Chapter Twenty-Three
Reed
Iwoke up tangled in bed sheets that smelled familiar.
It felt almost like a hug from a long-lost friend.
The bed felt way too comfortable to be mine.
I pressed my face into the soft pillow as my brain began to wander back to last night, to Cole on his skates at the game, the way he looked when I told him I couldn’t tell him the truth, and the shots I had consumed with Zach.
Too many, too fast. That would explain the dull headache behind my eyes.
I groaned as I tried to pry them open, and that’s when I realized I wasn’t in my childhood bedroom.
I struggled to get up, still wrapped in the bedding, and tumbled onto the floor.
Pain zipped up my hip. Hopefully, that wouldn’t leave any permanent damage.
“Shit.” I managed to untangle myself just as the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall and then the door flew open.
I stared at Cole as he watched me, his blue eyes dancing with amusement.
“This isn’t funny.” I stood up, only to realize I was wearing nothing but an over-sized shirt that didn’t belong to me and my underwear.
“Did you do this?” I pointed to myself before I tugged down the front of the shirt.
He chuckled. “It’s a little bit funny.” Cole leaned down to grab the sheets. “And no, I didn’t. Zach thought you’d rather sleep naked, but I pumped the brakes at that. He helped you change.” Not that it wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before.
“Is this your room?” I glanced around at the creamy white walls, the beige curtains, and the painting of the Ferris wheel that hung over the bed. “Did we share a bed, too?”
I didn’t exactly hate the idea. I had enjoyed waking up with him. His warmth wrapped around me. It had been comforting, and I had felt safe.
Cole shook his head as he started to make the bed. “It’s one of the guestrooms.”
“One of? How many do you have?”
“We have two.”
My eyes widened. We? Who the fuck was we? Did he have some live-in girlfriend I didn’t know about? One that he had been keeping a secret? Not that it was any of my business. He could date anyone he wanted. I had made sure of that.
“If you tell me where my clothes are, I can get dressed and get out of your hair.”
“You don’t have to leave, Reed,” Cole told me. “I thought we could talk now. Alone. Just the two of us.”
I shook my head. I’d rather eat glass. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Why are you making this so difficult?” He huffed. “Jesus, Reed, I think I deserve some answers.”
The sound of giggles and laughter filled the air.
Wait. I would know that sound anywhere. I marched out of the room, down the stairs, and followed the sound to find Zach sitting on the kitchen counter.
He was dressed in a pair of lacy blue underwear and a shirt that hung from his shoulder, while Oscar faintly smiled and nodded at him.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and heat against my back.
I turned to glance at Cole. “You live with Oscar.” Relief flooded my system.
“He’s a pretty good roommate. And a great friend.”
We both continued to watch as Zach tucked a piece of platinum-blond hair behind his ear as he tried his hardest to flirt with the massive goalie.
“Your friend shouldn’t try so hard. He’s only going to end up disappointed.”
I spun around to face him. “And why is that? Do you think Zach isn’t good enough for Oscar?”
Objectively speaking, Zach was hot. He could have his pick of any guy he wanted. He was smart, funny, and a good time. I might be a little biased, but everyone loved Zach, myself included.
“I didn’t say that. Just wait and see.” Cole placed his big hands on my shoulders and turned me back around.
The warmth of his palms seeped through the fabric of the shirt I was wearing, and I had to force myself to not lean back against him.
To feel that thick, hard body pressed against me.
His familiar lavender scent mixed with musky man hit me hard, and I hated my dick for reacting the way it did.
For perking up at the memories of our summer together.
The sound of a door opening caused Oscar to turn, and a giant smile spread over his face.
When Tate appeared holding what looked like a smoothie bottle in his hand, I realized what Cole had been talking about.
Oscar wasn’t going to sleep with my best friend because he was in love with Tate.
It was obvious in the way his eyes lit up, the smile that nearly split his face, and how happy he looked just by Tate being here. His whole body seemed to light up.
“Good morning, Oscar. Here’s your shake.
I tried a new flavor this morning.” Tate’s ears burned pink.
His smile was equally as large as he looked around the room before it suddenly disappeared.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you had guests.” He let his gaze linger on Zach before he glanced back up at Oscar.
“I wouldn’t have interrupted. I should have called first.”
The goalie shook his head. “Why would you need to call? You haven’t interrupted anything. You come over all the time.”
“Well...” Zach slipped off the counter. “I’ll just go get dressed.”
But the hurt was already etched all over Tate’s face. “I have to get to work, anyway. I have an office that ordered two dozen sandwiches that need to be packed up.”
“Just let me grab my keys so I can drive you.” Oscar took a step forward.
Tate shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I don’t mind walking. It’s a lovely day outside, and I wouldn’t want to intrude while you have guests.”
“Tate.” Oscar’s voice dropped lower. “What’s going on?”
Tate took two steps back. “I’m good, thank you. It was nice to see you again, Reed. We should catch up before you go back to New York. Come down to the coffee shop if you have a free minute. Have a wonderful day.” He waved before he turned and walked back out the door.
“What just happened?” Oscar asked. “Did I do something wrong?” His brows dipped as he chewed on his bottom lip.
“Zach was in his underwear,” I pointed out, in case he hadn’t noticed.
Oscar continued to stare at me. “Okay, and? Tate didn’t even let me drive him to work. I drive home whenever I can. It’s our thing. He brings me my shake. I drive him to work. Now I don’t even want it.” He placed the container on the counter with a sigh.
“You should go after him. Assure him that nothing happened,” Cole suggested. “I mean, that’s not wrong, right?”
I nodded in agreement. “You should. I’m sure he would appreciate that.”
“Why? He didn’t want to be near me.” Oscar sighed. “And of course, nothing happened. I don’t sleep around.”
I raised my brows at Cole. “Sweetie, do you like Tate?”
“Of course. He’s my best friend. No offense, Cole.” Oscar’s brows dipped in confusion.
Zach appeared dressed in his leather pants again. “Tate’s in love with you.” Leave it to my bestie to drop all the truth bombs.
“What?” Oscar’s cheeks bloomed pink. “That’s not...He’s not. That can’t be right.”
Zach hoisted himself back up onto the counter. “He’s in love with you. He saw me sitting here in my panties and thought we fucked. Go chase him down and ask him out before he gets too far away.”
“I can’t do that.” Oscar balked.
Zach patted his arm. “I can’t ask him out for you, babe.” He reached for the shake, only for Oscar to pull it away from him. “Go ask him out. Hurry up, babe.” He waved his hands at him.
Oscar visibility swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously before he nodded, taking his smoothie with him and hurried out after Tate. A soft chuckle from behind me caused me to turn around.
Cole grinned at me. “They’ll make a cute couple.”
“Do you think they might like a third? I do love making a mess of an innocent virgin.” Zach wiggled his brows.
Cole chuckled. “They’ve been flirting around for years. Let them figure this out on their own.”
“Pity. I do like having fun with boyfriends who enjoy a third.” Zach pouted. “What? They’re fun to deflower. Teaching them new things. They way they just come undone. It’s been a long time for me.”
I suppressed a groan. “Sometimes I can’t believe you’re my best friend.”
A huff of laughter behind me caused me to turn around again. “Something about this amuse you, Cole?”
I tried not to stare at him, but I couldn’t help myself.
He had scruff on his face that I wanted to drag my tongue over.
Rub my cheeks against him until they left red scratches on my skin to remember him by.
He was larger than I remembered, with packed on muscle that hadn’t been there before.
His pink lips curved up into a smirk as I stared at him.
“Just remembering.”
“Remembering... Don’t you dare!”
Zach snorted. “Oh, I double-dare you.” He clamped his mouth shut when I glared at him. “I’m just going to...I need some fresh air.” He jumped from the counter and rushed outside.
The moment the door slammed shut, I turned back to Cole. “You need to stop it. Zach doesn’t know much about what happened between us, and I’d like to keep it that way. That stays between us.”
“Is there a reason you haven’t told your bestie?
” He popped a dark brow at me. “Hmmm? I mean, if he’s the person you tell everything to, then why wouldn’t he know everything?
That rain-soaked first kiss? The way you jerked us off in the foyer of my parents’ house?
The way you let me fuck you on the breezeway with all those candles?
” Cole’s eyes darkened with heat as he spoke.
I bit back a whimper. “I just...That’s private.” I let out a gasp as he spun me around to push me back against the wall.
“Private, right... But you told him about the others.” Cole’s nostrils flared angrily as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“The nameless men you’ve let touch you since you disappeared on me.
The ones you let inside of you to try to give you what you needed.
” I shivered as his breath ghosted against my skin.
“Did you wish it was me, baby? Did you close your eyes and pretend it was my cock inside of you instead? Stretching that sweet, little hole? Filling you until you came, my name on your lips?”
All the blood in my body rushed south.
“Stop it,” I heard myself say.
Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t push him away. I deserved this. I had hurt him when all he had done was love me.
“Mm, I bet you did.” Cole ran his tongue over the shell of my ear. “All those summer nights we spent exploring each other. Fingers, hands, lips and tongues. God, that was the hottest thing I’ve ever done with anyone.”
I shook my head. “Liar.”
“You calling me a liar, baby?”
“Yes. You’ve been with so many others.”
Cole growled. “Now that’s the lie.” He pulled back, his blue eyes stormy. “You think you know me? You think because we spent one summer together, you know who I am? I thought I knew you, but that was a fucking lie.” He pushed away from me and stomped out of the kitchen.
I took a second to gather myself together.
I brushed the tears from my face and took a shaky breath.
I shouldn’t have come back. I wouldn’t have come back if my brother hadn’t asked me to.
I had stayed away on purpose. But Silas had called me, the excitement in his voice contagious, telling me he was going to have his first Cup start for Brooks Racing, and I couldn’t say no.
I was so proud of him. And so, here I was.
To watch my little brother achieve his dreams. Because he had earned them.
“Reed, are you all right?” My eyes popped open to find Cole standing before me, his brows dipped in worry. “I just...You’re crying.”
I sniffed. “I’ll be fine.” It was a lie. I would never be fine again. “And don’t apologize. I deserve the things you said to me. I was the asshole.”
“I wasn’t about to.” We both turned when the door opened.
“Is it safe to come back in? I’m getting swamp ass out here in these pants. It’s disgustingly humid in this state,” Zach called out.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling. “Babe, it’s fine.”
“Oh, thank God. I didn’t want to walk in on you two hate-fucking. Although it would be super-hot to watch.” He wiggled his brows. “Oh, please. Don’t act like you’re not going to get back together.”
“We’re not,” I insisted.
“Maybe,” Cole said.
We stared at one another before Zach huffed out a loud laugh. “If you could just take me to your parents so I could freshen up. Maybe change into something more suitable for North Carolina. Something very Ezra Bardot.”
“Right, of course.” I nodded, but I couldn’t get Cole’s words out of my head. Did he want to get back together? Could we? Did I want that?
The truth was, I did. And Cole knew it.