I stare at Cole numbly, while my fingers lose the grip I had on the glass, which slips and smashes on the tiled floor. Did he just say Sophie is pregnant? Did I really hear him, right? I don’t even think I was blinking while I just sat there staring at him like some kind of an idiot. I think I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
“Oh. Wow. Congratulations. I should, uh, c-clean the glass...” I mutter pathetically while I kneel on the floor attempting to pick up the shards of glass with my trembling fingers.
“Shayla, what are you doing?” I hear Cole say as he hurries toward me, kneeling in front of me while I pick up the broken pieces of glass.
“It just slipped out of my hand when you…uh, God, I’m so sorry.” I apologise.
“Shayla, leave it. Stop, you’re going to hurt yourself, just leave it.” Cole frowns and reaches out to touch me, but
Cole shakes his head and looks into my eyes; his fingers combing through my hair, “Please don’t go. I’d rather see you every day, and have it kill me. I’d rather love you quietly from afar than have you walk away and never see you again, please don’t.” He pleads sorrowfully. “I know I have no right to ask this of you, if you have to hate me, hate me, I’ll take it. I’ll take you hating me any day over losing you completely.”“I wish I had it in me to hate you, Cole, it might have made this constant aching in my heart more tolerable, but I don’t think I have the strength to watch you get married and have a baby with her,” I sigh with a shrug. “I just can’t.”Cole drops his gaze from mine to my bleeding hand and licks his lips, “I understand.” He whispers woefully and frowns when he unwraps the cloth and sees more blood oozing from my hand. “The bleeding won&r
He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “No, I’m not. I’m going to fuck it up like I have everything else. I’m so fucking terrified Shay.”I lift my hand and stroke his jaw, “It’s okay to be scared, but you’ve got this.” I assure him, and he presses his lips to my forehead.“How do you still have so much faith in me after everything I’ve done?” He questions, pulling back and looking into my eyes with such devotion it stole my breath.“Because I love you, you stupid boy,” I whisper, and he smiles a little, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.“And I love you, you silly girl.” He whispers back and leans in kissing me softly on the lips. I sigh when he pulls back, and his eyes search mine for a moment.“You should go,” I tell him, and he shakes his head.“No, I’m not leaving. I’m staying with you.” He declares reta
I moan when I feel something softly comb through my hair. “Get up you goof.”“No,” I mutter my voice muffled my face currently pressed into my arms which are resting on my desk.“Cole, I need the blueprint, but your giant forehead is covering the part I need to see,” Shayla complains and taps my head with her pencil a couple of times. I smile into my arms and peek up at her, not fully lifting my head.“Excuse you, this forehead has expanded to capacitate the knowledge and wisdom my brain has accumulated over the years,” I tell her and Shayla narrows her eyes at me and tilts her head to the side while her lips curl into a smile.“Uh-huh, looks like a receding hairline to me, but whatever makes you feel better, big boy.” She says, pulling on the paper and glaring at me playfully when I don’t move. “Let go.”I grin at her, and she blinks at me. “Big boy?”
I reach over and put the music on to drown out the silence in the car. I glance back at her through the mirror when a song we love comes on, and she looks at me briefly her lips curling into a smile as I sing the lyrics along to the music.Forty minutes and a lot of discreet stares later, we arrived at our destination. We walk through the crowd of people— it was more crowded this time than the last time we were here. Shayla was walking beside me with Josh on her left, and I had Sophie on my right. Sophie laces her fingers with mine and my insides recoil, but I let her hold my hand, she is carrying my baby after all. We weren’t even there five minutes before Sophie was complaining.“Oh, good grief. Like hell, I’m eating off those disgusting carts. This place is completely unhygienic. I can’t eat anything from here. I wind up getting sick.” She utters in distaste and Shayla, and I glare at her.“I think you’ll find t
“Aimee,” I say back holding her gaze steadily until she looks away. I nod and smile at Jo, who waves at me. Jo is lovely; she’s a lot more laid back than Aimee. Although, I am happy she has loyal friends who love and care about her enough to protect her.We walk around and try different foods from different carts. “Oh baby look, can you win me one of those cute bears,” Sophie asks, wrapping her hand around my arm, clinging to me.I resist the urge to roll my eyes and nod, letting her drag me to the stall where you had to shoot down the targets to win the prize. “What do we have here,” Josh says, picking up the gun next to me. What was this boy doing? Is he seriously flirting with Shayla right in front of me? I fight off the agitation and shoot down the targets and Sophie squeals, and wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. I pull away instantly and sigh.“That’s my sexy man.” She coos, pressing her
I clear my throat interrupting their conversation. “Are you ready to go?” I ask Shayla and Josh, who look at one another just as Sophie comes back when the rain stops.“Actually, we’re going to stay a little longer. I’m still dying to try out more food, and the girls want to go drink some margaritas, they’ve kindly offered me a ride home so I’ll pick my car up from yours tomorrow,” Josh tells me, and I nod looking at Shayla who holds my gaze for a moment.“Girls, I’ll be right back. I just need to go give Rico something.” Shayla says, and I watch her as she walks off into the crowd.“I should go say bye to Rico, Sophie, you go to the car. I’ll be there in a bit.” I say and hand her the car keys. Sophie begins complaining once again and asks Josh to walk her to the car as I follow Shayla.I see her hand something to Federico and he nods winking at her. She smiles at him, bl
“How do you say it again?” Josh asks, squinting as he leans into me so he could hear me better over the loud music.“Salud,” I repeat with a snicker, and he nods and holds his Margherita glass up.“SALUD!” He hollers and the people around cheer and repeat it holding up their drinks. “Oh, my God. This place is just awesome. I can’t remember the last time I had such fun.” Josh laughs, clinking his glass with mine.“Ah, all you really need for a good time, is some decent company. Surround yourself with people who are on the same wavelength as you and you’re good to go.” I say with a shrug and watch as Jo and Aimee dance with two guys they just met.Josh leans forward and licks his lips. “You know I get it.” I look at him with a smile and shake my head confused.“Get what?”“Why Cole is having such a hard time letting you go.” I keep the s
Cole:‘Did you get home, okay?’Me:‘Yes, Cole, I’m a big girl. I can take of myself.’Cole:‘I know you can, but I still worry. What are you up to?’Me:‘Watching a movie with the girls and Josh.’While I wait for his reply, my phone starts ringing with his name on the screen. I excuse myself and walk to my bedroom to answer the phone. “Why are you calling me at this time?” I whisper as I close my bedroom door.“Why is Josh at yours?!” Cole barks and I close my eyes sighing.“I told you we’re watching a movie. What’s it got to do with you anyway?” I ask hotly trying to keep my voice down, and I can hear Cole pacing on his end.“Christ, Shayla, are you trying to make me crazy? Are you deliberately doing this to make me jealous to get a reaction out of me? because you’re fucking succeeding!&rdquo