Don't Tell (Don't 1)

“Well, that’s interesting, but not really the point, I guess. Please just let me in.”

“Why?” I blew my nose into the tissue and sank to the floor, resting my shoulder against the door.

“Because I know I was a total dick when I left here this afternoon and I want to apologize. I think we should talk.”

The tears in my eyes had slowed. What could he say that would make me feel like any less of an idiot? How could he explain drinks with Amber? What’s worse was that he didn’t need to. I knew I had no right to barge in on him. She had a claim on him that I couldn’t come close to.

“And I need to talk to you about why I had to meet with Amber at Peabody’s.” He paused for a few seconds. I thought he might have left. “Let me in. How am I supposed to fix any of this if I can’t see you? Come on, Kaitlyn.”

I pushed myself up from the floor and released the chain from the latch. I opened the door.

“Thank God. I thought you weren’t going to let me in.” Cole forced the door open all the way, until he was standing in front of me. His shirt was wet and he reeked of tequila.

I looked out into the corridor. It was empty.

“Are you expecting someone else?” Cole asked.

“Where did Amber go?” My eyes dropped to the floor. I didn’t want to be jealous.

“Home. To pick up Grayson. We had a lot to discuss.” He watched me. “She called when I was out.”

Now that Cole was standing in front of me, in my room, all my emotions were stronger, and being so near to him heightened everything.

I walked toward the dresser. “Maybe I should go. I could make this easier.” I started opening drawers and stuffing my new purchases back in their bags. The drawers slammed shut in my wake.

“What are you doing?” Cole followed me as I collected everything I had in the room.

“Am I in the way? Am I keeping you from Grayson?” I tossed a handful of shirts on the bed.

“Stop. Just stop.” Cole spun me around until his hands clutched my wrists. “You’re not leaving. And not like this.”

It was happening again—the air was charged and even though there were only inches between us, all I wanted was to erase them.

“Let me go, Cole.” I didn’t want to look at him. I knew he could melt any resistance I had, and the way he was holding me, he knew it too.

“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but you’re not interfering with Grayson. Amber has made a huge decision and she wanted to talk to me about it.”

I let me eyes travel from the floor to his face.

“What did she say?”

He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “She wants to take a residency in London and write poetry.”

My mouth dropped. “What?”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah. She’s unpredictable that one. As far as I know, she’s never written more than a text.”

“And Grayson?” I was almost afraid to ask.

He looked at me. “I’m going to have full legal custody.”

“You are? Oh my God, Cole. That’s amazing. That’s what you wanted.”

He nodded, hiding a smile. “Yeah. It’s exactly what I wanted. And I have to get the documents drawn up before she leaves. Her classes start in the fall. That gives me about two months to get the Dunes set up and a real place for Grayson to live. It’s one thing for him to spend some time at the motel, but I need to find something permanent.”

“And it was Amber’s idea? The custody arrangement?”

He nodded. “It was her idea. I couldn’t be more shocked.”