“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice now tinged with irritation. “I mean, you’re the one who seems to think there’s a problem. Why? What’s going on with you, Cole?” His mouth opened, then closed, as if he was searching for the right words. It was almost amusing to watch him struggle, to see him
“Is something wrong? You look deep in thought,” I asked, my voice softer now as I reached out, rubbing his shoulder in a gesture that felt both familiar and foreign at the same time. “I’m unhappy with our situation,” he said, his voice raw, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. He wasn’t ju
Cole Harrington I couldn’t sleep last night. Every time I closed my eyes, Nicola’s face flashed before me, her expression a mix of hurt and resignation that I couldn’t shake. My words hung in the air, a ghost I couldn’t escape. I checked my watch, the time ticking away as I lay in bed, staring at t
Nicola Taylor I went upstairs after Cole left, needing to finish what I hadn’t had time for earlier. Arabella refused to wake up on time today which had thrown off my entire morning routine, leaving me frazzled. As I stood in front of the mirror, applying makeup with practiced precision, my mind k
We passed by my classroom, where Mrs. Hinkle was already teaching, and headed straight for John Paterson’s office. I knocked three times, with Cole standing right behind me, following my lead. “Who is it?” Paterson’s voice came from the other side, sounding bored and disinterested. “It’s Nicola,”
“Might what?” I snapped, my voice laced with sarcasm, “Might want to run off with you? You seriously thought that was an option? You thought you could offer me something better? You’re so pathetic and delusional.” Cole said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he stared down Paterson. “She doesn’t need yo
Nicola Taylor After a long, exhausting call with my sister Rose, I was officially wiped out. Three hours of back-and-forth, catching up on life, gossip, and me spilling my guts about everything Cole-related had left me feeling drained. But that’s what happens when you talk to someone who knows you
Oh, he wasn’t going to let me off that easy. “Nicola?” Cole called after me, and I stopped, turning to face him with a mock-innocent look on my face. “Yes, dear?” I sang out sweetly, leaning against the wall with exaggerated patience. “You’re telling me that she—” he hesitated for a second, “hate
Nicola Taylor I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, staring at the entrance of Cole’s office building. I felt utterly defeated. Six years ago, my life had crumbled in his absence. And now, here I was again, stuck in an endless loop, except this time, I wasn’t competing with the
Cole Harrington I watched Nicola walk off, her retreating figure stirring something uneasy in my chest. The weight of the day’s events pressed down on me like a storm cloud refusing to dissipate. I felt suffocated, torn between what was happening and what I was inadvertently doing to the woman I c
Nicola Taylor The weight of her words hit like a tidal wave. I felt my chest tighten as I realized what she’d sacrificed, and I could see the shift in Cole’s expression. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to heartbreak. “And you just… agreed to that?” he asked, his voice b
“Because I knew you wouldn’t let me go,” she said simply. “You would’ve fought him, and he would’ve come after you too. After Arabella. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he wanted to hurt me.” The three of us stood in silence, the weight of Courtney’s confession hanging heavy
Nicola Taylor Arabella went back inside, her small figure disappearing into the house with a frustrated sigh. The heavy front door creaked as it closed, leaving just the three of us standing in the cool morning air. Silence settled over the driveway, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves i
Nicola Taylor The night was a restless blur. Aaron’s small, trembling body pressed against mine as he cried himself to sleep, his tears soaking through my shirt. I stayed with him, stroking his hair and whispering soft reassurances until his breathing evened out. Even then, I couldn’t bring myself
Nicola Taylor As I sat on Emma’s worn but cozy couch, “I think I should head home now,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I miss my kids, and I can’t keep running away. If I stay away much longer, Cole might do something drastic to track me down.” The thought made my stomach ch
Cole Harrington “Where is she?” my mom screamed, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room as her glare landed on Courtney. Courtney shrank back, but she didn’t respond, her face pale and drawn. My mother had never been a fan of Courtney—not openly hostile, but certainly not warm. S
Nicola Taylor Her apartment was modest but surprisingly clean. A small living room with a sagging couch and mismatched furniture opened into a kitchenette. A door to the left likely led to her bedroom, and there was a pile of laundry in one corner. The faint smell of lavender hung in the air, mixi