Page 178 of Timeless

“He is going to go to great lengths to make sure you never leave his side again.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because I know how we felt when we lost you. And Jax, it’s hard for me to say this, felt worse than us. So, I know when he says he isn’t going anywhere, he means it, Amber. He might have screwed up in the past but he isn’t going to repeat it.”

I couldn’t believe Cole was kneeling in front of me, telling me to trust the one man he always warned me away from.

“If you really think he is going to be different this time, why are you warning me off him and fighting him trying to be with me?” It didn’t make sense.

Cole smiled. Like the answer was obvious. “He might be the man for you. But that doesn’t mean we are going to give him to you easily.”

I actually smiled, because that in its own twisted way, made sense. If you knew Cole and my brothers. I wrapped my arms around his neck. And I was so fucking thankful for having him as a big brother.

I always took his jealous overacting temper for granted.

“Come on, let’s get you a taxi and get you home.” Cole lifted me to my feet.

Back on my heels, my feet went back to aching. I unwrapped my arms from around him and put on hand on his shoulder, balancing myself as I took off one heel and then the other.

“You got your knife?” I asked as I tossed the shoes in the direction of the trash. They were designer heels given to me by Will. I think that’s what made me want to discard them even more.

Cole pulled his knife out from his leg holster. “Not going to start stabbing people again, are you?” His words were light but somewhat serious as he handed it to me, not knowing what I wanted it for.

I sliced the end of the dress up to my thigh each side, up to my hip, slaying this once perfectly designed highly expensive dress.

I handed the knife back to Cole. “Okay, I’m good for the bike.”

He looked at me, startled. “You on the back of my bike, with me in club colors, and it is showing someone has taken a knife to your dress, isn’t going to look fucking good for either of us.”

“I don’t care what people think.”

“I fucking do! I don’t want them thinking I’m fucking my sister!”

I laughed. “Come on, Cole. No one is going to think you’re that lucky.” I pushed him on the shoulder. “Plus, we look nothing like so no one is going to know we’re related.”

He looked at me dryly as I went to his bike. I think he was weighing it up in his head. Whether to let me on the back of his bike or not.

Guess I might have to apply a bit of force. “I haven’t been on the back of a bike in over six years. I was going to let you have honor of being the first one I trusted with my life again.” I made light of it and then sighed a little. “I’ll catch a taxi, seeing as you won’t be seen dead with me on a bike.”

And just like that, my little bit of pressure caused him to snap and he was walking toward me, muttering how I was nothing but trouble.

He handed me his helmet and got on his bike. “If one person stares at you for longer than a second, I’m pulling my gun.”

“Trust me, Cole. One look at your grumpy face, they won’t even glance at me.” I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. God, I forgot he was like a trunk. So fucking solid. Then he took off abruptly, causing me to squeal but he wouldn’t have heard it over the roar of his bike and I was thankful for that. Because he would have made fun out of me for squealing like a girl who had never been on the back of a Harley.

* * *

When we got back home,I didn’t even go into the living room to see everyone. I needed to wipe this makeup off, get out of this ripped dress, and sew some of my self-esteem back together. I could hear the boys laughing and Jack, too, over the television.

But I needed to pull myself together before anyone saw me like this.

I walked into my room, my fingers going to the earrings I was wearing and unclicking them, tossing them on the bedside table. Then I took off the necklace. Not even caring, I dropped it on the floor next to the trash, missing the bedside table.

I felt drained. So drained. I had no idea what I was going to do about Jack’s school now. My one shot at getting him into the next best failed. I was about to just fall back on the bed, when I heard noise from the closet.

I frowned, seeing the light on. I thought I heard Jack downstairs? Only Jack would be hiding in my closet, playing hide and seek with Chelsea.

Before I knew it, I was standing in the doorway of my closet. But it looked nothing like how I left it this morning.

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