Page 168 of The Single Dad

I curl up against him, letting my body melt against his.

Letting myself have everything I want.

Just for this moment.

Chapter 54

Riley

Outside of Cole’s ceiling-high windows, there’s a flawless view of the winding branches of the oak tree in the backyard. I wake to the sound of a bird, sitting on the branch, chirping a morning tune.

I’m nestled into Cole’s arms, and that feels… good. Warm. Right. He’s still asleep; the bird hasn’t woken him. I spend a few seconds dwelling on the blissful feeling, the pleasant soreness in my muscles, as I watch the chickadee hop around on the branch and finally take flight.

As soon as it vanishes out of sight, the reality of everything starts to sink in, and I bite my lip as a knot forms in my stomach.

Shit. What did I just do?

This was a huge mistake. The wound of our breakup was finally starting to heal over, enough that we could have a nice dinner without any awkwardness and with minimal hurt.

And now, after this, I’ve definitely just reopened it, to its fullest extent.

It’s just going to get harder and harder every time I let myself have a taste. I can’t let this cycle continue. I can’t do this.

My breath hitches involuntarily as I spiral into a panic. I feel Cole stir; he must’ve felt me stiffen, or been awakened by my movements. Before he can say or do anything, I slip out of his arms and scramble to my feet.

“This was a mistake,” I say, almost tripping over myself in my rush to gather my clothes off the floor. Cole must’ve brought my pants back up to the bedroom sometime last night, and I slide into my panties, then tug my jeans back on over them.

“Riley, wait,” he says softly, holding out a hand. “Slow down for a second.”

I shake my head, ignoring him. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry. I should have been thinking.” I pull my shirt on over my head and scoop up my bra, not wanting to take the time to fasten it. “We needed a cleaner break. This is my fault. I should…”

Cole stares at me as I trail off, pausing in the middle of my flight.

Then it occurs to me. “I should quit at the community center. That way, we won’t have to see each other, and this will be easier.”

“No. If you really don’t want to see me, I’ll never show up there again, but you’re not quitting that job,” Cole says, pushing the sheets back and sitting upright. “But I… I have to try one more time, Riley. I want you here. I want you back. I want to prove myself to you—”

Before he’s even finished speaking, I shake my head, looking away.

“I want to prove that I’m the kind of man you deserve,” he says, a note of desperation in his tone. “Please, angel. Give me a chance.”

“I can’t,” I say. “I can’t trust this.” I glance at him, my eyes stinging with tears. “My whole life, I’ve been led on by people who made promises and broke them all the time. Do you know how long it’s taken me to get where I am? To figure out that I needed to be smart—to figure out that I couldn’t just let my heart take me wherever it wants?”

I start toward the door, but before I can leave, Cole gets out of bed and stands in front of me. Tentatively, I meet his gaze, and there’s something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before—a firm determination, which isn’t uncommon, but also a raw openness, a kind of vulnerability that’s rare from him.

He’s unclothed; I’ve seen his body before, seen the burn scars on his chest, but I feel like I haven’t seen all of him until this moment.

He takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly and says, “I want to take you somewhere. Please.”

I hesitate, looking him up and down. Part of me—the rational part, the small voice that was diminished to nothing last night—thinks that I should just get out. Go downstairs, grab my coat, walk to the nearest metro station and never come back to this part of the city. Quit my job, if that’s what it takes. Avoid him forever.

But… there’s another part of me, stronger, that can’t bear to leave. The part that felt more comfortable and happy in his arms this morning than I’ve felt in a long time.

Plus, I’m curious. The way he’s acting… I’ve never seen this from him, and I don’t know what to expect.

As I deliberate, he adds, with a small smile, “Indulge me.”

I nod, looking up at him. “Okay. Fine.”

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