“Yes, yes you are! You’re beginning to make Jasper sound like Stephen Hawking!”
My eyes started stinging, and I fought to keep it together. The thought of Cole throwing his life away over my dad was awful. Dad wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t worth it.
Cole laughed and shook his head. He stepped forwards and caressed the sides of my face.
“I won’t let him walk away after what he did to you.”
Throwing my hands up in exasperation, I glared at him. Am I speaking Chinese or something!
“Fine. Go ahead. Do whatever the hell you want!” I spun around and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from you!”
Mum and Jasper looked up in alarm as I stomped down the stairs.
“Stupid, exasperating idiot.”
“What’s wrong? What’s he done?” Jasper asked. He looked accusingly at Cole who was coming down the stairs behind me.
“He hasn’t done anything, yet.” I turned to him. “I think you should go home. We’re done here.”
Cole stared at me. “We’re not done. Are you going to talk to me properly or just shout?”
“What’s going on?” Mum asked, looking between the two of us.
“He’s being stupid,” I replied, pointing at Cole like a child.
“Oakley, you can’t tell me you don’t understand.”
I ran my hand over my face.
“We’ve been through this before already. I thought you were over the let’s kill him thing.”
“This is about him?” Jasper spat. “You’re arguing over that bastard?”
“No, Jasper. We’re arguing because Cole can’t see how–” I growled in frustration, not even able to finish the sentence without punching one of them. Spinning around, I stormed out of the house and slammed the door closed.
Seconds later, the front door opened, and I heard Cole and Jasper argue over who should follow me. I didn’t want either of them to follow me. Swiping away the tears that fell down my face with the back of my hand, I pushed my legs faster to get away from whoever was running to catch up with me.
“Oakley, wait.” Cole grabbed my hand and spun me around. I guess he had won. “Look I’m sorry. I know we’ve had this conversation before but…” He shook his head and looked at me with the saddest expression I’d ever seen.
“I just… I love you so much, and I hate that there’s even a possibility of him getting off. I don’t want you to live your life being scared that he could turn up at any minute.”
I didn’t know what to say. He stepped closer, stroked my cheek and wiped the fresh flow of tears away. I closed my eyes.
“Cole, please don’t. Promise me you’ll drop it and if he gets out you’ll stay away. Please? I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you. I need you. Please?”
He sighed in defeat.
“Okay, I promise.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, slipping my arms around his neck and holding him as close to me as I could.
Chapter Twelve
Cole
Kerry and Oakley chatted in the back of the car, giggling about something I hadn’t caught. Every so often they would whisper something in each other’s ear and laugh about it. The fact that I didn’t know what it was drove me crazy. It was fucking incredible to hear Oakley laugh so much, though.
“Shh,” Oakley suddenly hissed loudly. I turned my head slightly so I could see them better. What the hell were they gossiping about? As they saw me they both smiled innocently. Okay, this is about me.
“You two discussing how amazing I am?” I asked, shooting a glance over my shoulder.
Oakley grinned. “Yeah, Kerry thinks you’re awesome.”
I nodded, slowly. “You’re lying. You want to jump my bones, and you know it.”
She laughed, blushing a little. “You think way too much of yourself!”
“It’s hard not to when you’re constantly looking at me with those x-ray eyes.”
She shook her head and laughed. “So delusional, Cole.”
“Paintballing tomorrow?” I asked Ben. I needed to kick his arse after shooting me in the face last time we went.
Ben’s face lit up like a child that had just been handed a bag of sweets.
“Hell yeah. Boys only though. Those two can do something else, like have a pillow fight or whatever girls do,” he said, nodding towards Oakley and Kerry.
“Why did you say no girls? We never go with the girls.”
“Since Oakley’s been back, you’ve been attached heart the hip,” he moaned.
“No we haven’t.” Have we? We’d spent a lot of time together, but it had been four years! Surely I was allowed to catch up properly? Wait, he wasn’t being an arse about it. I was the one being too defensive.
“So why aren’t we invited?” Kerry asked, poking her head between the front seats.
“Me and Cole are having a boys’ day. You two aren’t boys.”
“Oh, boys’ day,” Oakley teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Ben shouted. “Don’t even be saying things like that, girl. I’m a ladies’ man!”