Chapter 6
Cole
I have been trying to call Lacey since yesterday, but she hasn’t been answering my calls.
The only reason I haven’t stormed her apartment is that I begged Emmy to let me know if she was okay.
She said she was, but if I wanted to know more, I needed to speak to Lacey and not her, which I respect… kind of.
Now I have no choice but to do the very thing I dislike doing: going to the group chat.
Me
Cas, has Emmy spoken to you about Lacey and what they were doing yesterday? Lacey isn’t picking up her phone, and before I go over there, I’d like to know what I’m facing…
Cas
Aww man, come on! That’s my wife, and I’m not allowed to tell you what she tells me in confidence
Nate
*cowboy emoji*
Arch
Why have you sent a cowboy emoji?
Nate
Ya know, because he’s whipped
Arch
Cowboys don’t have whips????
Nate
Indiana Jones does!
Rafe
FML, why am I even in this chat?
Ethan
Indiana Jones wasn’t a cowboy; he was a professor of archaeology!!!
Nate
Well, he wears a cowboy hat
Me
He wore a fucking fedora! Now please, Cas, I am begging!
Rafe
CJ, don’t make him beg *crying emoji*
Cas
You DO NOT tell her where you got this information! Got it?
Me
Understood. Now tell me what happened
Cas
Okay, well, she went to visit the baby’s father
Me
I thought she didn’t know who he was?
Ethan
What he said ^^^
Arch
Ooh snap *MJ eating popcorn gif*
Cas
I am going to be in so much trouble for this *rolling eyes emoji*
Cas
Hayleigh remembered some things about him and what he did for a job or something. But Cole, it didn’t go well, and Lacey’s pretty messed up. He practically shoved her out of the way and…
I close off the chat, not wanting to read anymore. No fucking way I’m leaving Lacey to deal with this herself. Usually, I’m a placid guy and prefer to talk about things rather than go in guns blazing. Right now, though, I want to rip that fucking piece of shit's head off his neck.
**********
I arrive at Lacey’s and see her car parked out front, but when I get to the door and knock, there’s no answer.
I bang on the door a couple more times before putting my ear to it and ringing her phone.
Sure enough, her ringtone sounds through the door, then a muffled curse.
She answers the door a few minutes later, hair all mussed and eyes heavy from sleep.
She takes one look at me and, resigned, she opens the door to let me in.
I look around the living room; one of her blankets is crumpled up on the floor. The only time Lacey ever stays on the couch is when she’s sad and binge-watches one of her favourite TV shows.
I nod to the TV. “Vampire Diaries or Bones?”
She shrugs. “Vampire Diaries. Am I that predictable?”
“No, I just know Damon’s your favourite.” I chuckle, and it brings out a small smile in return. I give her a pointed look, and her shoulders drop before she bursts into tears. Crossing the room in a few strides, I gather her in my arms and manoeuvre her to the sofa, where we sit as she cries.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I keep my voice soft so as not to press her, when all I want to do is demand who he is and where he lives, but I know Lacey, and if I press her now, I will not get the reaction I want.
She shakes her head no. “Are you off work today?” She nods yes.
“Okay, you need to go and get dressed because I am taking you out.”
I pottered around the room, tidying everything for her. That is one thing I love about her, but it drives me mad at the same time; she is like an endless whirlwind that never stops. Her home is the same - both chaotic and calming at the same time.
Lost in thought, I don’t notice her walk into the room, and fuck me, when I turn around, I almost swallow my tongue.
Standing there, her hair falls in soft waves down one side, and I’ve never wanted to run my fingers through it more than now.
I wonder if her baby will have the same platinum blonde hair as her?
Her dress is a sunshine yellow that brings out the blue in her eyes.
Then I realise I’ve been standing here staring at her like some fucking weird creep.
I clear my throat, my cheeks heating. “You look beautiful. Are you ready?” I smile when I see the blush stain her cheeks as she nods.
I take us to Irene’s café, and as we walk through the doors, it feels homely, like visiting your grandma. Irene is behind the counter. She waves and nods over to one of the booths that we usually sit at when we come here.
We slide in, and Lacey is looking everywhere but in my direction. She is stalling. That will not do at all.
“Lacey, look at me.”
Reluctantly, she turns to me, her eyes finding mine, and all I see is sadness.
“I asked you before if you wanted to talk about it, and you didn’t, but I’m not asking this time, Lacey. You need to talk to me because I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
She nods, but before she can speak, Irene appears with her little notepad and pencil to take our order.
“Could I have the house special, Irene, with fries and lemonade? Lacey?”
“Uhm, I think I’ll just have the turkey special panini with fries, please. Oh, and some onion rings and extra fries. Oh, and could I have some pickles on the side, please? Oh, and I’ll have a strawberry milkshake and a pink lemonade. That’s all.” Irene raises her eyebrow, and I stifle a laugh.
“Okay, dears, I’ll be back in a minute with your drinks.” Irene ambles off, and I turn my attention back to Lacey.
“Don’t even say anything, Cole. I’m starved and haven’t eaten since yesterday.” She notices the look on my face before she rolls her eyes. “Oh, don’t get all dramatic on me. I felt sick and didn’t want to eat.” She shrugs, and I stay silent, waiting for her to carry on.
She sighs, her shoulders dropping once more.
“Cole, it was awful.” Her voice is barely a whisper, and I move my hands underneath the table so she can’t see my fists clench.
“I was telling Emmy and Hayleigh about the baby. They asked who the father was, and I told them about that one night. Anyway, Hayleigh remembered the guy said he was from Brimcrest and that he was a lifeguard. So we went over there yesterday. I don’t know what I was expecting, but he wasn’t it.
He was cruel, Cole. He accused me of lying and the baby not being his.
Anyway, after that, we left, and now I’m here with you. ”
I nod slowly. “He put his hands on you, or are you forgetting that bit, Lacey?” The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Her eyes narrow at me, and I know she’s about to rip me a new one.
“One, I am not some damsel in distress, Cole Peterson, and if I wanted to, then I could have floored that guy; the only reason I didn’t was because of my stupid hormones.
” Foolishly, I open my mouth, but the glare she lands me with has me shutting it back up again.
“Two, was it Archie or Cas that spilt the beans?”
“Wait, you told Archie and not me?” I know I sound like a whiney little bitch right now, but fuck that hurts more than it should.
Her eyes soften and her shoulders drop. “It isn’t like that, Cole. He came round to see if I needed anything and found me crying, that’s all, and I swore him to secrecy.”
A part of me is jealous that he was there for her and I wasn’t, while the other part is just relieved that she has my whole family to rely on if she needs them.
“Do you want to keep the baby?” I keep my voice as gentle as possible.
Her hand moves protectively over her stomach, and tears fill her eyes as she nods yes. A smile blooms on her face, making her look even more beautiful.
I bring my hands from under the table and hold them out for her. She places them delicately on top, and I close mine around hers. “Lacey, you’re not alone in this. We’re all here standing beside you.”
I hear someone clear their throat, and next to us stands Irene with our plates. Lacey blushes and snatches her hands back; immediately, I miss her warmth.
“Uh, thanks, Irene, this looks good.” I go for relaxed, but I swear it comes out garbled. Why else would she be walking away laughing at me?
“Don’t forget it’s the family Sunday dinner this weekend. You’re still coming, right?” I make sure to catch Lacey’s eye, and she gives me a slight nod as she tucks into her food.
Watching her makes me smile. She’s always loved her food and is unapologetic about it.
I think some of it comes from when she was younger and didn’t have much because her dad was always too drunk to go food shopping.
As soon as I told my mum, she had me invite Lacey around for tea, and she never left.
I must have been staring too long because, around a mouthful of food – yes, she truly is that comfortable around me – she mumbles, “Whatcha staring at?”
My ears heat up from getting caught. “It’s nothing.”
Lacey gives me the side eye, as if she doesn’t believe me. She clears her throat and taps her knee under the table, another one of her nervous tells.
“Cole, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I got a call from the doctor's office this morning. They’ve booked my scan for the baby next week, and I was wondering if you would come with me? I don’t want to go alone.”
I feel a funny sensation behind my eyes. It means the fucking world to me that she wants me there to help her. “Of course, just send me the time and date, and I’ll make sure to clear work for that day.”
She sits back, blowing out a breath. She looks relieved, like I could ever say no to her anyway.
“Thank you, Cole. I’ll buy us lunch that day.”
“You don’t need to buy me lunch, Lacey. We’re best friends.” I hesitate for a second, unsure if I should say what I want to say, but then my brain has other ideas and makes me say it anyway, “There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for you.”
The little hitch in her breath and the flush in her cheeks give her away.
I think my best friend likes me back.