“Austin?”
I look up to see a man coming toward me, and my eyes widen at how much he resembles Cole. He has his blue eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. His broad shoulders fill his expensive looking charcoal suit, and he’s smiling at me. “It’s been a long time.” He looks me up and down, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand at the way his eyes linger on my legs.
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I ask. Even though I know who the man is. I’m not sure what he means by a long time.
He reaches out his right hand. “Liam Reynolds. Cole’s father.”
I got that much. He looks just like him. I shake it. He tightens his grip to the point it’s painful, but I don’t flinch.
“Good to see you again.”
“Again?” I ask, sliding Lilly to my left hip. She’s heavier than she looks.
He nods, placing his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks. “Yes. I believe the last time I saw you, you and Cole were seven.”
I frown.
“Your father and I have been best friends since long before he … dated your mother.”
I almost snort at how he chose dated to describe their weekend hookup in a hotel room in Reno.
“Last time you stayed with him, he had a cookout, and you and Cole swam together. You actually played together a couple of other times too.”
My frown deepens because this guy must have me confused with someone else. I’ve never met Cole before.
“Anyway,” he continues at my silence. “I must be going into the office. And you must be getting to school. Don’t wanna get in trouble.” His eyes rake over me again, and I take a step back toward the door, tightening my hold on Lilly.
“It was nice meeting you,” I say, bending over to grab Lilly’s bag and then heading out the door.
CHAPTER THIRTY
COLE
“WHERE THE FUCK is she?” I growl, looking down at the clock on my phone. Austin is late as usual.
“She’ll be here soon. She got stuck in traffic,” Becky answers, pulling her books out of her locker. She shuts her door and turns to face me. “Have you decided on what you’re gonna do?”
“Do about what?” I ask.
She places her hand on her hip. “Don’t play stupid, Cole. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
I look at Deke, who leans up against the lockers, hoping he will shut her up, but he just raises a brow. He’s thinking the same thing she is.
I sigh. “There’s no way around it.”
She takes a step toward me, glaring. “You’re gonna fuck her over for a dare?” She spits with disgust. “Fuck, Cole, I thought better of you than that.”
I run a hand through my hair. “It’s not about the dare anymore. It’s about Kellan—”
“Bullshit!” she interrupts me. “Forget about him and think about Austin.”
“What about her?” I demand, getting tired of this subject.
“She—”
“Whew,” Austin interrupts her as she comes running up to us. Becky takes a step back from me, and Austin steps between us. Placing her left hand on her locker, she bows her head, breathing heavily. “Made it.” She breathes.
“Did you just have sex in the parking lot?” Becky asks.
“You better not have,” I snap.
Becky throws me a fuck you smile as if the thought of Austin fucking someone else would piss me off. And I fist my hands. I might be about to fuck someone else, but she better fucking not.
Austin pushes off her locker and rolls her eyes. “I … wish …” She pants. “I couldn’t find a parking spot.” She swallows. “Had to park all the way in the back … and run.”
Becky laughs, and I ignore her.
I spin Austin around and she looks up at me, a soft smile on her face as she continues to pant. Her eyes heavy and lips wet. I lean down and capture them with mine. She doesn’t hesitate. I push my hips into hers, and she moans when she feels I’m already hard. Fuck, I always want her. Too fucking much. I’ve become a fifteen-year-old boy again who can’t keep my dick in my pants. But I only want the same woman over and over instead of something new. Different.
My right hand grabs her thigh and pulls it up to wrap around my hip. Someone whistles as they walk by us, but I ignore them while my lips continue to devour hers.
Fuck me like they’re watching.
That’s what she had said to me and that thought has me being even more aggressive. I’ll give them a show. I’ll show them that she is fucking mine.
Her fingers dig into my shirt as she pulls me toward her. I slam her back into the locker. She whimpers into my mouth, and I swallow it.
When I pull away, I’m panting too. She leans her head back, resting against the locker. I smile down at her, loving that her eyes are closed and her chest heaving. I make her just as weak as she makes me.
I take a quick look around the silent hallway and find we are alone now. The bell rang long ago. “Come on,” I say, pulling her away from her locker.
She straightens her hair and pulls her shoulders back. Pulling herself together.
“How was Lilly for you this morning?” I ask, walking her to her first period. I hate that I need her help, but right now, there is no one else. And she was right before. Lilly does like her.
“She was great,” she says. “I promised to take her for ice cream after school again.”
I chuckle. “That’s why she likes you so much.”
_______________
When I finally leave practice, it’s late. While I was swimming, Austin messaged me that they were going to swim and then watch a movie at her place. I planned to join them but needed to run by my father’s house on the way.
I put my car in park and leave it running in the driveway as I run into the house.
“Cole?” I hear his voice.
I sigh. “Yes?”
“My office.”
I walk down the long hallway and make the last right and walk into his office. He sits behind his desk with his hands folded on the brown wood.
“What?” I ask, not entering.
“Sit,” he says, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
“I’ll stand,” I say, resting my shoulder against his doorframe.
He sighs heavily, showing me his disappointment.
“I saw Austin Lowes today.”
My brows rise at that. “She didn’t mention it.”
He leans back in his chair. “She’s pretty. Very pretty.” I fist my hands, knowing that he looked at her that way. And I hate that he used the same word her mother’s boyfriend told her. “But of course, she is; her mother was too before she became a worthless druggie.” He sighs. “Anyway, Bruce is back in town.” I grunt. “He told me that you two are dating.”
“Something like that,” I say, not wanting him to know that she’s getting to me. He’ll use her against me. That’s what he does.
He smirks. “He also told me that you denied fucking his wife.”
“That’s because I haven’t. You just assumed.”
“Well, he knows someone is.”
“No offense, Liam, but I couldn’t care less what his wife does behind his back. We all know he’s not faithful.”