Page 105 of Unspoken Rules

But I have no right to be mad about that.

Cole and I aren’t anything.

We’re just fucking.

“You’re early,” Cole says. I hear in his voice that he’s worried. He knows I’m going to be pissed. Why does it feel like he’s hiding something? If he knew I was going to be pissed, why do it? What the hell is going on here? I hate feeling so confused. Hate that my head and my body can’t be on the same page ever.

“Figured I’d wait for you inside, but apparently that was a bad idea.”

He frowns and gets up from his desk. “I don’t know what you think you saw—”

“Didn’t see anything.” I shrug. It’s a lie, and I feel stupid for saying it. His door was mostly closed, so obviously I didn’t see anything. Nothing outside of her sitting on his desk. So maybe it isn’t a lie? I don’t know right now.

“She’s just a client.”

“One who comes by your office seemingly every day? One you’ve fucked. Must be nice to have people like that pay you.”

His eyes widen.

Go, Bryson.

That was good. I’m proud of myself for that one.

“I told you that was a one-time thing.” He steps toward me, but I step back until I’m at the chair and sit.

“Doesn’t matter, Cole. I mean, it’s not like you’re my boyfriend or anything,” I say as nonchalantly as I can. I hold his gaze and swear I see a flicker of hurt pass his eyes.

But it’s the truth. He isn’t my boyfriend. He isn’t anything to me other than the guy I’m fucking. And my best friend’s father, of course.

“Right,” he says carefully, looking back into his office. “I have a few things to finish up.”

I gesture to the room. “Go ahead then.”

He holds my gaze for a moment longer, runs his hand through his hair and turns.

“I do have a question though.” He pauses and turns back around to face me. “Did you fuck her in there?”

He narrows his eyes and shakes his head, but the truth is written all over his face.

Yes.

He did fuck her in there. And she keeps coming back for more, like a lost puppy looking for scraps.

I haven’t known Cole to lie to me about anything. But I haven’t known Cole in this situation before. Before this year, Cole and I had a very different dynamic. He was a parent-figure. Someone I always trusted. And I’ve never, not once, questioned the things he said to me. Not until now. I’ve never known Cole to be a liar, but that was then. That was five years ago. Now? Cole could be a liar. Just because he didn’t lie to me when I was a kid doesn’t mean he wouldn’t lie to me now. Different dynamics are like different people. Some people lie in their marriages but are the most truthful people at work. Some are the opposite. They’re cut-throat at work but soft as bunny fur at home. Everyone plays a part. Everyone has masks to wear. And Cole very much could be a player, and I’d have no idea because I haven’t been looking at him like that. I’ve been looking at him as the Cole I know. The man who has always been there for me, always helped me, always supported me. Not a potential boyfriend. Because I knew that would never be. And maybe that’s the whole point. Maybe he’s manipulating me into feeling that way because he can.

Or maybe it's obligation and pity.

He says he likes taking care of me, but I doubt that’s the truth. He knows how shitty my father was to me. This is pity. Or worse.

Fuck. This could be so much worse.

My stomach drops.

What if this is revenge for what my father did to him?

My stomach turns, and I think I’m going to throw up.

The possibilities are endless and I’m ashamed I never considered any of this before. How did I so blindly believe every word that fell from this man’s lips?

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