17. Chapter 17
Cole
I stood and shoved my kitchen chair into the table harder than necessary.
What was Sadie playing at?
Don’t make it real?
As far as I was concerned, it had become real and was getting more real by the day. And that kiss at the hotel? I’d thought that sealed it. Apparently not.
I wanted to kick something, but that wouldn’t fix anything. And deep down, I was still that kid who didn’t slam doors because his mom was in the house.
What was holding Sadie back? She reacted to me. I knew she felt something. I wasn’t imagining that. She wanted me. So why was she telling me not to make it real?
I pulled the chair out again and shoved it back in.
“What’s going on?” Nayvee asked, entering the kitchen.
I took a deep breath through my nose. “Just finished my toast.”
“What are you abusing the chair for?”
I shrugged.
“You look like you want to hit something. I haven’t seen that look in a while.”
“Shouldn’t you be having a baby or something?”
She smiled. “Not today.”
I rubbed a hand over my face. I wasn’t in the mood for this. Nayvee knew me too well. She was the sibling who got along with everyone, but she had this annoying ability to see straight through you. She was also the most likely to tell people when she thought they were idiots.
“Trouble with Sadie?”
My jaw tightened, and I crossed my arms.
“She’s getting to you,” Nayvee said softly.
“I think… I’m falling in love.”
She tipped her head to the side. “And that’s bad?”
“She told me not to make it real.”
“Hmm. Are you pushing too fast?”
“Me?” I laughed without humor. “Our first and second kiss were her. I know you don’t want to hear about it, but we had the best kiss last night.
Like, the best of my life. And she was there.
She wanted it. It was a good thing I knew Alyssa was in the bathroom, or who knows what would’ve happened.
” I ran a hand through my hair. “Then today she pretty much tells me to stop.”
“Maybe it’s happening too fast,” she said gently.
I didn’t want her trying to make me feel better. I was determined to be in a bad mood.
“Look,” Nayvee said. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this.” She rested a hand under her stomach. “I talked to Sadie when we were helping you pack. From what she said… I think…” She made a face. “I mean…”
I gave her a humorless grin. “Spit it out, Nayvs.”
“I think she’s attracted to you, and she’s worried she won’t know where that ends and something else starts.”
“What?”
“She doesn’t want to have something happen between you when she isn’t sure she likes you for you or your stupid muscles.”
My eyes narrowed. “She said that?”
“Not exactly, but that’s what I took away from it. I think she’s worried about being shallow or something.”
Did that mean after she spent more time with me, she’d decided that’s all it was for her? Attraction? That didn’t make me feel better. That meant it was my personality she didn’t like. Or maybe she was afraid it might turn into something else.
Was I the only one hoping for that?
“This was all for money, right?” Nayvee asked.
“That’s how it started.”
“Then slow down. It hasn’t been long. Help her fall in love with you.”
I blew out a breath. “I thought she was getting there.”
“Cole!” Rylee’s voice rang from the front of the house.
I hadn’t seen Rylee in forever.
“Kitchen!” Nayvee called.
Rylee came in holding my nephew. I stopped short. He was bigger than I expected. Strong enough to hold his head up and stare at me like he was judging my life choices.
I smiled despite myself. “Hey.” I hugged Rylee and reached for the baby’s hand. “This must be Jonathan.”
Jonathan studied me for half a second… then burst into tears.
“Don’t take it personally,” Rylee said, bouncing him. “He hates everyone.”
“Except Lainee,” Nayvee said. “It’s extremely unfair.”
Rylee laughed. “He does like Lainee.” She kissed his bald head, and he immediately calmed. “Where’s Sadie?”
The smile slipped from my face. “Getting settled.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar. You’ve always been terrible at lying, so give it up.”
“And you’ve always been bossy. Some things never change.”
She grinned. “True. Tell me about Sadie. How did you meet?”
I really wasn’t in the mood to talk about it.
“Okay,” she said, sensing my mood. “Do we need to go get ice cream?”
“No,” I said. “I just wish the wedding was over. I hate weddings.”
“But this is your wedding.”
“Doesn’t make me like it more.”
“But you want to get married. Right?”
“Come on, Ry. Of course I do. And when did you turn into Brynlee? You don’t usually try to pry everything out of me.”
She laughed. “I won’t worry until I’m as bad as Lainee.”
Alyssa came bursting in wearing a swimsuit, a big towel in her arms. Her eyes landed on me. “Tiffany said there’s a pool! Point me in the right direction.”
Rylee blinked as she studied Alyssa.
“This is Sadie’s sister, Alyssa,” I said before she could panic.
“I’ll show you the pool,” Nayvee said. “Didn’t Sadie want to swim with you?”
Alyssa frowned. “She’s in a mood. I couldn’t get her to open the door.”
Somehow that made me angrier. She had no right to be in a mood. I knew that was a stupid thought, but that’s where I was at the moment.
Alyssa followed Nayvee.
Rylee glanced at me. “You’re having a fight?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
I looked at the ceiling and frowned. One thing I liked about living far away from Lansing Falls was that no one was in my business all the time.
“Just let it go,” I said.
“Alright. I have to go pick Trace up. I just wanted to say hi.”
I tried to smile. “It was good to see you.”
“We’ll be back for dinner. Everyone’s coming.”
That was all I needed. Chaos during my spiral.