Page 80 of Honey Bee Library
“You okay?” he asked, his voice becoming clearer with each second that passed.
Thankfully, my mind was clear enough to nod. He carried me around the couch and set me back down where I’d been sitting before he walked in.
“Yeah…yeah, I think so,” I said as I pressed down on the couch so I could scoot my body up into a sitting position.
Cole was standing next to the couch, looking down at me. I glanced up to meet his gaze for a moment before I stared down at my hands. Why was he here? Did he forget something? Was heback,back or just passing through? Was he going to kick me and Jasper out?
My mind was racing with questions, but I couldn’t find the words to ask any of them. I think I was scared of what his answers would be.
Cole seemed to be hesitant as well. I could feel the warmth of his gaze on me every few seconds before he pulled it away and glanced around the room. I felt like I was in hell, waiting for him to saysomething.
“Jasper asleep?”
My gaze snapped to him. I had not expected him to ask that, but I was grateful for it. It was simple, innocuous, and something I could answer.
“Yeah. He passed out about an hour ago,” I said with a nod that felt a tad too eager. I forced myself to slow it down.
“Oh, good.”
“He was asking where you’d gone.” The comment was out before I could stop it. For some reason, I thought it would come across as lighthearted. But the weight that hung in the air had me regretting ever saying it. “I mean...” I tried to redeem myself, but there was nothing I could say that would take the pained expression off Cole’s face.
“I’m sorry,” was all I could manage.
“Willow, I?—”
“How’s your grandma?” I didn’t want to hear his apologies. I didn’t want to hear how it was best for him to live in Miami while I stayed in Harmony. I didn’t want to hear how we were from two different worlds and we were never going to fit.
Those were things I’d already told myself. I was determined to be truthful so that I was prepared for the heartbreak that was certain to follow.
He paused, his gaze drifting over my face. “She’s good. Bethany came to visit.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh?” Good, maybe I got through to her.
Cole nodded. “Yeah. Liam said something about you confronting her?”
“Oh.” Crap. I hoped that Cole wasn’t angry. I was just…fed up with parents whose children were their last priority. “I’m sorry for that.”
Cole’s expression stilled, and I wasn’t sure how to read it. Was he angry? Upset? Trying to tell me to mind my own business?
“Thank you.”
Not the reaction I’d expected. “For what?”
“For standing up for me. I appreciate it.” His smile was back and sending butterflies racing around my stomach. “You said things that I would have been too chicken to say.”
I chuckled. “I doubt that.” I met his gaze once more and held it. I wanted him to know that I believed what I was about to say. “You were just caught off guard. Given time, I’m sure you would’ve said something.”
What he didn’t know was there was a sort of healing that happened when I said the things I did. I wasn’t rude, I was pointed. I said the things that I’d been wanting to say to Harold for a long time.
He studied me, and for a moment—a brief, minuscule moment—his gaze slipped down to my lips. “Willow, what are we doing?” His voice was deep and full of want, and it sent shivers across my skin.
I had a suspicion as to what he meant, but I didn’t want to assume. I didn’t want to break down if what Ithoughthe was saying wasn’t actually what he meant.
“What do you mean?” I finally asked. I felt as if I were melting under his stare.
“Why did you pull away?” He slowly lowered himself down until he was keeling in front of me. His gaze was level with mine, and the pain in it was so palpable that it took my breath away. “I love you.”
His declaration caught me off guard. I stared at him, wondering if I’d just conjured those words. “What?” I whispered, tears brimming my eyes and blurring his face.
