Page 74 of Unfaithful

Julian put on a complete show of protest—grumbling, sighing, even throwing in an eye roll for good measure—but in the end, he did exactly what Emma told him to do.

As I sat, my gaze kept drifting to Archie, his words looping in my mind like a song I couldn't turn down. No matter how much I tried to get lost in the laughter and the thumping bass, his voice remained a steady hum beneath it all.

The way he had looked at me—the certainty in his expression, the unspoken promise in his tone—refused to fade. Even as Emma chattered beside me and Julian threw out sarcastic remarks, my mind kept pulling me back to him. To what he had said, the weight of it, and the emotions it stirred. I kept searching for clarity, trying to untangle the mess of feelings he left in his wake.

The thought played on repeat, even as we made our way home at two a.m. Archie remained quiet and composed, as always, while Emma and Julian more than made up for the silence, their playful bickering and laughter filling the car. But no matter how loud they were, my thoughts were louder.

And then my mind wandered to what I felt with Cole.

Did I still love him?

The truth pressed against me was undeniable. I did. I loved Cole in a way that wasn't so easily undone. It wasn't something I could switch off or erase, no matter how much I wanted to. It was still there, deep-rooted, refusing to let go.

Maybe Archie was right.

Maybe I wasn't ready for him.

Perhaps it was dependence, comfort, or the pull of familiarity that I felt for him. Maybe it was just because he had been there for me when I needed someone the most.

Archie pulled up to the curb in front of my house, the engine humming softly before he shifted it into park. One by one, we spilled out onto the quiet street, the night air crisp against my skin.

I was still laughing, breathless and lightheaded, at Julian's latest jab about Emma's height. He had spent the entire ride coming up with ridiculous nicknames for her, each one more absurd than the last—Tiny Terror, Teacup Tornado, Pocket Rocket, Mini Menace, Smol Storm, TinkerHell.

Then he decided on one. "Seriously, I think TinkerHell suits you best," Julian teased, smirking as Emma shot him a murderous glare.

I clutched my stomach, barely able to catch my breath between fits of laughter.

But then my eyes landed on something—or rather, someone—and my laughter faded.

Cole.

He sat on the doorstep, watching me.

Slowly, he rose to his full height, straightening his coat with an air of quiet control. His gaze flickered from me to Archie, who stood just behind me, unmoving. I felt rooted to the spot, my breath catching in my throat as he took a step closer, tension curling around me like an unseen force, impossible to ignore.

The surrounding air also grew tense. I could feel it. Emma's fingers brushed my arm, a silent urge to pull me away. Julian, usually so relaxed, had gone rigid beside her.

Cole's eyes lingered on Archie for a moment before drifting back to me. And the instant our gazes locked, something in his expression softened, like a storm settling into calm.

Then he smiled. A slow, gentle smile.

"Hey, babe. I've been waiting for you."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Cole

Her smile faltered the moment her eyes met mine.

One second, she was laughing—carefree and happy—and then, just like that, the laughter died on her lips.

And I noticed. I noticed every bit.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sharp.

I swallowed hard, knowing anything I said might only upset her more. "I just wanted to talk."

"It's late, Cole," she said firmly. "We can talk another time."

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