Mum scrunched her eyes shut; her jaw clenched in what almost looked like pain. I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued because I needed to say it, and she needed to hear it.
“It took time, but I realised that Max and Frank are the minority. You can trust Miles, Mum. I do. He really loves you, and hard though it is to believe it, he’s willing to take you on when you have Jasper. Marry him!”
“Oakley, I’m so s—”
I held my hand up. “Don’t apologise. We didn’t do anything wrong.” I sounded like a therapist, but it was true.
“I really wish you would take your own advice, Honey.”
I should do, but it was hard sometimes. There was still a lot of guilt weighing on my shoulders, though it lessened every day. “I’m trying to. It’s getting easier.”
“Good,” she said, wiping her nose on a tissue. “Okay. I’m okay.” She wiped a stray tear from under her eye and smiled. “No more dwelling on the bad things. We look forward from now on. Deal?”
“Deal.” That was all I wanted her to say. It wouldn’t be as simple as she made it seem, we both knew that, but as long as we were willing to work on our issues we would be fine.
“Good. Now, what time is Cole coming over? I assume it will be the second he gets off work,” she teased.
I smiled. “Yes, from work. He’ll be having dinner with us tonight. Do you think that would be okay?” He’d been over most nights, and Ali said it was fine, but I worried she was just being polite.
“Of course. Ali loves having a full house. Lizzie will be moved out in a few years I imagine. I’m a little worried that she’ll be lonely here by herself.”
I bit my lip. “We should set her up.”
“She’d kill us, and we don’t really know anyone here any more!”
“Well, we don’t but…”
“Cole,” she said, grinning like a naughty school girl. He had mentioned that he worked with a load of men in their forties and fifties – he was the youngest there. “Someone around her age, single and trustworthy.”
“You had to specify single?”
“Less of the sarcasm. Oh, I’m actually excited now. I can’t wait to see her reaction.” I laughed at her. She really did seem like a fifteen-year-old girl, but I loved seeing her so carefree.
“We can demand a list of eligible bachelors when Cole gets here.” I’d been so wrapped up in myself, Mum and Jasper that I hadn’t really thought about Ali. So I hoped I could do something for her. Loneliness was awful and Ali had said she hoped to find someone special. She deserved to.
“Hey,” Cole greeted me, flashing the smile that still gave me butterflies.
“Hi.” I closed the distance between us as quickly as I could and kissed him.
“I’m glad you’re here. We need your help.”
“What with?”
“Finding Ali a man.”
Cole grinned. “Sorry, I’m taken.”
“You sure about that?” I goaded him.
“Uh huh. So you want me to set Ali up with randoms from work?”
“They’re not randoms, you know them. Just do as you’re told and find a nice guy that will treat my auntie right.”
Cole saluted. “Yes, sir.”
I patted his cheek. “There’s a good boy.” I led him to Lizzie’s room. At least I would be out of her room soon. “Sit,” I instructed, pointing to the futon.
“I hope you’re going to do a striptease, bossy,” Cole teased. He looked ridiculously hopeful. Did he know me at all?
Rolling my eyes, I sat down next to him. “So, Mum booked our tickets back to Australia today.” His face fell, as I expected. “We leave in two days.”
“No,” Cole replied, getting up and kneeling in front of me. “Not again, Oakley, please. I can’t lose you again. Stay here with me—”
I placed my index finger over his lips. “I have to go back—”
“No,” he said fiercely. His eyes were wide with panic. If he would just let me finish!
“Will you let me talk!” I shook my head. “I’ll be gone for a total of three days. Ali’s already said I can have the spare room until Mum sells the house and moves back here.”
“No,” he repeated.
I frowned as his whole face lit up with the most perfect smile. He didn’t want me to come back? He was smiling though. Huh? “No? What?”
“You’re not staying with anyone else. You’re living with me.”
He can’t be serious? We had only been back together a few months, although it did feel so much longer, like we hadn’t been apart for those four years. But still…
“Cole you—”
“I’ve spoken!” he said like a caveman. “Seriously though, Oakley, you’re mine now. Suck it up and move in with me.” Oh my God, he is being serious! He wants us to live together. Squealing, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight, probably crushing his bones, but he didn’t complain. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I murmured against his neck. Wow, I was going to be living with Cole. Living in that beautiful house we decorated together. It didn’t seem real, like it wasn’t happening to me. I never thought I would have that, a proper relationship with someone that wanted me. Someone that didn’t care about my past.