“I know all this,” I snap, interrupting him.
He glares at me. “Then you need to decide what she means to you. Because I see it all fucking coming to a head. Not soon but eventually, and you’re gonna have to pick a side. Save her. Or kill her before the others do.”
“And you?” I demand. “Where does she stand with you?”
He uncrosses his arms and places them in his pockets. “She’s my girlfriend’s best friend and my brother’s girl.” He looks me in the eyes. “I do what you say. Whether that means protect her or kill her, so her blood isn’t on your hands, is up to you.” And with that, he turns and walks back into the restaurant.
AUSTIN
“So what are you guys doing tonight?” Becky asks me.
“Nothing—”
“We’re going to a movie,” Cole interrupts me as he slides in next to me.
“Really?” she asks excitedly.
I eye him skeptically.
He places his arm over my shoulders and pulls me to his side. I hate that my body instantly softens. “Really,” he says, looking at her.
I’m about to open my mouth and say no when he continues. “We are taking Lilly to see the new Disney movie. She won’t leave me alone about it.” My heart melts a little bit at the mention of Lilly. “You guys wanna go?” he asks.
Becky looks at Deke. He shrugs. “If that’s what you want—”
“Yes. We’ll go,” she interrupts him.
Deke looks at Cole and smiles. “I can drive if you want,” he offers.
Lunch went well although I was tense for most of it. Cole is acting differently, and I can’t figure it out. And Deke kept staring at me with a smirk on his face like he knew a secret. It put me on alert.
“What’s wrong?” Cole asks while he drives me home.
“Nothing,” I lie.
He looks over at me and snorts. “Your knees haven’t stopped bouncing since we left the restaurant.”
I slap my hands on my thighs to help tame them. “Why am I going to the movies with you?” I blurt out.
He frowns. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“We don’t do that.” When his frown deepens, I add. “Date.” This isn’t even a real relationship. He told me I was his, and no one else will date me. I kinda have no other options.
“I promised Lilly yesterday I would take her to the movies tonight, and I figured you’d want to come. Is there a problem?”
I open my mouth but then close it. Not sure what to say. “No,” I say when I come up with nothing. “I like spending time with Lilly.”
He smiles. “But not with me.”
Is he being playful?
I don’t say anything to that because I’m not sure what I like at this moment. He’s got my mind twisted. He’s a killer. He’s been nothing but a dick to me. But then I find out he has this heart that is so big he would rather the entire city hate him than soil his friend’s reputation. Then, of course, Lilly. He thinks the world of her. Raises her. And then there’s the sex. Fuck me! The sex. It’s amazing. Sex with Martin was slow and soft. He was always high, and I was always on top while he played some slow blues music. Sex with Cole is crazy and animalistic. Makes me wanna play some hardcore metal and have his hand wrapped around my neck.
“Your phone is done charging,” he says, unplugging and handing it to me. I go to reach for it, but he pulls it away. “Why do you have the retina scanner on it?”
“It came with the phone.”
He comes to a stop at a red light and looks over at me. “The real reason, sweetheart.”
“Just give it to me,” I bark.
He places it in the side of his door. “When you can be truthful, I’ll give it back.”
“Cole,” I growl.
“Austin.” He smiles.
I don’t like this new playful Cole. It’s annoying. “You don’t get to do this,” I snap.
“Do what?”
“Not tell me anything but want me to tell you everything.”
“So there is a reason you use the retina.”
I sit back in my seat and the light turns green. He doesn’t go. The car behind us honks its horn. I turn around to look as the guy swerves around us. “Cole. The light is green.”
“I know,” he says simply.
Another car honks its horn. “Well, why are we just sitting here?”
He yanks the emergency brake up and crosses his arms over his chest. “We’re not moving until you tell me why you have a retina scanner on your phone.”
Another car honks and flies by us. My teeth clench. “You are such a dick.”
“Call me whatever you want, sweetheart. I always get what I want.”
A car passes by, and the passenger sticks his right hand out flipping us off. Thankfully, Cole’s windows are blacked out so no one can see us. Finally, the light turns red, and I just stare straight ahead. I remain silent as does he. I pray that he goes through the stoplight the moment it turns green again. But he stays put.