Page 22 of Wasted

"There," he cut me off. "I said it, but I don't feel any better."

"Cole, please..."

"I'm going to bed." He pushed open the sliding glass door and stepped inside.

I sank against the chair and shot back the rest of the whiskey in my glass.

Even though my heart hurt knowing I'd caused him this much pain, I didn't regret my choices. I would have never forgiven myself if he resented me because he never took his chance at fame, and he would have every morning he got up at four a.m. to work someone else's land because that's the only opportunity there was in Bridgewater.

Chapter Twelve

Cole

Standing at my hotel door, staring through the peephole, I watched as Taylor paced the hallway floor in black leggings, an oversized sweatshirt, and bare feet. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and her pretty blue eyes were deep in thought as she talked to herself. I had no idea what she was doing. I'd made my plans with Wyatt clear. I wanted to eat, drink, and sleep, so I doubted he sent her to stalk my hotel door.

It was the night before our last show, and after tomorrow night, I wouldn't have to see Taylor again. That should make me happy, but it didn't. The pain was just as raw now as it was then.

My lips twitched with amusement as my gaze followed her. I wasn't sure what Taylor was fighting, but she looked pretty fucking cute doing it. If this had been before, I would have opened the door, jerked her inside, and kissed her until she didn't remember whatever it was that was bothering her, but it wasn't.

She turned to the door and sucked in a deep breath like she was preparing for a war, but I wasn't in the mood for a battle tonight. She raised her hand to knock, and my smile faded as I jerked the door open.

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted as her gaze dropped to my bare chest. The corner of my lip curled into a smirk. She might have married my brother, but she was still attracted to me.

"What are you doing out here?" I drawled, leaning against the door frame.

She dropped her arm. "I, uh... um, well..."

"You can take the night off," I cut off her mumbling. "My room is empty, and I'm not leaving. I just want to order some food and chill."

"Oh, no," she said, fidgeting with the hem of her sweatshirt. "I was actually just wondering if you wanted some company."

"Company?" I echoed, my eyebrow arching skeptically. "From you?"

"Yeah, I'm just a little homesick," Taylor admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it's so quiet next door."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned against the door frame and cocked a brow. "And I was your best option?"

"I don't really know anyone else. Your comments..." She paused, pressing her lips into a tight line. "Well, they didn't exactly make me super popular." I didn't say anything because I had no intention of making things easier for her. "Never mind." She turned to leave.

"Hold up." My hand shot out, grasping her wrist. Her gaze flicked from my hand to my face, surprise evident in her eyes. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

I dropped her wrist and stepped back. "Come on," I huffed out. "I ordered enough for both of us." A part of me didn't wantto be around her; it was too painful, but another part couldn't let her go.

She stepped through the doorway, and I threw the door shut.

"You still love pizza and wings?"

She flicked a glance over her shoulder, her lips pulling into a grin, and my heart clenched as the girl from my past flooded my memories in slow motion.

The first time I talked to her, she'd given me that same look. It was that glance, that smile, that made me fall in love with her before I was even old enough to know what love was.

"Beer?"

"Yes, thank you." She turned and dropped onto the couch. I grabbed two beers from the mini fridge and twisted, handing her one. Sinking into the chair on the opposite side of the coffee table across from Taylor, I twisted off the cap at the same time she did.

"Wyatt told me you decided not to take the money to pay off your parent's land."

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