“Good,” he says with a nod.
Kids fill the hallways, throwing books in their lockers and getting ready to leave for the day.
“Awesome. So you finished the deal?” he asks like they’re talking about buying a car. Not screwing a woman.
“All done.”
I snort as I walk by him.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Cole says, reaching out and wrapping his arm around my waist. He pulls my back to his front and leans his head down to my ear. “Miss me?”
I spin around in his arms, reach up, and slap him across the face. The sound echoes off the walls. I stare up into his blue eyes as they harden. My heart starts to pound, festering at my rage. His betrayal. My stupidity. He may have not fucked Kaitlin, but he’s been screwing my stepmom behind my back. I’m so stupid.
Deke takes a step back from us.
“What the hell was that for?” Cole demands, glaring down at me.
I throw Deke a look of disgust, and his brows rise. Then I look back at Cole. “I’m sure you can figure it out.” I turn and walk toward the door, not bothering to give them another second of my time.
He grabs my arm and yanks me back. “Cole!” I snap.
“What the fuck was that for, Austin?” he demands. “Because I didn’t tell you where I went? It was none of your fucking business!”
My anger rises and tears spring to my eyes. I try to yank my arm from his hold, but he won’t let me go. “Just forget it.” My voice cracks, and I hate myself for caring so much. For thinking he actually cared. His agenda from the get-go was to break me. And I willingly let him.
“No. I’m not going to forget it.” He steps into me, his blue eyes softening. “What’s wrong?” he asks, cupping my face.
My first tear falls, and I fist my hands. “I know where you went.”
Deke’s eyes widen, and Cole’s jaw sharpens. “How do you …?”
“I heard it,” I say, interrupting him.
He looks at Deke, and he throws his hands up, shaking his head. “I haven’t said anything.”
“What do you mean? You heard it? Who did you hear it from?”
“I’m not gonna spell it out for you, Cole.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
COLE
MY JAW TIGHTENS as I lose my patience. “I don’t have time for this, Austin. Tell me what the fuck you’re talking about!” I demand.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she says.
“Too bad.” She tries to take a step back. “Why are you so pissed at me?”
Another tear falls down her face. And I try to figure out why my quick trip to Texas could have hurt her so much.
“God, you have some nerve.” I frown. “You think I’m an idiot. You think I’m stupid and wouldn’t find out? Wouldn’t hear her?”
“What are you …?”
“I know you’re sleeping with Celeste!” she screams.
“What?” Deke whispers.
“Fuck!” I couldn’t stop the word from leaving my mouth.
Her eyes narrow on me to little slits, taking the single word as confirmation I got caught doing something I shouldn’t have been doing. “No, fuck you, Cole!”
She starts to turn, to run down the hallway to the exit, but I grab her arm again and yank her to a stop. “I’m not sleeping with her.”
“Yes, you are!” she yells. “Stop lying to me.”
I release her and take a step back. “I’m not. I promise.”
She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “Where did you have to go yesterday and today, Cole?”
My jaw tightens. “I can’t tell you that.”
“You can; you just choose not to.”
“It’s none of your Goddamn business, Austin!” I snap.
“It is when you’re sleeping with my stepmother,” she yells back.
I run a hand through my hair. “What makes you think I slept with her?” I ask, trying to settle my rage. It’s going to get us nowhere.
“I told you. I heard her.”
“Heard her what?”
She rolls her watery eyes but indulges me. “When I got home yesterday after taking Lilly to ballet, I walked into the kitchen to get a bottle of water, and I heard her yelling your name from my father’s and her bedroom.”
My eyes widen.
“Shit.” Deke hisses.
“But you should know that since you were there with her.”
I reach out for her. “Austin …” But she pulls away and starts to walk down the hallway once again.
“I’ve never slept with Celeste,” I say, watching her come to a stop, and I swallow. “And I haven’t slept with anyone else since …” I trail off.
She spins around. “Since you started sleeping with me? How original, Cole.”
“No.” My eyes meet hers. “Since the accident,” I say, not caring that Deke is here. She deserves to know.
She’s breathing heavy, and her eyes still narrow in suspicion. “That was almost nine months ago.”
I nod. She doesn’t take a step toward me, but she also doesn’t make a move to turn and leave. I run my hand through my hair nervously. “After the accident, people steered clear of me. I had so much hate, so much rage, that the Sharks were the only ones not afraid to talk to me. Be around me. If I wasn’t with them, I was at physical therapy or in a pool.” Her eyes drop to her hands, inspecting her nails. “But when I showed up with you at school, everyone thought I was back to my old self. The old Cole who partied every night of the week and slept around …” I walk over to her, needing to close the distance. I place my finger under her chin and lift it to where she has to look up at me. “I know I’ve hurt you.” My free hand runs over her scar on her forearm. “And I’ve forced you to do things that you didn’t want to do.”
“Blackmail,” she corrects me.
I smile down at her. “But I’ve never cheated on you.” Pushing her hair behind her ear, I say. “You’re all I want.”
She sighs. “Cole …”
“Please,” I beg. “Believe me.” She bites her bottom lip nervously. “I need you to believe me.”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know.” My teeth clench. “But I’m gonna figure out what went on and why.”
She finally nods her head once, and I lower my lips softly, kissing her forehead. “I’ll come over after practice, okay?”
She looks over at Deke, who watches us like a nosy little bitch. “Okay,” she says and turns around, walking out the door.
I spin around, get what I need out of my locker, slam it shut and head toward the guys’ locker room. “Are you really fucking Celeste?” Deke asks.
I come to a stop and glare at him. “No. Kellan is.”
His eyes widen. “How long have you known this?”
“Couple of months,” I say truthfully.
“Why haven’t you said anything?” he asks, his brows pulling together.
“Because it wasn’t important.”
“And now?” he asks.