Chapter 16 #2
Cole’s expression softens, his eyes warm and tender as he stares at me for a moment. My breath catches in my throat, my heart jerking. His feet move, inching closer to me as he extends his arm. His fingertips brush against mine and my stomach flutters, just as I think he’s going to pull me to him.
“Oh thank god, there you are,” Wyatt’s voice sounds behind me, immediately pulling me from the moment.
Cole’s hand drops away and my fingertips itch to feel his again.
“Your daughter is about to be covered in chocolate.” I turn around to look at him and he looks past me.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? ” He laughs, walking past me to Cole.
I leave the two of them to reunite, hearing the sound of their voices behind me. I walk back to the table where Chloe’s waiting. The bottom half of her face is covered in chocolate and she smiles at me, licking her lips as she puts her spoon back in the ice cream.
Laughter bubbles out of me and I slide onto the seat with her, turning her to face me and I start to wipe the chocolate away. “Uncle Wy was right. It looks like you took a bath in chocolate.”
Chloe giggles, wiggling in her seat as she half fights me, reaching for one of the napkins to try to help clean her own face. My own ice cream is melting, Chloe’s is three quarters of the way gone, and Wyatt’s bowl is empty.
I clean Chloe’s face as best as I can as Wyatt and Cole walk over to the table. Wyatt slides back into his seat, but Cole doesn’t move to sit beside him. He stands at the table, sliding his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.
He dips his chin at Chloe, smiling at her. “Hey Miss Chloe.”
“Hi!” She says brightly, lifting her hand to wave at him. Cole chuckles, staring at her for a moment before looking back at me. His lips part slightly, his blue eyes lingering on mine.
“Did you want to sit?” I ask him, my voice soft and I motion toward the bench. My heart pounds a little harder inside my chest.
Cole shakes his head. “Thank you, but I oughta get goin’. Cash’s waitin’ for me to get back.” He glances at Wyatt. “What time are you headin’ out?”
“Later this evening,” my brother tells him, rolling his wrist to check his watch. “Probably after dinner.”
Cole’s head bobs up and down in understanding. “We’ll plan on gettin’ together next time you’re in town.” He looks at me, mischief dancing in his eyes before he looks at my brother again. “Is it okay with you if I take Ella out to dinner again sometime?”
My eyes widen, my stomach doing a somersault as I’m caught off guard by his question. What the heck is he doing?
Wyatt raises an eyebrow at Cole, glancing at me before looking at him again. His eyebrows slowly lower and he narrows his eyes at Cole for a moment. “You like spending time with my sister?”
“She keeps me out of trouble,” Cole tells him, winking at me before looking at my brother. He gives him a simple shrug. “I like company that isn’t either of my brothers, sometimes,” he tells him with a chuckle.
“I don’t mind,” Wyatt says after another moment of silence.
“You don’t?” I blurt out, before I get the chance to swallow back the words.
Wyatt looks at me. “You deserve to have some fun, Ella. I trust Cole and he knows I’ll—” he pauses, curling his fingers into a fist as he sticks out his thumb and runs it across his neck, “if he does anything,” he adds.
Cole chuckles. “I like being alive very much, thank you,” he tells both of us. “So, what do you say, El? You wanna get dinner later this week?”
My heart crawls into my throat and I look at my brother and back at Cole. “I’m off on Thursday.”
“Perfect,” Cole smiles, showing his white teeth. “I’ll pick you up at six.” Cole puts his hand out to my brother. “We’ll catch up soon, bud.”
“Sounds good,” Wyatt stands, shaking Cole’s hand as they pull each other in for a half hug. “Thanks for watching after these two.”
Cole releases him, taking a step back. “Always,” he promises my brother, grabbing the brim of his hat as he dips his chin. “Y’all have a good day.”
I watch Cole as he turns around, heading past the creamery and down the street. My gaze lingers, following after him as he makes his way to his truck.
“Is there somethin’ goin’ on with you and Cole?” Wyatt questions me, his voice breaking through the moment.
I swallow roughly, tearing my eyes from Cole as I glance at my brother. “No, we’re just friends,” I say in a rush, clearing my throat. I push my spoon through the melted ice cream. Chloe laughs, reaching over to dip her spoon in with mine. “I’m perfectly content with it only being Chloe and I.”
“Okay,” Wyatt says, almost with hesitation.
His eyes slowly search mine, his chest rising and falling.
“He’s one of my best friends.” He pauses, blowing out a breath.
“The thought of there bein’ anything between the two of you is weird and I’m not sure I wanna think about it, but if there’s one person I would trust to keep you safe, it’s him. ”
I laugh softly, shaking my head at him. “It’s not like that, Wy.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Maybe for you, but I’m not so sure about him anymore.”
My heart stutters inside my chest. “I doubt that,” I chuckle, the sound foreign and I try to ignore the nervousness that flips my stomach. “We’ve only been spending time together as friends.”
Chloe flicks her wrist, splashing the melted ice cream from the bowl. It flies across the table, almost hitting Wyatt as he moves out of the way.
“Okay, I think we’re done,” I chuckle, pulling the bowl away from Chloe. Wyatt is already on his feet, collecting all the trash and takes the melted ice cream from me.
“Good idea,” Wyatt laughs, as he throws the trash away and comes back over as I’m lifting Chloe into my arms. “Let’s go find something else to do to keep that little monster busy.”
“Rawrrr!” Chloe bellows at him, her voice too high to be frightening, but he cowers anyway, earning a belly laugh from her. I fall in step with my brother and Chloe reaches for him. I hand her over to him as we head down the sidewalk to his truck.
Wyatt and Chloe are both making monster noises at each other when I hear a soft beep from the street. Whipping my head to the side, I glance over, catching a quick glimpse of Cole as he drives past us. He holds his hand out the window, waving as he passes.
Wyatt stops beside his truck, waving back at him before putting Chloe into her seat. I step out onto the street, walking to my door when I catch Cole’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
He stares back at me, his mouth curving as he shuts his right eye, winking at me. He gives the truck more gas, the rumble of the engine echoing down the street as he zips away. My breath catches in my throat, my heart hammering against my ribcage and I watch his taillights fade into the distance.