Page 145 of The Single Dad

Archie tries to shrug, wincing as he shifts his injured arm. He scoots off of the table.

We head out to the waiting room, where Cole checks out at the reception desk.

The receptionist assures him that he will be receiving the bill in the mail, and that a follow-up appointment has been scheduled with the doctor in three weeks to determine if Archie has healed enough to remove the cast. It might have to stay on a little longer if the x-rays don’t show improvement.

The entire time, Cole’s face is stiff, his eyes sharp enough to cut. The fact that he’s being so tender and gentle with Archie—so careful, like he’s worried a normal speaking volume might hurt him—only serves to make me feel even worse.

By the time we get to the car, I’m feeling like absolute shit, and I know that it can only get worse from here.

When we arrive home, Cole immediately takes Archie upstairs. I linger in the foyer, uncertain as to whether I should follow them up and wish Archie a good night. Ultimately, I decide that I should probably avoid Cole if I can help it.

I sit in the kitchen, at the granite island, staring at my own hands until Cole reappears in the doorway.

Immediately, I sit upright. “Is Archie okay? Is he in bed?”

Cole nods, but says nothing. He strides past me without looking at me, and my heart sinks into my stomach.

“Cole?” I get up from the counter, hesitantly taking a step after him.

He walks to the dining room table, picks up his laptop, and balls up the charging cable. He tucks the device under one arm and stalks back toward the foyer, still not meeting my gaze. There’s a hard set to his jaw.

I want to reach out and stop him, to put myself in the path of his determined march to the stairs, but I know better than to do that. It would only spark an even worse fight, one that won’t be interrupted. One where we would both have all the time in the world to make each other hurt.

I stand motionless, listening to the sounds of Cole’s footsteps receding up the stairs. I follow him at a safe distance, waiting, wondering what he’ll do—where he’ll go.

After a few seconds, I hear the slam of his bedroom door. I close my eyes, feeling like I might wither into nothing.

I stay downstairs for another five minutes or so, desperately hoping that he might regret his anger and come downstairs to reconcile with me. Eventually, I can hardly stand it anymore. I start to feel pathetic, no longer able to hold in my tears.

I rush upstairs to my room, ducking inside and locking the door behind me so that neither Cole nor Archie will accidentally see me crying. Then the floodgates open.

I crumple to the floor, my arms hugging around my own torso, and cry.

After a few minutes of crying on the floor, I manage to haul myself up onto the bed, where I curl up, holding my knees to my chest.

I need to talk to someone about this—anyone.

My first thought is that I should ask Noah if he’ll be around tomorrow, and go over to his place. After all, he’s right next door, and who better to comfort me than my brother?

Then I remember the warning he gave me, and immediately think better of it. I promised Noah that this thing between me and Cole was nothing serious; if I show up at his place tomorrow with puffy eyes and a tear-stained face, I’m going to get the I told you so speech, and that will only make me feel worse.

No. It’s not a brother’s comfort I need right now.

I pull my phone out of my jeans pocket, wiping my eyes just enough to see the screen, and start a new text to Olivia.

ME: I’m worried it might be over. Something terrible happened and we got in a huge fight.

ME: It was awful. Archie broke his arm, and Cole thinks it’s all my fault. I don’t know what to do, but he won’t talk to me.

ME: I feel like absolute shit.

I toss the phone onto my nightstand, then flop back against the down pillows, staring up at the high ceiling. Hopefully, Olivia will see my texts and give me a call tomorrow morning before I go downstairs to work.

I roll over onto my side. The tears won’t stop, even as I close my eyes and let sleep take me.

Chapter 46

Riley

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