Page 75 of Unspoken Rules

“I’m sorry,” I quickly add. “That was rude, and it’s none of my business. But as someone who has known Cole Harper for over fifteen years, I can tell you the man does not overdo it with alcohol.”

Tomas is still staring at me, and I can’t tell if he’s going to punch me, cry, or keel over and die. Finally, after what feels like ten years, his shoulders sag.

“I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have said that—I’m sorry.” I watch him carefully, not sure where he’s going with this. “Yes, it has to do with my father. I guess I’m still mad about the whole thing.”

“And you have every right to be, but make sure it isn’t misplaced. And I say that as kindly as possible.”

Tomas nods, picking up a fry. “My father blames it on alcohol, and I guess I never knew if that was the truth or not.”

“It could have been,” I say. “But one drunk night and one mistake doesn’t mean they’re alcoholics.”

And I know that from experience.

Tomas sighs. “I know that. But it wasn’t one drunk night. It went on for a long time, and I guess that’s why I like to blame it on the alcohol. It’s easier to blame that than to think two men would cheat on their wives.”

Whoa. More than one drunk night? This wasn’t just a one and done thing. Cole was having an actual affair with Tomas’s father?

“Your brain has a natural instinct to protect itself and a lot of times that means lying to yourself.”

Maybe I should have been a psych major…

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it. I’m angry, but I should at least try to be honest with myself, I guess. I haven’t talked to my father since I found out. Which is why I have the car. And many other things…”

That explains a lot. “I’m sorry. My father is a complete dick, if that makes you feel any better. It’s why I’m staying with Cole and Chris in the first place. My own father would have had me on the streets.”

“Bummer.”

“Totally is.”

The conversation gets lighter after that, and not that I’m fully satisfied with the info I got over the whole thing, but I don’t want to come across as weird if I keep pushing it. His story differs slightly from what I heard from Chris, but that’s how rumors get started.

When we’re finished eating, Tomas takes me home, this time minus the attitude, and he apologizes again before leaving. Which I tell him isn’t necessary.

Chris’s car isn’t in the driveway when I get back and I have a feeling he won’t be home again tonight. Hopefully he’s smart enough to go to work tomorrow and not get fired. And even more, hopefully he’s okay and hasn’t gone on some kind of bender that ends with him and his car wrapped around a tree. Before I head inside, I call him. It goes to voicemail.

So I text him, letting him know I’m here for him if he wants to talk. Not that I think he deserves my kindness, but we’re friends and I guess that’s what you do for people you care about.

I step inside the house and quickly make my way to my room before anything—or anyone—can deter me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Bryson

Chris doesn’t come back to the house all week.

Cole avoids me all week.

Tuesday went by like a whole year as I imagined Cole banging mystery date woman over his office desk. I don’t even know what his office looks like, but I sure painted a pretty picture of it in my head. I’m considering a career as a porn director after what I imagined they were doing.

When he came home on Tuesday and got to work on dinner, like he always does, I didn’t attack him and go at him with a million questions like I wanted to.

I can’t.

He isn’t mine.

And my dick is fine. There’s nothing weird growing on it. Nothing discolored coming out. It isn’t itchy. So that’s something, I guess.

But now it’s Saturday evening, and Cole is in his office working. The TV is on in the living room, but I’m barely watching it. The only reason I’m down here was because my body was getting sore from lying in the same position on my bed all day. Figured a walk downstairs and sitting on the couch for a while would do me good. When the front door opens, I’m shocked when Chris walks in.

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