Page 39 of Don't Leave
Please don’t let it be her.
“Cassidy? Are you all right?”
Air rushes from my lungs. My shoulders collapse as I hang onto the sides of the sink for dear life.
Cole.
I clear my throat. “Yeah. Sorry for taking so long. I’m not feeling so well.”
“Guggenheim?” he says softly from the other side of the door.
A slight smile tugs at the edges of my lips as I squeeze my eyes tightly shut again. “No, no. Not at all.” Lie. Big, huge lie. “My, um, stomach is upset. I hate to ask you this, but would you mind taking me back to the dorms?”
I need to get out of here before I totally freak out. The anxiety is building, swirling its way through me. The perfect topper to this afternoon would be a full-on anxiety attack.
Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on that spectacle.
“Sure, no problem.” Even though he doesn’t say anything more, I hear the disappointment threading its way through his voice. It only makes me feel worse than I already do. I know how close Cole and his mom are. After his dad died, all they had was each other. He was really looking forward to introducing us.
With one last deep breath, I open the door and find Cole standing on the other side. His hands are jammed into the pockets of his khakis as his gaze fastens onto mine.
“I’m so sorry about this,” I whisper.
I’d been so wound up about meeting his family. I’d just wanted them to like me. And now…
Well, that certainly isn’t going to happen.
I realize it, even if he doesn’t.
His lips lift but the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just sorry you don’t feel well.”
“Me, too,” I say honestly.
He searches through all the lies that are swimming around in my eyes before gently wrapping one arm around my shoulders and tugging me close.
He whispers against my hair, “They like you, Cassidy. Just like I knew they would. No worries, okay?”
Not believing him for a second, I rein in the snort that threatens to escape. There is absolutely no way that Dr. Thompson wants me anywhere near her son. Of that, I am positive.
I paste a smile on my face as Cole steers me into the dining room.
“Cassidy isn’t feeling well, so we’re going to take off.”
Concern flickers across Dr. Thompson’s face as her gaze fastens onto mine and she swiftly rises from her chair. “I’m sorry to hear that. Let me pack something up for your roommates and then you two can be on your way.”
His mom and stepdad begin clearing away the dishes from the table.
“Thanks, they’ll appreciate it.” Even though he’s speaking to his mother, his gaze keeps flitting to mine as if he’s trying to figure out what’s really going on. I’m pretty sure he knows I’m lying through my teeth.
Within five minutes, Cole is handed a grocery bag overflowing with food. Every time his mom’s gaze drifts to me, she smiles warmly just like she always does when I’m in her office. “It was a real pleasure to meet you, Cassidy. I hope we see you soon.”
Again, I want to snort.
Instead, I give her a polite smile, knowing that within a few moments, this nightmare will be over, and I’ll be able to breathe again. “Thank you so much for having me. It was wonderful to meet both of you.”
As soon as we hit the sidewalk outside the house, I gulp in a big breath of air before hightailing it to his car and sliding into the front seat as Cole loads the food into the back of his Mustang. With shaking fingers, I fasten my seatbelt.
We drive back to campus is made in silence as I stare out the passenger side window. I had thought everything was a mess when Cole hadn’t known the truth about my past. It had taken awhile, but I finally worked up the courage to come clean. Now it seems like more issues have secrets have sprouted up between us.
