on your side and that Cole is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Did they say what they were going to do? No one has called me.”
“They decided to give it a week, then talk about it again. They didn’t decide anything, really.”
“Well. I guess that’s better than them deciding to disown me.”
“Oh, Kate, it won’t come to that. They just need some time.”
“I sure hope so. That’s what everyone keeps telling me.” Laura and I gossip for another hour before I hear Ben in the background. “Oh gross, I can’t handle the imagery of you and Ben. I will talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay, sounds good, Kate?”
“Yeah,”
“I love you like a fat kid loves cake.”
“And I love you like a back ally hooker loves crack.”
The clock reads just after 11:30. No phone call from Cole and no Cole. The least he could do was call and check on me, maybe give me an estimated time when he’d be home. Hell, the very least he could do was have Luke call me and have him tell me when Cole will be home. I hold on to my annoyance until I’m ready for bed, then let it go. The situation we are in won’t be forever, but me and Cole—we are forever.
CHAPTER NINE
I wake up to my night shirt coming up over my head. “Cookie, I thought we agreed, no clothes allowed in bed.”
“Huh, what?” I look up at Cole who’s bestride me and naked.
“No. Clothes. In. Bed.”
“What time is it?” I yawn.
“Just after four.”
“Are you just getting in?”
“Yes.”
“Cole, can we…” But he claims my mouth, cutting me off. It’s soft and sensual. He flicks his tongue into my mouth, enticing me to reciprocate. I do, opening my mouth and I’m devoured. I feel his fingers between my legs, the pad of his thumb stroking my sex. I moan into his mouth, breaking our kiss.
“So sensitive,” Cole croons. “Sorry baby, I’ll be soft.” He kisses down my neck and body, and I’m carried away into the carnal pleasure only Cole can give me.
I collapse from exhaustion, spooned against Cole, my body still singing with pleasure, and fall back asleep.
“Kate, wake up, baby.”
“What?” I groan, covering the sheet with my head.
“I’m leaving. I have a seven o’clock meeting.”
He can’t be serious? I’m dreaming—that’s it—this is just a bad dream. Cole pulls the sheet off me, the cold pricks my skin and I shiver. I sit up and come face to face with Cole’s megawatt smile. “Good morning, Cookie.”
I look him over. He’s showered and dressed for work. I scrunch my eyebrows. “You’re really leaving?”