Chapter 46
Chapter forty-six
Cole · Now
Ohio Is For Lovers – Hawthorne Heights
Hendrix swings onto the driveway of a three story, semi-detached brown brick house.
Engine idling, she taps her fingers along the steering wheel in time with the drum beat echoing through the tiny tin can she calls a car. Her eyes narrow as she stares out of the window.
I follow her gaze, spying a twitching curtain.
I’ve only met Riley once, but she doesn’t seem the type to be all that bothered about poking her head out the window and getting a glimpse of who’s outside.
“Are we about to be bombarded?” I turn to Hendrix with a grin.
Air hisses from her as her lips twist. “Quite possibly.”
“Well, then.” I shove the door open. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
“We can just turn back around…”
I spin to face her, hiking a brow. “And spend another four straight hours in this thing? Get fucked.” Pins and needles shoot up my legs as I unfurl myself from the car. I slap my hand against the metal top, wincing. “Never again getting inside this little cramped box.”
She slides out of the driver’s seat, all fucking grace. “Don’t be a baby. Plus, we have to somehow get home—” Her eyes widen and she clears her throat. “Get you home, later.”
“Uh-uh.” Fucking fireworks explode in my stomach.
She avoids my gaze, her cheeks stained red as she reaches into the backseat to grab her bag. She hooks it over her shoulder, keys jangling in her hand.
I don’t bother hiding my grin as I shove my hands in my pocket and follow her.
She steps onto the small step, pushing her key into the lock. The green door swings open before she can turn it.
Hendrix shakes her head, a soft chuckle slipping from her lips when Riley steps into view.
Riley’s fingers wiggle at her sides, and Hendrix taps them with the back of her hand.
“Missed you, Riles,” Hendrix says, a stunning grin splitting her face.
“I missed you,” Riley echoes.
Then she glances my way, her gaze fixing on my nose.
“Hi, Cole.”
“Hey, Riley.”
“You can call me Riles.” She lifts a shoulder before spinning on her heel and heading back inside.
Hendrix hums softly, peering up at me. “You know, not everyone gets away with calling her that. She’s very particular.”
“Is that so?” My chest warms.
Riley is such a big part of who Hendrix is now. Having her approval, even just in a small way, has me feeling all kinds of smug right now.
“Hmm.” She scans my face, lips curling softly. “Right, let’s get this over with. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when Talia asks if you’ll sing at her wedding.”
I smirk. “I could be a wedding singer.”
Tinkling laughter wraps around me as she slips through the door and disappears inside the house.
I rock back on my heels, rolling my lips.
A long moment passes before Hendrix pokes her head around the frame. “Are you just gonna stand out there in the rain all night like a plonker or you coming in?”
“I’m coming.”
My feet are heavy as I force them over the threshold.
This is the first time I’m getting a peek into the life she chose over the one we planned.
A cactus sits on the shoe rack. There’s a coat hook, with more dangling coats than the two women living in this house should ever need. I scan every inch of the hallway, my pulse thumping.
My gaze snags on a gallery wall of album artwork.
“Are these all the ones you’ve worked on?” I ask her.
She looks up from untying her shoes. “Hm?”
“The frames?”
“Oh, no. Some, yes. Others are just my favourite albums. I’ve got another gallery wall in the living room, mostly My Chem and Avenged on that one.” She chuckles. “Sure you’re so surprised by that.”
“I’m feeling a little offended that we’re not up there.”
She grins and shakes her head, kicking her shoes off before she stands. “Who says you're not on the walls?”
“I mean,” I wave my hand, “the frames speak for themselves, Rixie.”
“Well.” Mischief glitters behind her pupils as she hisses. “Sucks to be you.”
I narrow my gaze. “Rixie.”
“Yeah?” She grins.
“I—”
A shout sounds from behind me, followed by the slap of feet against hardwood.
I step back and narrowly avoid the spiral curls whipping through the air. Talia flies past me, throwing herself at Hendrix. A giggle rings through the air.
I kick my shoes off and follow the scent of freshly baked chocolate cookies straight into the kitchen so they can have their moment.
I can’t help but take in everything I pass. The pristine, sparkling granite counters. The scent of burning incense swirling through the air. A laptop sits open on the island.
Riley taps away at the keyboard, ear defenders snug over her ears, a pen rolling between her teeth.
I’m not sure what I'm supposed to do with myself.
Coming here seemed like a great idea when I suggested it. I want to see Hendrix’s life. Experience it. But the reality of being somewhere I’m not sure I belong is harder than I expected.
“You can sit down, you know.” Riley’s soft voice cuts through my trailing thoughts. I twist to face her. She doesn’t look up from her laptop as she says, “She wouldn’t have brought you here if she didn’t want you in her space.”
I choke on a laugh. “Can you read my mind?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m just used to feeling the odd one out in a room. I recognise the signs.”
“You get that a lot?” I tug a stool free and hop up beside her.
“Most of the time, actually.” She nudges her screen down.
“The thing with autism is people tend to see it as other. They can’t understand why I don’t fit into their notions of what should be, nor do they try.
I haven't come across a lot of people in my life who just accept me as I am and don’t want me to change to fix their worldview. ”
A frown tugs my lips. “I’m sorry, that’s really fucking shit.”
“It can be.” She glances past my shoulder, her fingers wiggling along the frame of her laptop.
She draws in a breath and hums before zeroing in on my cheek.
“Do you want a cookie? I thought I’d bring them with me for you guys, but I’ve never made this recipe before so they might be bad. You can be my guinea pig.”
I grin as my muscles loosen. “Sure, I’ll take a cookie, if there’s one going.”
“Coming right up.” She slides her stool back and jumps down. “Do you want a cup of tea or anything?”
“Do you have coffee?”
She bounces on the balls of her feet and tugs open a cupboard. “Yes. How do you like it?”
“Three sugars, and a splash of milk.” Hendrix says, leaning against the frame, arms folded over her chest as she watches me. “Are you trying to steal my best friend?”
“Cookies and coffee on tap?” I shrug, arching a brow as I spin to Riley. “How do you feel about London, Riles?”
“I didn’t used to like it.”
“Used to?” Hendrix asks, her gaze narrowing slightly on her best friend. “Does that mean it’s growing on you?”
Riley shuffles on the spot, tapping the spoon in her hand on her thigh but says nothing.
Interesting, Hendrix mouths when I look back at her.
My brows furrow in confusion.
She shakes her head as Talia saunters into the kitchen. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Tell him what later?” Talia asks, jumping up onto the island. “That Reckless Abandon should play at my wedding, because you could just tell him now.” She twists to face me. “Hi, hello. Big fan.”
Hendrix explodes in laughter, and sing-songs, “Told you so.”
“Hi, Talia.” I tip my chin. “Nice to see you.”
“You too.”
I knock my knuckles on the counter when Riley slides a plate my way and props a cup beside it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She nudges Talia’s legs. “I’m working here.”
“Sorry.” Talia shuffles along the island and drops into the stool opposite me. She flicks her haze between Hendrix, me, and Riley. “Are you guys staying long? Or do you need to get on the road?”
Hendrix looks at me and arches a brow in question.
“I’m not in a rush,” I tell her.
“I want to get this manuscript done before we leave, if possible,” Riley says, not looking away from her screen as her fingers dart over the keys. “I was meant to be done with it today, but Word has been a right pain in my arse.”
“That’s cool. How long do you need?” Hendrix asks.
“Can we leave tomorrow morning?” Riley asks. “Then I’m not rushing it.”
Hendrix looks at me again.
“Not a problem.” I tug my phone out of my pocket. “I’ll book a hotel for the night.”
She shakes her head, snatches it from my hand as she passes, and plants it face-down on the island. “No need. We’ve got plenty of space to squeeze you in.”
“See, I told you she wanted you here,” Riley says simply.
Hendrix jumps in the seat next to me and drums her fingers on the island as one corner of her mouth curves.
“Oh.” Riley clears her throat, bringing her mug to her lips. “You should also check out her home studio if you want to see your wall.”
“My wall?” I turn to Hendrix with a smirk. “I have a wall?”
She ducks her head, cheeks flaring crimson.
Riley taps my arm and gives me a soft smile as she whispers, “You have two.”
The TV flickers across the otherwise dark living room.
Riley slumbers on one of the couches, laptop still open on her lap, ear defenders askew. Talia fiddles with her phone on the other end, her eyes glued to the screen with a grin.
Hendrix clears her throat from the hallway.
I flick my gaze her way.
She tips her head to the stairs and steps back.
I ease myself off the couch.
“If you wanted to get me alone,” I brush my fingers against hers as I step out of the room, “You just had to ask.”
A soft exhale escapes her and she shoves her hand into her pocket and tugs a set of keys out.
“I want to show you something.” She curls her fingers around mine and tugs me up the stairs.
My skin buzzes at her touch, stomach swooping.
Her footsteps slow as she reaches the third floor.
The keys dangle from her fingers, her back straightening.
I squeeze her hand. “You don’t have to show me, Rixie.”
She peeks at me from the corner of her eye. “I think I do.”