Page 77 of Second Chance Wedding
Cole opened tired eyes he hadn’t realized he’d closed, stilling for a moment until his brain kicked in with where he was and why.
He’d stared at Ana’s sexy-beautiful photo for a long time after her last text, letting himself indulge in a few fantasies where he was the one bumping and grinding on the dance floor with her wearing her LBD.
Once Ben had gone to bed, Cole had settled in on the couch and turned the television to a sitcom but paid it little attention, thoughts consumed by Analise before he’d dozed off.
Now his phone rang, and as he picked it up, he realized he’d missed a text from Brooks to call immediately.
Which was apparently why Brooks was now taking matters into his own hands by calling him.
Cole scraped a hand over his face and rubbed away the cobwebs. “Hey. What’s up?”
“It’s almost 9 p.m. Doyouknow where your children are?”
Hearing Brooks repeat his version of the old commercial that used to run on television during their younger years left Cole bolting upright. And the reference of children meant— “Ben?”
“Bingo,” his brother said in a droll tone.
Cole growled out a curse. “He snuck out. You’ve got him?”
“Yeah, I’ve got him. We’re at the gas station off the loop to Wrightsville. I was on my way back from a tow when I spotted him. Something’s up with him, though. Ben won’t tell me what’s going on, but he says he’s not going home. I can shove him in the cab, but— I think you need to come figure this out.”
Cole muttered curses and scrambled off the couch to find the shoes he’d toed off.
Growing up, his mama had a strict rule about cursing, citing that there were too many boys in the house, and if she let one, she had to let all of them say the bad words.
If his mama heard him now, Cole knew he’d live the rest of his days with soap in his mouth.
Ana had trusted him to keep Ben home safe and out of trouble. But just when he thought he’d been doing a halfway decent job, what had Ben done? “I’m on my way.”
Cole ended the call on his way out the door. He jumped in his Wrangler and tore out of Ana’s driveway, the Christmas lights he and Ben had hung twinkling in his rearview and mocking him as he sped out.
He hit the highway, then turned right on Golden Road, shooting down the side road as fast as he dared to try to save time.
He rolled into the parking lot of the gas station in record time to see Brooks parked off to one side.
Ben sat on the sidewalk outside the station, his face pale as he stared back at Cole when he slammed out of the Jeep.
“Cole, I gotta go, brother. Just got another call for a dead battery. Can you handle this?”
“Oh, I’ll handle it all right.” Cole jerked his head toward the Jeep and ordered Ben to get in.
Ben walked slowly that way, obviously reluctant and looking like someone had kicked his puppy.
“I’ve already got his bike strapped down. He can get it when you bring him to work tomorrow.
“Thanks, Brooks.”
“No problem. Hey—go easy on him.”
Cole couldn’t hide his surprise. “Seriously?”
“I know, I can’t believe I’m saying it either but— Something’s off with Ben. Something big. Don’t explode until you figure out what’s going on.”
Cole turned his head to see Ben climb inside the Jeep. Unlike the night when Ben had taken the limo and mouthed off with every breath, this Ben was…quiet. Eerily so. “Yeah. Okay.”
Brooks had already gotten into the tow truck and shoved it into gear before Cole moved. He took a few deep breaths along the way to calm the fear-born anger fogging his senses.
He got in and sat there waiting, hoping, Ben would speak.
