Page 145 of Love Unforgettable
“And Cole, in a way, has done the same thing to you, by declaring you’re his lightning bolt, but subconsciously admitting he loves you. It hasn’t progressed in the quote, normal, fashion. But it’s still him dictating what’s happening. And you are happy as hell to go along with it because it’s what you know. It’s what you’re comfortable with even if it is dysfunctional. It’s your normal.”
I look at him, my mouth hanging open, squint my eyes and cock my head. “Were you always this smart?”
“Pfft. Yeah,” he scoffs at the same time Kat nods yes and Remi shakes her head no. He glares at them, then turns back to me. “Anyway, he’s breaking that pattern for you. Forcing you to make a healthy decision by letting you call the shots. You determine when you’re ready and he’s the one kept waiting.”
“But isn’t it the same when a guy proposes ordinarily and he has to wait for an answer?”
“No,” Chance says.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because if you recall, Cole never asked. This is all up to you. He’ll take you either way. It’s not one or the other. It’s an anti-proposal. And it’s pretty fucking brilliant.” An alarm goes off on his watch, he looks down at it. “That’s all I have time for, ladies, you are released from your jinx, I have some baseball to armchair coach.” He grabs his cell phone and calls someone, they immediately begin talking about the game that hasn’t even started yet.
“His family is obsessed with baseball,” Remi says shaking her head.
“So, what do I do?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Kat says. “I mean, are you ever really ready for marriage? Like can anyone say with one hundred percent certainty that they are ready? Or do they just decide to do it and then keep moving forward?”
“You don’t have to decide now,” Remi says. “Think on it. Date some more. He’s not going anywhere by his own admission.”
“I know,” I say. “But what if he does go anyway?”
“If that’s gonna happen, it doesn’t matter where he is or what has already happened. Hello? Trevor anyone?” Kat says.
“True,” I say.
I finish up with the girls and we help Remi with her dishes, then I head home.
I take my time getting ready for bed. Knowing that once I’m ready to lay down I’ll call Cole and I’m still trying to process what Chance said earlier. It makes sense, everything he said. And I’m trying to keep a level head about it all, but it’s not easy. I want this with Cole. I know he stopped me from telling him I love him at the hotel. I’m just not sure why. Maybe he’s right and I’m not ready for him, for something new, for my forever love. But I feel sure about my feelings for him. And, yes, it’s fast, but why can’t I have my lightning bolt moment too. When you know, you just know.
He answers the phone, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. “Sweetness.”
“Hi,” I say. I reach in my pocket for the ring. I like to hold it when I’m talking to him. I don’t know why.
But I can’t quite reach the bottom of my pocket. I stand up and dig my hand all way to the bottom.
Not there.
I cradle the phone between my cheek and shoulder to check my other pocket. And then both pockets at once.
Empty.
Back pockets. Same.
Time to panic.
Cole is talking, but I have no idea what he’s saying.
“Hey,” I interrupt. “Can I call you right back?”
“Of course. Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah. Totally. I just . . . I have to pee and I don’t want you to hear it.”
“Got it. Okay. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
