Page 67 of Dirty Rich Cinderella Story

“I will,” I say, shoving a bag over my shoulder. “I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, honey.”

We disconnect, and I gather my briefcase and duffels, and head for the door.

I find Cole still leaning on the car. I hurry toward him and he meets me part of the way and takes my bags. If he notices I don’t have a suitcase, he doesn’t comment. He says nothing, actually, and once he’s set the bags in the open trunk and shut it, I decide I can’t leave things like this.

“Cole—”

“We’re fuck buddies, Lori. Let’s leave it at that.”

He starts to turn away. “If that’s all we are then why are you this pissed at me?” I call after him.

He turns and faces me, his jaw hard, eyes harder. “I’m just giving you what you wanted, sweetheart.” He doesn’t wait for my reply. This time when he starts walking, he doesn’t stop until he’s in the car.

What I want. Only it’s not what I want. In this moment, with Cole walking away from me this time, not me him, I know that I want more with Cole. I know we’ve always been more, which was why I both pushed him away and why I dared to risk so much with him. And I know, I know, that if I don’t speak up now, if I don’t tell him what I feel, it’s over. And I don’t want it to be over. I rush toward the car.

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