Chapter 10
POV: Cole?
The next day…
Every sense in my body was telling me to stop fighting it, but like the stubborn ol’ ox I was, I did the exact opposite.
I fought against it.
I fought against the way she made me feel. The way the thought of her lingered in my mind on a constant loop. The way it felt to be inside her.
I could feel everything even though I was laying awake alone in an empty bed at 4:00 in the morning.
How is that even remotely possible? Being able to feel someone who’s not here. I grumbled to myself.
Yesterday, I had fought against every urge in my body, to go see her again.
I knew I shouldn’t. I knew it was a bad idea. I knew I was catching feelings that I was not supposed to have in the first place. I knew that this thing between us…it didn’t make sense.
But I knew something else…that I didn’t want it to stop.
I didn’t want whatever this was between us to end.
Because I knew this was just the beginning—beginning to my problems and beginning to everything else.
Because one thing for certain, she was my addiction.
I’m not a gambling man, I’m not much of a drinking man, I’m not a thief, a cheat, or a junkie.
But I am a man who has willingly put himself into a situation that I had no idea being in—with a 22 year old girl who I was dying to get another taste of.
Sweet, sweet Abby.
Golden haired–blue eyed–tight as can be–disobeident yet submissive at the same time—and one big pain in my ass that would only grow as time went.
I knew she was probably wondering where I was last night, but it was for the best, for the both of us. Because I knew that the only real talking that either of us would end up doing would be the moans of fucking.
I ran a hand through my hair as I pressed my feet into the wood floor then decided to get dressed for the day. I had some errands to run in town and I knew they weren’t going to run themselves. Besides, maybe it would get my mind off of…her.
But as I pulled into a parking spot and shifted the gear into park, my eyes landed on the one thing I was supposed to be avoiding. Her.
She was walking out of a coffee shop, an iced drink in hand and sunglasses slipping down her nose as she caught my gaze.
I could’ve swore she rolled her eyes as she turned to walk away.
Goddamn woman.
Now, she’s going to walk away from me?
But my pride wouldn’t let her.
I slammed my car door shut and began to walk towards her.
She didn’t turn, she just continued to walk down the sidewalk, stopping at a boutique and looking at the window display.
Just as she was about to walk inside, our gazes met.
“Please stop following me!” she let out an exaggerated sigh.
I’d give her a reason to sigh about, I thought.
But I just kept my gaze on hers.
“Cool, great conversation,” she commented, opening the door and walking inside the boutique.
I had two options.
1. Go inside and follow her.
2. Start my errands.
So, I chose the most rational option of the two.
Go inside and follow her.
The sales associate gave me a wide smile as I entered and I tipped my cowboy hat down in greeting.
But as I pretended to look around the shop at women’s clothing and jewelry, all I could do was glance at her, and she was still purposefully avoiding me.
The eager sales associate started towards me and I cursed myself internally.
“Can I help you find something?” she cooed.
“No,” I began, but changed my mind. “Actually, yes. Yes you can.”
“Well then,” she cleared her throat. “Who are you shopping for?” She glanced down at my hand searching for a ring. “A special someone?”
I nodded, looking over at the rack of colorful sundresses.
“I think I’ll take these two,” I pointed, referring to the yellow and light pink ones, they were longer than what Abby usually wore but not my much.
And I felt like a goddamn hypocrite buying her dresses, especially when I tried so hard to avoid her.
But the truth was, I knew I couldn’t, not even if I tried.
“Well, they’re lovely,” she complimented.
I walked right past Abby towards the sales counter and paid for the dresses.
The sales woman gave me a big smile as she handed me the bag and said, “she sure is a lucky girl.”
Abby shot me a glare then turned mid sip of iced coffee and sneered, “stalking me in order to buy women’s dresses?”
“Come,” I said, waving her towards me.
“I’m not a dog, Cole.”
I smirked.
She glared. “Glad you find that funny.”
We had a stare off for a good minute before she finally caved.
“Fine,” she made a point to stomp out.
I handed her the bag when the door swung behind us.
“Really?” she snorted. “You bought me dresses? This is how you make up for acting like a jerk?”
“How did I exactly act like a jerk?” my jaw ticked.
“By purposefully avoiding me at the bar yesterday! Even after we had sex in your truck!” she almost yelled but quieted down as people walked around us.
I pulled her towards my truck, in order to get us out of the crowds.
“No, no, no, not happening, Cole!”
I smiled, I couldn’t help it. “Not that.”
“I don’t think I should accept this gift,” she stared down at the bag.
“Why?”
“It makes me feel like some kind of…” she trailed off.
I laughed. “What?”
“Like some kind of hooker,” she whispered, looking around.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just a gift, Abby.”
“Whatever,” she replied, narrowing her gaze again on me. “So now you want to talk?”
“Come on,” I replied, grasping her wrist and leading her towards a restaurant.
“Are you insinuating we should have lunch?” she asked nervously.
“Yes, then we can talk.”
I didn’t necessarily plan on spending my day publicly sitting with Abby in town having lunch but like all things with her, it was unplanned.
Eventually she decided that lunch wasn’t suspicious and agreed to it.
We ordered burgers, and in truth, I couldn’t wait to see how that tiny girl ate a burger as big as her hand.
It was actually quite humorous seeing her do it—with mustard and ketchup on her hand. She was barely able to take a half of a bite, but I didn’t crack a laugh. I couldn’t let her see that unguarded side of me.
“Did you expect me to eat a salad?” she shrugged, as she chewed the last bite.
“I don’t know what to expect from you.”
Abby’s gaze drew down to my forearms.
What I would give to wrap my hand around her neck right now and have her glance down at my forearm then. Fucking perfect.
After a few minutes of silence, tense exchanges not accompanied by words, she decided it was time to leave.
“Thanks for the present then,” she replied, scooting out of the booth and to her feet. “And thanks for lunch.”
My emotional restraint was at an all time low.
And I was on the brink of losing control.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I finally said, hoping I’d catch her off guard.
“You will?” she asked, stopping herself as she did.
I smirked slightly. “Wear the yellow dress tonight.”
Her brow furrowed. “The yellow dress…?”
Then she glanced down at the bag and reddened.
I slid out of the booth, throwing down cash on the table and walked away without looking back.
Because if I did then I knew that I would end up fucking up my entire day. And I still had errands left to do.