“That’s the most breathtaking thing anyone has ever said to me, Cole. And Yes. Oh God. I love you. I love you, too. I was so scared of telling you.”
“Don’t ever be afraid to tell me what’s on your mind. We’re in this together. Silver lining, right?”
I nod and then laugh. “We got to ‘I love you’ even though we have never been on a date.”
He raises a brow. “We have been on a date. Several dates. Every minute we spend together is a special date. The roof, the cafe, St. Christopher’s.”
Boom. There goes my heart again.
A whistle cuts through the air, jolting me from the kiss. God, what’s gotten into me? I’ve never been the kind of girl to kiss in public, not that I’d ever done it before.
I lean back and close my eyes, pressing my forehead to his.
“Ahoi, you two freaks. Deaf and dumb, and a cutter.” My body stiffens. God, why can’t they just leave us alone?
“What?” he asks when he feels my body’s reaction.
I shake my head. “Let’s go home.”
Cole must sense trouble because his nostrils flare, his mouth tightens and he rips his gaze from mine, darting it around the pool area.
His gaze is hard, uncompromising. “What did he say to you? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. If you don’t tell me, I will go and ask him myself. We are not leaving until I know what he said.” His fingers are a bit too fast, so he has to say some words aloud, which seems to aggravate him even more.
Tears prick the back of my eyes. I take Cole’s face in my hands and force him to look at me. “Not worth it. Silver lining, remember?”
I bite my cheek, scrambling for something to say that will hopefully ease the storm brewing on his face.
“I want the truth, Nor,” he signs-speaks.
I sigh. “He called us ‘freaks’.”
Cole grabs my hips, lifts me off his lap and sits me on the lounge chair. He stalks toward the two guys, the muscles on his back bunching and flexing with every movement.
Scrambling to my feet, I dash after him, hoping to intercept him.
“What do you want, Deaf Boy? Can you hear me?” The idiot with the black hair shouts, sneering at Cole.
Oh God. Where is Josh?
I search around the pool, praying under my breath for him to appear. I have a feeling, given the dangerous vibes coming off Cole in droves and cracking the air around us, I won’t be able to stop him. I turn back to Cole and tap him on his shoulder to catch his attention, but he shrugs my finger off his body. He reaches down and grabs one of the guys by his throat. Black Haired idiot is slightly taller than Cole, but my boyfriend packs more muscle. He hauls him up and drags him back until they hit a wall. I’ve never seen him like this before and it’s frightening. Someone yells there is a fight going down. Yet, no one intervenes. I feel like I’ve left my body and am now watching everything from a distance, unable to control it.
Josh suddenly appears before me. A whoosh of air leaves my chest as he dashes to his brother’s side. Somehow he manages to make Cole let go, but Blondie springs to his feet, probably thinking Josh is here to help his brother by kicking his friend’s ass. He raises a fist, ready to take down Cole. Rage like I have never felt grips me by the throat. It drives me forward with my hand locked in a fist. I swing back and aim for the boy’s jaw but end up slamming into his shoulder. He blinks at me stunned and before I can think twice, I jump on his back, locking my arms around his neck. He swings around in circles, trying to dislodge me, but I’m smaller and my grip is surprisingly strong. Someone plucks me off Blondie’s back. I kick and squirm reaching out for the jerk in front of me who is busy rubbing his chin. I must have clocked him one.
“Calm down, Nor,” Josh whispers in my ear. I stop fighting and look over my shoulder. He’s grinning wide and shaking his head. “Jesus. You’re a little ball of fire, aren’t you?”
I huff and attempt to wiggle out of his arms, but he tightens his hold on me.
“Cole won’t be very happy if you end up getting hurt. So between a pissed off Eleanor and a raging Cole, I choose him.”
I stop fighting him and watch Cole prowling up and down, his chest rising and falling fast. One of the lifeguards is standing in front of him, trying to keep him from pouncing on the guy with the dark hair, who is now sitting on the floor, rubbing his neck. He’s jaw is already sporting a red mark where Cole’s fist connected with his face.
Shit. If he presses charges, Cole will be in trouble. Then I remember that my father is part of the Willow Hill police force.
Crap!
Panic steals my ability to breath. I point at the two boys and yell to the lifeguard, telling him they started it.
“He knows,” Josh murmurs, finally dropping his hands from my waist. “Are you calm, Nor?”
I nod glancing around the pool. People are laughing and others are pointing at the two boys, Blondie is glaring at me from behind the lifeguard’s shoulder.