16. Chapter 16
Sadie
I stared up at the house Cole grew up in and tried not to let my mouth drop. I’d guessed he would have a big house, but this was massive.
“Come on,” Cole said, getting out of the truck. I followed Alyssa out and let Cole take my hand. “I’ll have to come back and move the truck. My mom hates things like that in her driveway.”
“You grew up here,” Alyssa said, following beside us. Her tone wasn’t hiding her awe.
“Yeah.”
“Wow.”
“Alyssa,” I warned. I hoped she would at least try not to say anything embarrassing.
We went up to the door, and I tried to breathe normally. Cole opened it and led us in.
An older man came walking toward us.
Cole dropped my hand and rushed to him. “Neil! It’s been a while.” The two men hugged.
“Good to see you, Cole,” Neil said. “Tiffany will be down shortly.”
“Neil, this is my fiancé Sadie, and her sister Alyssa.”
Neil smiled and took my hand. “Lovely to meet you two.”
I smiled back. “And you.” I had no idea who this man was, but he had a welcoming smile.
“Are you Cole’s brother?” Alyssa asked. I held in an eye-roll. The man was at least seventy.
Neil burst into laughter. “Close. I’m the butler.”
Alyssa grinned. “I didn’t know butlers existed in real life.”
“There are a few of us left in the wild.”
I smiled, and Alyssa giggled.
A clicking sound came toward us, and I looked up. A woman with perfect blonde hair came walking fast. She wore a fitted, light blue blazer and skirt.
“Hey, Mom,” Cole said, staying where he was. “Good to see you.”
She nodded. No hugging here.
“This must be Sadie,” she said, her eyes passing over me.
“Yes,” Cole said, putting a hand on my back. “This is Sadie and her sister, Alyssa.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, suddenly feeling tired.
Tiffany Hart’s eyes locked on mine. “Did you have a nice drive?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She turned to Cole. “The blue room is ready for Alyssa.”
He nodded. “What about Sadie?”
Tiffany blinked. “I assumed she would stay with you.”
My eyes went wide.
“No,” Cole said. “Can she have a guest room?”
Tiffany’s gaze sharpened slightly. “You are engaged, aren’t you?”
“We’re… traditional.”
Her brows rose. “Cole, you know we’re remodeling.”
“I’ll take the couch.”
“You can’t sleep on the couch. Couches are for sitting, not sleeping.”
“We can go to Grandma’s then.”
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Goodness, Cole. Vera doesn’t need you bothering her.”
“I can stay with Alyssa,” I offered.
She sighed and adjusted her bracelet. “Cole, you can stay in Cruz’s old place, and Sadie can take your room.”
Cole nodded.
Tiffany’s eyes dropped briefly to my shoes, and heat crept up my neck. She could probably spot thrift-store leather from across a ballroom. I should have worn my heels.
“We’ll go shopping soon.”
I wasn’t sure if she meant me. I couldn’t think of anything more uncomfortable than shopping with Tiffany Hart.
She smiled and walked away.
I let out a breath.
“Neil?” Cole said. “Will you show Alyssa her room?”
“Of course.”
Cole took my hand, and we followed Neil and Alyssa up the stairs. Alyssa was already talking Neil’s ear off.
We went down a long hallway, and Cole opened a door. I stepped into a room that was all Cole. Football posters and trophies lined the walls.
“Don’t judge me,” he said. “I haven’t redecorated since high school.”
I laughed. “It could be worse.”
He closed the door and went to the window. “I don’t use it often. Visiting Mom is… rough.”
“She seems… nice.”
He laughed. “Nice? My mom’s a manipulator. Watch yourself. She cares about how she looks to the world. She’s superficial. Last time I talked to Dax, he said he thinks she’s changing, but I don’t know.”
“I’m a little nervous,” I admitted. “It’s been a while since I met new people. I used to be social… until life.”
He came over and put his hands on my waist. “Let me help you. Ease your load.”
That was the fight. I’d been up half the night wondering how I’d let Cole Hart affect me so quickly. He wasn’t taking my air. He was giving it back.
I’d been carrying everything since Grandma died. I’d figured out how to survive. How to keep Alyssa steady. How to keep myself from falling apart. Then Cole stepped in with a solution. He was offering us a better life. I’d told myself I was doing this for Alyssa.
But maybe I was also doing it because I was tired. Tired of being the strong one. Tired of holding everything together.
Maybe I just wanted someone to take care of me for once. And maybe that was why I kept kissing him the way I did.
Not to prove anything.
But to feel wanted.
Cole’s hand ran over my hair, and I shivered. What was wrong with me? I always thought of myself as strong, and Cole was making me weak. His lips brushed mine, and I stepped back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“This isn’t supposed to be real,” I said. “Don’t make it real.”
I felt like a hypocrite when I thought about all the kissing. Not that it was a lot, but it had been intense.
He frowned. “Wouldn’t real be better?”
“I can’t do real.”
His jaw clenched, and he nodded. “Let me know if you need something.” He left the room, and I sat on the bed. And I’d thought he was the one who was a mess.