Page 207 of Composed
My lungs ache as a sob rips from deep inside me.
His breath catches and he clenches his eyes shut. “Just hold on, okay?”
Chapter sixty-six
Cole • Now
Hallelujah – No Resolve
“I’maskingnow.”
The world collapses under my feet at the pitched, broken voice. I hug my board like a lifeline, my gaze straying to the wrist. I slam my eyes shut. My heart batters against my rib cage and every breath I drag stings.
I've been waiting years for Hendrix to choose me.
Turns out, she’s been choosing me all along.
To hear the words she said to her dad, that she left for me—to make sure I got everything I wanted—was like a knife straight to my fucking gut. Because how does she not know that the only thing I’ve ever really wanted is her?
“Don’t ask because you think it’s what I need to hear.” I keep my voice flat, despite the raging storm inside me. “You can’t choose me for me. You have to choose for yourself.”
I hear her step closer, a breath puffing from her lungs. “Do you know I fell in love with you at this skatepark?”
The board slips in the crook of my arm.
“It was the first time I came here. My mum and dad had a screaming match that night and I just needed to breathe.”
I don’t turn. I can’t.
If I see her, I’ll crack.
“And there you were.” Rain splashes on the concrete as she steps closer. “Do you remember what you told methat day?”
That you were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen…
“‘It’ll take more than a pretty girl to put me down for long.’” I don’t need to see her to know there’s a soft smile sitting on her face. “Fucking butterflies, Rock Star. Pretty sure that was the exact moment you stole my heart.”
“I remember.”
“Just before that, Saint had been trying to make me jealous,” she continues, as if I didn’t say anything. “I nearly fell for it too. Elaine the pain has that effect on people. Just look at Theo. She’s still not gotten over that day Saint sat with her on the bus.”
My chest flutters.
“But then you strolled over with this bright, boyish grin, that was just for me, and it was like…” She draws in a slow breath. “I was the only girl in the world.”
“You are.”
"I'd never felt seen before you. You were the first person who looked at me and just sawme.”
I loosen my grip, the board sliding through my fingertips. It crashes to the concrete. Holding my breath, I twist.
My pulse thrums.
She stands a breath’s width away from me. Her hair is sopping, mascara smudged under wide, glittering eyes as they dance over my face.
“I’ve only ever seenyou.” I curl my fingers at my sides. “You know why I call you Rixie?”
“Because everyone needs a good nickname?” She chuckles.
