Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

And say what? Sorry for losing it? Sorry you had to carry me out of the club because my legs wouldn’t work?

“Keira, you have ten seconds to reply before I’m coming in,” Cole told her.

She stared at the locked door, wondering how he was going to achieve that.

Answer him.

She opened her mouth. Closed it again. Squeezed her eyes shut. Was Joel furious with her? He had to be. Would he kick them out? Had she cost them their home? Julian had been talking about moving but it wasn’t really a viable option. They had no money, nowhere to go, and where was she going to feel as safe as she did there?

“Right. Keira, I want you to go to the far end of the bathroom. We’re coming in.”

We? They were working together? Part of her rejoiced. Although Cole had hurt her, she didn’t hold any real anger toward him. Not like Julian did. If they were working together did that mean Julian had started to forgive Cole?

Wait. Why had he told her to get away from the door?

Something knocked against the door and she screamed.

“Wait! Don’t! I’ll open it,” she cried out.

There was silence on the other side. “You have five seconds to get the door open, kitten.”

Oh, that was not a happy voice. And the fact it was Julian who’d spoken made it even worse. She expected Cole to be upset with her. But Julian knew what was going on. He must be worried about her. She scrambled to her feet, almost tripping as she hastily reached the door and unlocked it.

Before she could grab the handle, the door slid open and Julian had her up in his arms. He was shaking, or was that her? Right then, she wasn’t sure. He wrapped his arms around her, holding on tightly.

Then he drew back, taking her by the shoulders to give her a gentle shake. “Don’t do that!”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She wiped at her tears and gathered up her courage even though she wanted to hide. She looked around Julian’s wide shoulders to where Cole stood in the doorway. At least he didn’t look annoyed. In fact, he seemed more concerned.

“I’m so sorry for what I did at the club. How mad is everyone at me? Joel must be furious.”

“Nobody is angry at you, Keira. They’re all worried,” Cole reassured her.

“I embarrassed you guys.”

“You didn’t embarrass anyone,” Cole said, surprising her.

She glanced up at Julian, biting her lip. He didn’t seem all that happy with her right now.

“Don’t ever put a locked door between us, Keira,” he growled with a fierce frown “You can’t do that, remember? I need to get to you. I couldn’t get to you.”

Oh, God.

“I’m so sorry, Julian. I’m sorry. I forgot.” She hugged him back nearly as tightly as he was holding her. No wonder he was shaking. She’d forgotten. She’d been too busy thinking about herself to remember him. She was such a shit wife.

He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She knew he’d want her close for a while now. All those times Vincento had separated them as punishment haunted them both.

Cole stepped out of the doorway, watching them both closely as Julian strode out of the bathroom. A look of longing crossed his face; a hunger so deep it made her hurt for him. She wondered what he was thinking. She knew he regretted what had happened between the three of them, but she still wondered at the reasons why. As Julian walked past him without a word, she wondered if he’d ever be able to forgive Cole.

Then Julian stilled. Almost as though he’d caught her thoughts. “Cole?”

“Yes? Do you need something? Or would you like me to go?”

She hated the hesitation in his voice. Cole was a take-charge kind of guy. Filled with confidence. Maybe a little bit too much at times. But she’d never been too bothered by it. She’d learned when to pick her battles and he’d always been reasonable. He’d never been an asshole.

Not until that day he’d pushed them out of his life.

Now she wondered if she shouldn’t have tried harder to find out why.