Page 17 of Wasted

I slid out of the bed, my bare feet silent on the cold floor as I followed him.

He flicked on the light over the stove, the sudden brightness making me squint. The fridge door opened with a soft whoosh.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "What are you doing?"

Cole's head remained buried in the fridge, his voice muffled. "Making a sandwich."

My stomach growled, and I closed my eyes, but if he heard, he didn't pay it any mind. "So what are we talking about?" I shouldered the wall that led into the hallway where the bunks were.

"How do we make this work?" He didn't bother looking up as he worked on putting his sandwich together. "It's my tour, so I can't leave, and you apparently aren't leaving, so how do we make this work for the next two weeks?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure that's up to me. I think that's up to you."

Cole's jaw tightened. "If it were up to me, you'd be going home." He slammed the knife down on the counter. "Actually, you wouldn't be here at all." His gaze flicked up, blue eyes cold as ice meeting mine. He jerked his chin toward the chair. "Sit down and eat." He dropped the plate on the table.

My eyebrows shot up, gaze darting between Cole and the plate. "You made it for me?"

He shrugged, avoiding eye contact. "Your stomach is keeping me awake."

My lips curled into a grin because somewhere deep down, he still cared. I was hungry, and he knew it. "Thank you."

Cole's features hardened, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "Don't think more of it than it is." His eyes, cold as winter frost, bore into mine. "Even whores need to eat."

Heat rushed to my face, my fingernails digging half-moons into my palms. "That's enough." I clenched my jaw, my words coming out in a rush. "I get it. What I did was wrong, and I hurt you..."

"You didn't..."

"Save it," I growled, shoving my finger into his chest. "We both know I did," I lowered my tone, "and I'm truly sorry." I waited for him to ask me why or how or anything, but he didn't. "But we have to figure out a way to coexist for the next couple of weeks, and then I will go home to Bridgewater, and you will go back to Nashville, and we will never have to see each other again."

He blew out a heavy sigh, and my stomach growled again.

"Sit down," Cole ordered, his voice harsh. Then, almost reluctantly, he added in a softer tone, "Eat your food. I may not like you, but I don't want you to die of starvation on my bus. How would I swing that one to the press?" He slid into the table acrossfrom my food. "I can see the headlines now: Ex that married brother tortured by starvation."

I huffed out a laugh. It wasn't funny, but it kind of was. Cole's gaze lifted to meet mine, but there was no amusement in his face, only hurt in his deep blue eyes. "I am sorry, Cole." The words hung in the air between us, heavy and inadequate.

If forgiveness is what you're looking for, you won't find it." Each word was clipped, precise, like individual daggers.

I shook my head. "I know that I don't deserve forgiveness, but I do deserve human decency."

He sucked in a slow breath before releasing a heavy exhale as he sank back and threw an arm over the back of the seat. "Human decency would have been telling me you were in love with my brother in private and definitely before you decided to marry him."

Swallowing hard, I nodded, dropping my gaze to the table. It was hard to tell someone something that wasn't real. "You would have tried to change my mind." My voice dropped to a whisper. "And I didn't want you to."

"And what are you hoping for now, Taylor?" My gaze lifted, meeting his, and my brow furrowed. "He's dead, and you're alone."

"What?" My face contorted with confusion.

"If you're hoping for a second chance?—"

"Cole, no," I cut him off. "I mean..." I pressed my lips into a thin line while I quickly collected myself and pulled my word vomit together. "I'm going to be honest because I think transparency is important right now. I knew the day Caleb announced our engagement that you would never be able to forgive me, and I don't blame you, but I don't regret it." His jaw flexed, and his fist clenched. "But not for the reasons you think. I'm so proud of everything you've done and all your success, but if you think I'm back here for a second chance, you're wrong. Ireally wanted to help. I knew the day we told you that I'd lost you forever. I've accepted that."

Cole crossed his arms over his broad chest, head cocking to one side. One eyebrow arched skeptically. "So you have nothing to gain from this?"

I dropped my gaze to the floor, shoulders sagging. There was no point in lying. It would all come out in the end, plus maybe honesty would gain me some points. My voice came out barely above a whisper. "I'm losing my parent's land." I swallowed hard. "It's a few months away from starting the foreclosure process."

"Ah," Cole drawled, a bitter smirk playing on his lips. "So, if you keep me in line, my label will pay you enough to keep the land." He punctuated each word with a tap on the table. I nodded, and so did he as he leaned forward, propping himself up on the table on his forearms. "If I pay off your parent's land right now, will you go home?"

"No." I shook my head. "Because if I do, everything will have been for nothing. I have to stay, or your label will drop you, and Kylie will file for full custody. Even though the money helps, it's not just about the money."

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