Page 177 of Timeless

“Shut up, Cole,” I muttered and signed the piece of paper at the police counter, getting my shit back. I could feel Cole’s eyes on me, and I knew the pleasure he would be getting out of bailing me out of jail. Usually, I was always the one to bail them out.

I had done the odds. Weighed up which brother to call. I knew Cole would rub it in my face and gloat but he wouldn’t mention it to anyone.

Tyler wouldn’t have been able to keep his mouth shut and would have sprayed out the fact he bailed me out. So, he was ruled off the list.

Adam would be really concerned and thinking there was more reasons behind me being locked up and me keeping it from everyone would result in him telling one of my brothers, maybe even Jax, out of concern.

And then there was Troy.

Hell, he would love to give me a lecture. And I wouldn’t hear the end of it.

Jax wasn’t even an option.

I turned to the brother I had called because he was the least likely to make me suffer long term for what I had done.

“So, want to explain the stabbing charge?” Cole didn’t even wait until we were two steps away from the station.

I shot him a glare. “It wasn’t a stabbing charge. I threw a knife at him; there is a difference.” I wouldn’t defend what I did but I would get the facts right. “Trust me, he got off lightly.”

We came to a stop at Cole’s bike and I wanted to slap my brother.

“Seriously, you brought your bike! How the hell am I supposed to get on that, wearing this?” I snapped at him. Did he never think one step ahead? I wasn’t dressed in clothes that would physically let me get on the bike!

This dress literally clung to me. I couldn’t separate my legs to get on the bike if I wanted to.

“Start explaining the rest of the charges, Amber.” Cole crossed his arms and gave me a look that told me if I didn’t tell him he would be making sure someone else got the information out of me.

So much for him being the easy one.

I sighed. “The public disruption charge was because the dickhead decided to do it in a public place. Not my fault. The stabbing charge was him dramatically changing the facts about how that knife grazed his head. And as for the assault charges.” I shrugged. “I’ve always punched not slapped. It’s not my fault my punch has some weight to it.”

“What did this guy do? This Justin guy? The one pressing charges?”

“What did he do? He tested my fucking limit, that’s what he did!” I was so fucking frustrated. And it was coming out now. “I’m sick of men taking advantage of me! All the men in my life know I will do anything for Jack and they have always used that against me.” Tears were swelling my eyes. “And Justin was just another man to try and get me to do something out of my love for Jack.”

I was so fucking stupid to even think Justin would do it just out of friendship. How many times had I forced Jack to be nice to Lucas! How many times had I not judged Justin for leaving his wife when she had a health scare.

“You know what’s sad?” I looked back at Cole, who was frowning. “I nearly did it. I nearly thought for a second. Fuck it. He just wants sex and I’ll get what I want if I do it. And sex isn’t a big deal. Then I realized all I do is sell myself short for men. For Will. For Tae. Always wanting me to be this thing they can put in a box and pull out when they want!”

I don’t know why I was so upset right now. Maybe the realization that I had done things to make sure Jack came first and usually that meant I would do anything. When it came to Will, I thought he would be a great influence on Jack. And Tae, I kept him in my life because he made sure Jack was safe.

I went and sat down on the steps of the station. “Why is it all men want to do to me is hurt me and use me? What does that say about me? That I’ll just let any man walk all over me?” I was saying that more to myself than to Cole. Tae hurt me. Will hurt me. Every male in my life since I left Jax has hurt me. And then there was Jax himself. The main source of the pain. But never once had Jax used me like all the men who came after him. Hell, even the men before him did. I remembered really well how Blake used me.

I wiped the tears off my cheeks but the more I wiped away, the quicker they came down. “I’ve been making sure that Jack always comes first and I didn’t stop to realize that people were taking advantage of that.” I stopped wiping away the tears and just let them run down my cheeks but I was now wishing I had on waterproof mascara.

I didn’t even realize Cole had moved until he was kneeling in front of me.

“No man worth anything would use you loving Jack against you. It says what type of man they are for doing it. Doesn’t reflect on you at all.” Cole gently wiped away the tears on my cheek. “There has only ever been on man for you and that’s Jax. All the guys in between have just been time wasters, fill ins.”

I blinked at him, the tears still coming down but I was positive I hadn’t just heard what he said correctly. “Did you just admit to Jax being good for me?”

“I never said he was good for you. I said he was the man for you. For some sick and twisted reason, the man most feared fell in love with my little sister.” Cole sighed and his hand paused on my cheek. “Just because he is the man for you doesn’t mean I’m going to let him get you without a fight.” He smiled. “After all, I have to put him through hell, if he is going to put up with you for the rest of his life.”

I wanted to smile but I couldn’t because there was a flaw in what Cole just said. “You mean, for the rest of the time until he pushes me away. Jax never stays, Cole. I’m not blinded with love to expect different from him. I know what he is capable of and that’s breaking my heart when he pushes me away.” A smile did appear on my face but it was out of sadness. “Guess I’m stupid yet again for willingly waiting for him to do it.”

Cole looked frustrated. “You really going to make me stick up for him?” Cole said that like it was the worst possible thing I could force him to do.

But I stayed quiet. Because I wasn’t going to stick up for Jax when I knew what he would do. So, I wasn’t expecting Cole to stick up for Jax either.

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