Page 70 of Clumsy in Love

“For?”

“What I said to you on the phone last week. I didn’t mean it.”

“You were right,” she said.

“No. You are the least cowardly person I know. You wanted to protect your friends. I get that. I was frustrated, but that’s no excuse. I was out of line.”

“S’okay.” She shrugged. His apology meant more to her than it should have.

“What made you change your mind about testifying?”

“My friends and I decided we could take care of ourselves. We’d have the town on our side and home-court advantage. Green Valley Falls versus the Fire Vipers.”

“It wouldn’t have been a basketball game.”

“I know. But it was the right thing to do. Dangerous or not.”

He studied her. “That’s really brave, Bennett.”

Uncomfortable with the compliment, she changed the subject. “Where are we going?”

“The only place I can think of where I know you’ll be safe,” he said, pulling out his phone and starting a text. “Let me just warn them we’re coming.”

Awhile later, the driver parked at the curb of a beautiful two-story Colonial. A woman rushed out to greet them, throwing her arms around Cole before they even got to the front steps. She was pretty, maybe mid-fifties. A man and two younger women stood on the porch behind her. Cole’s family. It had to be.

“Hey, Mom,” Cole said, returning the hug. “Thanks for letting us crash here.”

“Anytime. You know that. So, who’s your friend?” she asked coyly. Holly smiled when Cole turned a low shade of red.

“Mom. Please.” He ushered them all inside. “This is Holly. Holly, this is my mom, Ellen. My dad, Bruce. And my sisters, Steph and Tracy.” He pointed to each one as he introduced them.

“Nice to meet you all,” Holly said. “Sorry to intrude.”

“What happened, Cole?” Steph asked bluntly. “Must be pretty serious for you to bring a woman out here.”

He rolled his eyes but told them the story.

“You shot a guy?” Tracy said. “Wild.”

“There’s a mole in the PD?” Steph asked. “Even wilder.”

“Are you okay, honey?” his mom asked.

“I’m fine. I think we’re out of danger, otherwise I wouldn’t have come out here. But just to be safe, I didn’t want to go to my place. If it is a dirty cop, finding my address would be simple.”

“Well, we’ll fire up the grill and have a game night,” his mother said.

“Or open some beers and get out the old family albums,” Steph said with a wicked wink.

“Ooh. I’d pay good money for that option.” Holly laughed.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I regret this already,” Cole said.

“Come on, Holly,” Tracy said, looping her arm in Holly’s. “First stop, Cole’s childhood bedroom.”

“What are you two even doing here?” Cole asked his sisters.

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