Page 91 of One Southern Summer

No.

She’d been too distracted. Too self-absorbed. Too busy worshipping Pax. Shame slithered in, churning her stomach. Cole had wanted so much more than friendship, but he’d never said anything. And now she couldn’t trust him because he’d turned out to be a selfish liar.

“Do you know how hard it was to watch you marry Pax and become übersuccessful?” Cole’s voice held a texture she hadn’t heard before. Gravelly. Emotional. She forced herself to look at him.

His features were etched with pain and his eyes had darkened to a mossy green. “The two of you were splashed across the magazine covers, and the billboards. I can’t think of one place I traveled that I didn’t have to see an image of the two of you advertising your TV show.”

“Cole—”

He silenced her with his outstretched palm. “Avery, it nearly killed me to watch you be happy with someone else, knowing I’d lost my opportunity.”

Her confusion morphed into anger. “But if you love me then why did you lie? We’ve spent a lot of time together, Cole. You had numerous opportunities to mention my grandmother was the reason Imari’s Place had the resources to expand. I was so brutally honest about my insecurities. That I couldn’t do what you asked me to do. But you kept telling me I could. That you believed in me. Was all of that a lie too?”

“No! I do believe in you, Avery. You’re incredibly talented. And by the way, I came very close to spilling the whole story. I wanted to so many times but couldn’t find the words.” He gestured toward the boat tied off behind her. “We were right here just a few nights ago. What do you think that boat ride was for?”

She flung her hands in the air. “I thought we were reconnecting. You made it seem romantic. We’d kissed and then Nana’s episode interrupted everything. Then you went out of town, I was juggling the kids and multiple projects. How was I supposed to know a boat ride was going to be your big tell-all?”

“And when you kissed me and told me you wanted to enjoy spending time together, that whatever was bothering me could wait, did you mean that?”

“Please don’t put this back on me.”

“But what happened to getting through whatever life throws at us together?”

“Now you’re using my words against me.” She glared at him. “Don’t do that. I’m so hurt right now, Cole.”

Agony filled his eyes. “I accept full responsibility for not telling you the truth. I hate that you found out the way that you did. To be perfectly honest, I was afraid.”

“Afraid?” She scoffed. “Of what?”

“I felt guilty for not telling you about Nana’s donation, but I was also afraid that you’d be crushed. That you would accuse me of being maliciously deceitful and you wouldn’t want anything to do with me.”

He clamped his mouth tight and looked away.

She rubbed her palm against the painful ache behind her sternum. In the distance, thunder rumbled.

Cole cleared his throat.

Was he trying not to cry?

“As it turns out, I was right. Because this conversation—” he paused and waved his hand back and forth between them. “This is why I didn’t tell you.”

“Were youevergoing to tell me?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

He blew out a long breath, pushed his fingers through his hair then dropped his hands to his sides. When his eyes found hers the sadness in his gaze made her throat tighten with unshed tears.

“Here’s the thing. I am so very sorry. There’s nothing I can do to change what has happened. I understand that you trusted me when it wasn’t easy for you to trust. And I realize you see a lie of omission as a betrayal. You’ll never know how much I regret not speaking up. But please know this. I’ve loved you since forever, Avery. And that hasn’t changed.”

He turned and cut long strides back down the dock. The wind blew harder. Fat raindrops fell and thunder rolled through the darkening sky overhead. Avery turned away. Gulping back a sob, she clapped her hand over her mouth. She refused to watch him as he walked out of her life. This time for good. Because she couldn’t be in a relationship with a man who kept secrets.

Chapter Sixteen

Had he been too honest? Too vulnerable?

This was the question Cole had wrestled with since he’d left Avery standing on the dock almost a week ago.

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