Page 55 of Don't Leave
I nod before turning to Cole’s parents. “It was really nice to see you again.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
It takes everything I have to hold the forced smile in place.
The edges of Dr. Thompson’s lips also slide upward. Strangely enough, hers looks like the warm ones she’d give me in her office. It only makes me wonder if the genuineness and empathy I felt from her was nothing more than a shtick she trots out for her clients.
Cole’s stepfather beams at me before closing the distance between us and enveloping me in a warm hug. I can only stand stiffly in his arms until it ends. It’s only when the three of us walk through the sliding doors of the ice arena that I can breathe again. The ride back to the dorms is made in silence. As I stare out the window, I wonder how I’ll fix this mess with Cole.
When we finally pull up to Washington Hall, I thank Austin before exiting the vehicle. Brooklyn’s gaze flickers to me as I wait for her on the sidewalk. Instead of joining me, she remains seated.
“I’m, ah,” her voice falters as she breaks eye contact, “going back to Austin’s tonight, so don’t wait up.”
I’m not totally surprised by the sudden turn of events. Especially since Brooklyn has finally admitted her true feelings for Austin. If I’m not mistaken, her feelings run much deeper than she’s admitted. I think Austin is the first guy to ever sneak past her ninja-like defenses and she doesn’t know how to handle that.
With a nod, I hurry toward the dorm as Brooklyn and Austin take off. I kind of wish Brooklyn had decided to come home with me tonight. I could really use a friend right now. Twenty minutes later, my face is freshly scrubbed, and I’ve pulled on a pair of well-worn yoga pants and a tank top when my phone chimes with an incoming text.
We need to talk. Can I come up?
CHAPTER 17
CASSIDY
Isuck in a deep breath as my thumb hovers over the screen of my phone.
I’m scared.
Scared to see him.
Scared to hear what he has to say.
But I know he’s right. We need to talk about what’s going on between us.
Ok
Two letters.
That’s all I’m capable of typing before I hit send. Even though our dorm room is tiny, I pace as I wait. It only takes a few minutes before there’s a soft knock on the door. I grab the handle and open it to find Cole standing on the other side of the threshold.
“Hi.” Barely can I force out the greeting. Already, everything feels different between us.
He jerks his head as his whiskey-colored eyes collide with mine.
As they do, I realize with a sinking heart that whatever is happening between us is much worse than I originallysuspected. Cole’s hands are shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. He’s wearing a Western Wolves sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head. His mouth is a tight slash across his face as unhappiness radiates off him in heavy waves.
“I thought it would be better for us to talk in person,” he says before pushing the hood back. His hair is still shiny and damp from his recent shower. I want nothing more than to tunnel my fingers through his thick locks.
Instead, I keep my hands to myself.
“Um, yeah. That’s probably a good idea.”
Although, it doesn’t feel like a good idea.
In fact, it feels like this could potentially be the end of us.
I shake my head to dispel the thought. Have we really reached that point? It seems almost unbelievable.
Unsure what to do, I step aside so he can enter the room before closing the door behind him. Nerves prickle along my skin as I force myself to settle on my bed as he takes a seat across from me on Brooklyn’s. With his knees angled apart, he leans forward, resting his forearms on them. He knots his hands together in front of him. For a long moment, he stares at them as if there are too many thoughts churning through his head for him to organize.
