Page 83 of Stay
We’re drawing all sorts of unwanted attention. People are craning their necks, trying to see what’s going on.
When my fingers settle on Cole’s forearm, his gaze flickers tomine. He doesn’t strike me as a brawler, but I know he’ll back Austin up if it becomes necessary.
Only wanting to deescalate the situation, I step forward and slide my arm around Brooklyn. “We should probably head home, it’s late.”
If we don’t get Austin out of here, a fight will erupt. And he’s not going anywhere unless Brooklyn leaves with us.
Her eyes flash as she snaps, “I don’t want to go anywhere with him.”
“That’s fine, but it’s still time to go.” I drop my voice. “You don’t know anything about that guy.”
She levels a hard look at Austin. “Maybe not, but I bet he doesn’t screw around with hockey whores.”
“I didn’t cheat on you,” Austin explodes. “You won’t even give me a chance to explain what happened. You just assumed I cheated and cut me off.”
Brooklyn’s eyes narrow to slits. “I saw enough to know what was going down. If I’d stumbled across you five minutes later, it would have been that hockey whore!”
Even though he’s simmering with anger, Austin takes a moment to get control of himself before stepping closer to her. “Baby, please, I wouldn’t cheat on you. You have to know that. Give me a chance to explain my side of the story and if you don’t want to see me after that, I’ll leave you alone. Don’t go home with this tool just because you’re pissed off at me.”
Brooklyn still looks like a firework ready to go off, but she doesn’t seem quite so angry. With a sigh of relief, I loop my arm through hers. “Let’s go, Brook.”
She continues to scowl at him. “Fine.”
Austin takes his own life in his hands when he reaches out and strokes his fingers down her arm. “Come home with me and we can talk. If you want me to drive you home after that, I will. Promise.”
“No.” A look of resolve settles across her face as she shakes her head. “We can meet for coffee in the morning. There’s no way I’m going home with you.” There’s a pause before she mutters, “I want tobe clear-headed when we discuss this, otherwise, you’ll just talk me into bed.”
One corner of Austin’s mouth hitches. “Would that really be so bad?”
“Yes,” she snarls. “I’d hate myself in the morning.” She levels him with a hard glare. “And you.”
With a shrug, he holds up his hands. “Then we’ll discuss it in the morning over breakfast. I’ll pick you up at nine.”
She purses her lips before stomping away.
“Brooklyn,” the frat guy she’d been dancing with calls after her. “You know where to find me when you’re done with his cheating ass.” He gives her a wink with a smug smile.
Austin growls, his hands tightening, before stalking after Brooklyn as Cole wraps his arm around me. We walk half a block to Cole’s car. The short drive to the dorms is an uncomfortable one as Brooklyn stares out the window while Austin tries to coax her into a more receptive mood. Just as Cole parks in front of the dorms, Brooklyn shoots out of the Mustang with her ex hot on her heels.
I glance at Cole and find his attention already locked on mine. His fingers rise to trace the fullness of my lower lip. “Stay with me tonight.”
As much as I want to...
“I can’t. Brooklyn needs me.”
Instead of trying to talk me out of my decision, he reaches over and drags my hand onto his lap. “Are we okay?”
My heart stutters before pounding into overdrive. “I’d thought so.”
He nods before glancing at our entwined fingers. “I’m not some crazy jealous guy, and I don’t want you to think that I don’t trust you. It’s just…” his voice trails off as his gaze settles on mine. “I’ve been burned before, and I’m not interested in going through that again. Does that make sense?”
“Of course, it does.”
His expression becomes more closed off. “You have your issues and I have mine.”
For some reason, it never occurred to me that Cole might have been hurt before or have triggers of his own.
The thought of another girl causing him pain makes me want to be even more careful with him and what’s unfolding between us. Cole has always been so cautious with me and my feeling. I want to be just as careful with his.
