Page 35 of The Wrong Bachelor

“Look, I know I couldn’t get out of it last night because of the audience vote, but Cole promised I’ll be gone next week,” I said. “It’s just one more week, and then everything will be back to normal.” As the words came out of my mouth, my stomach dipped. I didn’t even know what normal was between us anymore.

Jake shrugged off my explanation like he didn’t care; like the damage had already been done.

I watched him closely, trying to understand what was going on in his head. He was overreacting about the whole contest, but in a moment of clarity, I could see that this was about so much more than some stupid competition. Things had been bad between us for a while. I guess I was finally beginning to feel the repercussions.

“Fine,” I said, my voice soft and filled with every ounce of my hurt. “You clearly don’t trust me, even though I’ve only ever been loyal to you, and I can’t be with someone who thinks that I would betray them.” I paused as I tried to hold back the sob I could feel rising up in my throat. I didn’t want to cry in front of him, but I was struggling to contain the pain that was clutching my chest.

“That’s not who I am,” I managed to continue, “and if you think I’m like that for even a second then you don’t know me at all and you don’t deserve me.”

Before he could respond, I jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind me. His car remained idling by the side of the road, but I didn’t turn as I walked back down my driveway.

Several moments later, I heard the screech of car wheels as Jake took off from the curb and sped away. It was only once I heard the car disappear around the corner that I let the emotion that was building in my chest burst out of me. Tears rushed down my cheeks and my whole body ached in agony.

I collapsed to my knees in the driveway and cradled my arms around my body tightly. I felt completely numb and empty inside. I knew that Jake and I had been on rocky ground for some time, but it hurt so badly to know that it had now come to an end for good. I couldn’t picture the future without him.

I knew I had to get off the ground and go to school, but I couldn’t seem to get my legs to comply. Mom and Dad had already left for work, and Lucas went straight to school from hockey practice. The only option left was to walk, but the thought of trudging all the way to school on my own made me even more miserable.

“Madi?” a voice called from the street.

Oh no, not him.

I could hear the pounding of footsteps coming toward me as Cole raced down my driveway.

“Not now, Cole.” I barely managed to blurt out the words between sobs. My whole body seemed to shake as I cried.

I felt Cole’s warm hand softly press against my back, and then he lightly took hold of my chin, lifting it so I could look him in the eyes. I’d never really noticed the color of his eyes before. They were greenish-gold around the center and changed to a shade of blue around the rim. There was so much concern in them as he looked at me, far more than I ever would have expected to see.

“You okay, buttercup?”

I gave a sad laugh at the nickname. “Have you been watching The Princess Bride?”

“That’s inconceivable,” he said, with a smile.

My laugh was a little more genuine this time. It didn’t stop the tears that were still welling in my eyes though.

“Shouldn’t you be at school?” I asked.

“Shouldn’t you?” he replied.

I let out a breath. Cole was still cupping my chin in his hand, and his face felt far too close to mine. As he if sensed my thought, Cole lowered his hand and settled onto the ground at my side. He was still watching me though, and I knew he was desperate to find out why I was crying, but he didn’t ask the question.

“Jake and I broke up,” I eventually whispered. It hurt so badly to say the words out loud, and a new wave of tears threatened to cascade down my cheeks.

Cole frowned, and a flicker of guilt entered his eyes. “Is it because of the show?”

I shrugged. “That’s part of it, but we’ve been having problems for a while. I guess seeing the episode last night was the final straw for him.”

“I’m sorry if it was my fault in any way,” he said. From the genuine look in his eyes, I could tell he meant it. “Jake’s an idiot for letting you go.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I agreed.

“Come on,” he said, suddenly jumping to his feet. He held out one hand to help me up. As I looked up at his outstretched hand, I had a weird sense of déjà vu. It reminded me of how he’d offered out his hand to help me out of the pool the other night, and a flicker of guilt rushed through me. I’d been so immature to pull him in when he’d only been trying to help me.

I took his hand though, this time not yanking him down with it. His grip was warm, and our hands seemed to fit perfectly together.

“I can’t go to school,” I said, once I was standing. I wiped my eyes and felt thankful that I’d decided not to put makeup on this morning. It probably didn’t stop me from looking like a mess though.

“Who said we were going to school?” Cole replied, giving me his signature smirk. It seemed that even during sad or stressful moments it was never far from his face.

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