Page 116 of Unspoken Rules

We’ve never done any of the PDA stuff. We haven’t gone anywhere together, and both know this has to be a secret. But it’s late. It’s dark. And we’re out of town, so it’s unlikely someone we know will see us. We walk through the gardens for a while, certain we’ve gone the same way multiple times. We say nothing, just hold hands and walk together. It’s sweet and perfect.

When we make our way to the exit, which is another archway covered in roses, Cole stops me and pulls me against his chest. His hand is at the back of my neck and he’s kissing me. It’s needy but slow. He moans into my mouth, his body hard and hot against mine.

I can’t believe I’m kissing Cole Harper.

This is absolutely insane.

“I want to do this with you all the time, Bryson.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I rest my cheek on his shoulder. His words have me emotional. I blame the wine. But really, it’s just that deep down I’m still worried this is going to end in disaster. Because why wouldn’t it? There’s going to be a point when I’m not okay being kept a secret. Maybe he’ll eventually feel that way too. This is going to be too much to handle. Or it’ll end the other way. The worst way. Where we’re found out and everything blows up in our faces. Either way, this isn’t going to end in bliss. Our time is limited together. I know it. He knows it. But we’re going to pretend otherwise until it happens.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Cole

It’s quiet on the way home. The evening went well, and Bryson seemed to enjoy the night. Until we left. Though, it wasn’t the leaving that did it. It was what I said to him. Maybe more of what I didn’t say. There are unspoken words lingering between us each day. Words that grow louder and louder the more we don’t say them—the closer we get.

We’re falling into a routine, making things work for us and it’s happening so smoothly, but it’s obvious it won’t be like this forever. We’re hiding from the world in our perfect little bubble, but this bubble will pop.

They always pop.

And though I wish we could be here forever, it isn’t possible. And maybe there is a way for us to be together like this always, but at what cost?

My son? His best friend?

How is that fair?

I’m not so stupid to think Chris will accept this. He won’t. He’s already mad at me for something else. This will only be the icing on the cake. The thing that could throw him over the edge. He’d never speak to me again.

Yet, here I am doing it anyway.

What the hell is wrong with me?

It’s awful because I’m not going to stop. It’s too good to stop. It all feels too safe.

Chris is with his mother. I made sure of it the day after he left. He may be mad at me, I may be betraying him, but he’s still my son and I love him. I want him to be safe. I really want him to get his shit together.

When we get home, I let us in and lock up. We head upstairs and Bryson stops at his room, looking at me nervously. “Well, good night. Thanks for taking me out.”

I stare at him and can’t help but smile. He looks so uncomfortable, and though I don’t like when he feels uncomfortable, I can’t help but appreciate how adorable he is right now.

He takes a small backward step toward his room, his eyes still on me. I shove my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels. He’s watching me carefully, not understanding why I’m staring at him like this. He’s squirming. I love when he squirms.

“Uh, good night,” he says again, taking another slow step so he’s in his doorway. He frowns, turns, then steps into his room.

Which is when I speak.

“It’s cute you think you’re spending the night in there,” I say.

He freezes. I can picture the giant smile on his face. Only when he turns around, he isn’t smiling. Which causes my chest to tighten.

“I just thought—”

I move toward him, but he avoids looking at me. “Just thought you’d be going to bed unfucked after the amazing night we had?”

He chews on the inside of his lip and shrugs his shoulders.

“I didn’t want to be presumptuous.”

---