What the heck is he doing? Walking out of his front gate and into the madness screaming and yelling questions so rapidly you can’t decipher what any of them is actually asking.
My gaze drinks him in and I try to understand the expression on his face. He looks nothing short of determined with his body held tall and sure with each step he takes past his now open gates and closer to the cameras. A strobe light of flashes dances in the darkness as he willingly walks, alone, into the crowd. It isn’t until he stops and holds up one hand to silence the group in front of him that I get a good look at his face.
To the world, he looks like Kane the movie star, confident in every move he makes including this one, but to me, all I see is the man who is falling apart.
“Holy crap.” I gasp when those eyes I love so much seem to look through the screen and right into my soul.
Kole grunts out a low laugh, but neither of us speaks, waiting and watching the live feed on the screen.
“I’m sure you have better things to do than to sit at my gate,” he starts, looking around him at the reporters in his path. “As you know, there have been a few reports about my private life today that have created some unpleasantness for me and those I love.” The crowd starts to buzz at the mention of those rumors, but he continues before anyone can question him. “While I hope you understand I won’t confirm everything that is out there, I want you all to just shut up and listen to what I have to say.”
Kole laughs loudly at his brother’s hard tone and passive-aggressive dig at the invasiveness that their very existence brings him.
“Today, the woman I love found out the hard way just what your tactless reporting can do when you take just the smallest grain of truth and twist it into whatever you want. She was hurt because of my life, and I won’t allow anyone the chance to question her value to my life. Not by you, my fans, and not even from herself. My private life is none of your business. My happiness and hers are the only things that concern me. So while I have your attention, allow me to set the rumors to rest. Yes, it’s true that I am without a doubt spoken for. The beautiful woman who fell into my life earlier this year owns every part of me, my heart, and my future. You might think that’s newsworthy, and you can try to find drama to fill your stories with, but I’m here to let you know you won’t find any. The woman I love gave me the greatest gift when she opened herself up and took a chance on me. Go home and wait for the next story to break because you will not find it with Willow and me.”
He keeps his eyes on the cameras in front of him for a few beats and then turns, walks to the car I hadn’t noticed idling just inside the gate, and climbs in the passenger seat. I can see Cam’s face, a huge smile in place, as the cameras start to flash rapidly as he inches forward and the feed cuts off.
“Did that just happen?”
Kole closes the browser and turns his head. “Fuck yeah, it did.”
I shake my head at his overwhelming happiness. I play back what I just watched, wanting to pinch myself because it feels like there is no way that was real. Kane just not only created a scene most romance movies would kill to generate with the passion and conviction in which he just professed his love—for me—to the world, but he also did something that I know he hated. He opened up his privacy in order to show me that he feels just as strongly about our love and me as he had said.
I know there is still uncertainty between us, but there is no doubt in my mind anymore that he’s gearing up for a battle to prove to me that he understands I meant what I said. I deserve everything, and he’s giving me just that.
“How did you know this was happening?” I question Kole. He walks around the desk and drops down into the plush couch against the wall. He yawns and I look at the clock on the monitor. “How were there even that many people there at almost one in the morning?”
“The vultures don’t sleep when there’s a juicy story to be found. And to answer your question, Kane called. Woke my ass up and demanded I get you in front of the computer in five minutes. I did my job, and now, we wait.”
“Wait?” I sputter.
He nods, winks, and folds his hands behind his head. “Yeah, shouldn’t be much longer.”
I nod when I have no clue what I’m actually nodding for and stand from the chair.
“Oh, no. You can’t leave.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m just not sure what I should do. Duck for cover or look for armor.”
He barks out a laugh but doesn’t say more.
His silence is almost worse than my imagination right now. I know Kane’s coming. I could feel it even if I didn't have Kole hinting it. My body is a mix of nerves and excitement after watching that. Is he coming to tell me the same thing or is he coming to give me more?
“What am I supposed to do now?” I all but shriek at Kole.
“Uh … maybe calm down?”