Page 21 of Chasin' Cole

"Jordan grew up in New York. He's never been around horses," Lacey tries to move the conversation along.

"Why'd you move here then?" I ask as I turn my body, searchin' the room for Cole. He's not where he was a minute ago. Disappointment wracks through my body.

"Job offer," he answers.

"Cool," I reply as I scan every face in Lacey and Brock's living room. Not one of them is the face I desperately want to see right now. Where is he? Where did he go?

"He's working for Google," Lacey supplies. "In the industrial park." There's a brief pause before she continues. "And Rose works with horses. She boards them and offers her training services. She has a way with horses."

"Maybe we could go riding sometime?" Jordan suggests.

I slip my free hand behind my back and play with the ends of my long hair. Before I can tell him that I'm not interested, I feel someone stop behind me.

"Lacey," Cole's voice obliterates the awkward tension in my chest. He moves closer, linking his fingers the ones that were playin’ with my hair a second earlier. Heat spears through my belly. "Brock is looking for you."

"Is he?" She eyes him suspiciously. I'm startin' to think she's catchin' on to Cole and I’s secret relationship. Can I even call it a relationship?

Cole's fingers stroke mine as his body shields our hands from view. Every touch, every stroke, every brush of his hand against mine makes my knees weak.

"Yep."

Jordan plays with the collar of his shirt before dismissin' himself.

"Nice to meet you, Rose," he says before awkwardly stalking off.

Lacey rolls her eyes. "Thanks for scaring away the only boy at this party who's Rose's age, Cole. I was trying to set them up on a date. Between you and Brock, she'll never find a boyfriend."

"I'm not lookin' for a boyfriend," I shrug.

Lacey purses her lips. "Whatever you're hiding, I'm going to figure it out."

"I'm not hidin' anythin'," I reply. A lie. The first convincin’ one I’ve ever told.

My sister-in-law narrows her eyes before sauntering off in search of my brother.

"I think I made her mad," Cole chuckles in my hear. He takes a step closer, his body flush against my back. I close my eyes when his lips graze my ear. "Meet me at the barn in five minutes."

His fingers linger in mine for a moment before he pulls away and leaves me standin' by myself in a room full of people. A hot, comfortable, bothered mess.

I lift the cup of punch to my lips and take a soberin’ sip. The sugary, sweet liquid slides down my throat but does nothin' to quell the warmth pumpin' through my veins, straight to my heart.

After a few agonizingly slow minutes tick by, I slip out the back door of Lacey and Brock's house and make my way down to the barn.

A cool breeze wafts through the open doors as I step inside, inhaling my favorite smell. Hay.

Well, maybe not anymore.

"You look beautiful."

I turn to see Cole standin' in the doorway, the early autumn sun settin' behind him on the hilly horizon.

A sudden wave of emotion overtakes me as I stare back at him. My heart...hurts. Physically aches knowin' he's going to be gone for a year.

365 days.

52 weeks.

12 months.

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