17. Chapter Seventeen
It’s a good thing Cole gave me his number because it was around 4:30, when it was time for me to leave to pick him up, that I realized I didn’t know where I was going. Am I getting him at the office? A job site? I never asked.
He texts me back with an address that’s about twenty minutes away. It’s a residential area that I end up in, which isn’t surprising. Cole can build anything, but most of his income is from homes. Building new ones. Updating old ones. Additions. All that stuff.
I park on the street about a block down, since I can’t get a spot directly by the site because of all the construction trucks. I send him a text to let him know I’m here. Fiddling with the radio, I settle on a classic rock station I remember from when I was younger. This neighborhood is just outside of Lynncastor and seems really nice. The houses are all big and well taken care of. Their lawns are manicured, and there’s a Lamborghini in the driveway a few houses down.
Cole pops up a few minutes after five. He smirks at me through the rolled-down window.
“Find a job?” My smile must say it all. He taps on the door, grinning. “I’m taking you out to dinner. My treat.”
“Why are you—what? No. You’re not buying me dinner after everything else.”
Cole smirks, pulling the door open. My gaze runs up and down his body, taking in his dirty shirt and pants, and something about it just—
“Out of my truck, Bryson. I’m buying you dinner.”
With a loud groan, I take off my seatbelt and hop out of the truck to go around and sit in the passenger seat.
“Put what you want on the radio,” he says once he pulls off.
I want to tell him I chose this station, but decide a smart remark is better.
“What am I, your passenger princess?” I ask.
He frowns, but it quickly turns into a smile. “You wanna be?”
I bark out a laugh. “Do you even know what that means?”
“Nope.” He grins, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
I shake my head and reach for the buttons to mess with the stations since there’s an ad right now. I settle on one when I hear “45” by Shinedown.
“Do you want to?” I’m still internally laughing about the passenger princess thing and don’t want to let it go just yet.
“Your tone is telling me to say no.”
I chuckle, and glance out the window.
“You ever been with one of those girls who is all giddy to not be driving? They sit here with their coffees and their snacks, playing with the radio, acting like a princess?”
He chuckles, flipping on his blinker to take a turn. “Unfortunately.”
I point at him. “Passenger princess.”
He laughs harder. “You’re nothing like that, thank fuck.”
I shiver. “Why would I be?”
Cole smiles but doesn’t say anything.
I want to ask where we’re going, but figure I’ll leave it as a surprise. It’s not like we’re going anywhere fancy with him dressed like that. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with how he looks, all dirty and rugged from work, but the nice places won’t let him in. But I’ve already had Cole in fancy-wear. And not that I’m having him tonight, but it’ll be nice to experience this side of him.
I lose track of time as I stare out the window, watching the trees and cars pass by on the highway. I swear I could fall asleep. Being in the car has always been relaxing for me. Something about the soft hum and vibrations lull me to sleep.
I notice the exit we take is a few towns past Lynncastor. Right off the exit, he turns into a full parking lot.
I lean forward to get a glimpse of the sign. “Beef and Brew House?”
He pulls into a spot and turns the truck off. “You play pool?”
“Like billiards?” I ask.
He nods, and it’s just another thing that reminds me of that night. I’m wondering if he’s doing this on purpose. Torturing me.
“Not well.”
He grins wide. “Then prepare to get your ass kicked.”
Before I can say anything, he’s hopping out of the truck, and I’m scrambling after him.
Cole opens the door for me, and I’m hit with loud music, chattering, and pool balls cracking together. It looks just as most pubs and alehouses look. Full of sports memorabilia, too many TVs, an enormous bar, and a shit ton of blue-collar men.
“Two?” the hostess asks when we reach her.
She’s an older woman with grey hair pulled back in a low ponytail.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Cole says.
We’re led to a small booth that fits only two. She tells us the waiter will be over soon, leaves the menus, and goes back to her podium.
“You come here often?” I ask.
Cole shrugs. “Every now and again. Food is great. Pool is fun. But I won’t come here with Chris anymore.”
I nod, refusing to tell him how much that upsets me. He has to be careful where he goes with his son. What is happening to Chris?
The waiter comes by and takes our drink and food orders. We both get a beer and steak, but I get double sweet potato fries while Cole gets mashed potatoes and broccoli.
“You really going to make me play pool?” I ask when I hear a booming cheer after a loud crack.
He grins, knocking the breath out of me with how gorgeous it is. His eyes are shining so damn brightly. “Sure am. We’re celebrating.”
“Celebrating by embarrassing me?” I question.
“You have no reason to be embarrassed in front of me, Bry. Not a damn one.” When our beers are brought to the table, we each take a long sip, and Cole says, “So, tell me about the job.”
I half expected him to make a comment about him seeing me naked after saying I don’t need to be embarrassed in front of him. When he doesn’t, I’m almost shocked. I’m also wondering if I made up that entire night in my head. He hasn’t done anything to show me he remembers it. Hasn’t mentioned it. Was he that drunk? Was I? Am I losing my mind over here?
“It’s nothing like I was expecting,” I say.
“So? It’s a job.”
I nod, taking another sip. “That place Chris said opened up on Main? It was a tattoo shop.” Cole’s brows hit his hairline, and I chuckle. “Don’t worry, I’m not tattooing anyone. The guy needs someone to paint the walls. You ever been in a tattoo shop?” I ask.
“Can’t say I have.”
“You’d imagine there’s art everywhere. Hanging up, directly on the walls. Well, this place has none of that, so he hired me to paint it.”
“Bryson, that’s great. I’m guessing it won’t be just plain colors, but actual art?” I nod. “Everyone who goes in there will see your art. That’s a great way to get your name out there.”
“How so?” I ask, reaching for my beer.
“Make up business cards and ask him if you can leave them there. Tattoos take hours. I’m sure plenty of people will ask about the work on the walls.”
“Hadn’t thought of that. How much are business cards?”
He waves me off. “I’ll get them for you.”
“No, Cole. You can’t.”
“I can, and I will. Consider it a celebratory gift.”
“Dinner is the celebratory gift.”
He rolls his eyes. “You just have to come up with your own logo.”
I smirk. “I did that already.”
“Of course you did. Let me see it.” He holds his hand out, asking for my phone.
I dig through the album on my phone for the logo I made for myself and hand it over.
Cole chuckles when he sees it. “You’re really good at playing off words and turning it into art.”
The logo is a bison sitting at a computer. It’s minimally drawn, just black and white. Basic but professional. In middle school, everyone called me bison instead of Bryson, and I always found it funny.
Cole admires the photo for a while, until a frown crosses his face. “Who’s Daniel?” he questions, looking up but not handing my phone back.
Fuck.
I sigh. “Ex who won’t get the hint. He calling?”
Cole shakes his head. “Sending a text that’d have me punching him square in the jaw.”
“That’s domestic abuse.” I try making a joke out of the situation, but Cole doesn’t seem amused.
He points to my phone. “Any man who can talk to someone like that deserves to be taken down a notch.”
He’s probably right, and I haven’t even looked at the string of texts. Last I knew, he was nearing fifty. When I get my phone, I click it off and put it in my pocket. Cole is staring at me expectantly.
“He’s been texting me since I left. It’s better I ignore him.”
“Maybe if you told him to stop, he would.”
“I have. It only makes it worse.”
“So block his number.”
“Thought about it.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“Not quite sure,” I admit honestly.
The conversation ends there. Which is a good thing because he’s looking at me in a way I can’t figure out, and it’s making me uncomfortable. Our food is delivered a short time later, and when our plates are empty, Cole orders us another beer and pays the bill.