Page 38 of Wasted

Fuck me... His biceps and chest flexed as he worked the button of his jeans open and slid his zipper down while trying to kick out his boots simultaneously. If he weren't so hot, it would be funny.

Then it dawned on me that he was going to strip naked to jump in.

"I'm just kidding." The words tumbled out of my mouth, accompanied by a nervous chuckle. My heart raced at the thought of Cole stripping down right here in front of me. I wasn't sure my poor vagina could handle it. "Put your shirt on, and let's ride the fence line."

"You sure?" He shot me a mischievous grin. I loved that grin.

We rode side by side in silence down the fence line for several long minutes, not in an awkward way but in a relaxing, comfortable way. Like we hadn't just spent two years apart. Like he hadn't hated me just three days ago.

"How much longer are you planning to stay in Bridgewater?"

"A few days." Cole's gaze drifted to the horizon, his expression thoughtful. "Kylie and River are here, and I have some business to deal with. Plus, it might be good for my writing to hang out a little and try making some fresh music."

"What's the real deal between you and Kylie?"

He smiled. "Kylie and I are just friends."

"But you said..."

"I said a lot of shit out of anger because I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me. I said a lot of shit I shouldn't have. Kylie and River are my family because they're all I've had for the past two years. They've been the only ones I could count on, well, other than Wyatt, but Kylie and I have never been anything more than friends."

"Why not set her free then?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

“Set her free?”

"Yeah, I mean, like, let her know it's okay to date other people and move on with her life."

He laughed. "What the hell makes you think Kylie isn't free?" He cocked his head. "Did Kylie say that?"

"Well, no," I stumbled over my words, trying not to give away anyone's secrets, "but I mean, she follows you around the world."

He laughed again. This time, it was harder. "It's not me that Kylie follows around the world. It's Wyatt. Kylie and Wyatt have been dating since shortly after she had River."

"Wait…" My face twisted with confusion. "You know that Kylie and Wyatt are a thing?"

"Yeah."

"Does Wyatt know that you know?" I obviously knew the answer to that.

"Did he tell you I didn't know?"

"Yeah, he said you were interfering with their relationship. That you couldn't let her go because you were still hung up on your past."

Staring forward, he huffed out a laugh. "I think we got played." His gaze flashed to me. "Wyatt knew that I knew. The night of my final show, I was mad that he brought you on tour. He pissed me off in the elevator, and I called Kylie my family, and even though she is, I was baiting him. I made it sound like I wanted her back, but I didn't because she was never mine to begin with. I was just pushing his buttons because I was angry, but now I see this was all part of their plan. They wanted me to know the truth. They used the guilt you carried against you."

"But why?"

"To get me out of this rut I've been stuck in, and I think Wyatt wants to propose to Kylie, but he's worried I might care, maybe because of River."

"Sounds like you two need to have a conversation."

"This looks like a good place for lunch," Cole said, changing the subject.

I flicked a glance around, realizing where we were.

It was our oak tree.

One huge lonely oak tree in the middle of an open field next to the creek.

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