Page 58 of Broken Hearts

He looks at me, a question in his eyes as I approach the bed again. “I thought you were leaving,” he says, his voice tinged with a vulnerability I’ve rarely seen in him.

“I was,” I admit, taking a seat beside him. “But I can’t. Not when you’re hurt. I’ll stay with you, at least until you’re cleared by the medic.”

A grateful smile touches his lips, and he reaches for my hand, his grip firm yet gentle. In that small gesture, there’s a sense of comfort, of unspoken understanding.

As I sit beside him, I find myself unconsciously leaning into his warmth, my body betraying the words I had rehearsed about needing space. The confusion I had felt earlier seems to dissolve, and in its place, a silent acceptance settles inside me. I catch myself tracing the lines of his palm, a gesture of connection and certainty more than any words could convey.

My heart has already made that choice. Despite the risks. Despite the fear. What I really need is to find the strength within myself, the assurance that I can survive whatever may come, even if he betrays me again.

Chapter 22

Cole

Everything’s a mess, and I’m painfully aware of it. Acting on impulse has become my thing, and where this story ends is anyone’s guess. But for now, there’s a personal vendetta to settle. After all this time, I’m ready to face Jenny and tear down what she values, like she tried with me.

I’ve just left the jewelry store when my phone buzzes. It’s Liam. “Your girl was here looking for you,” he says, and a rush of excitement hits me. I lean against my car, the jewelry store bag momentarily forgotten. Since Vegas, I’ve been keeping my distance from Eva, even if I keep tabs. My reasons are different now. It’s not out of the need to find out what her secrets are. It’s out of fear, a deep-seated fear of losing her that I can’t shake off.

The fact she’s looking for me means this isn’t some text-and-forget matter. My heart kicks up a notch at the thought, a bit of hope sparking up. But then Liam’s next words hit me like a punch.

“The blonde bitch opened the door,” he says, and I can tell he’s not happy about it.

Jenny. I swear under my breath and jump into action, sliding into my car and putting Liam on speaker as I head toward our house.

“What happened?” I ask, my grip tight on the steering wheel.

“I didn’t want Eva to get the wrong idea or Jenny to get suspicious. So I acted like Eva was my girl and got her out of there. Told her that Jenny being there was not what it may look like, but you gotta talk to her, man,” Liam explains.

“Thanks. Really,” I say, feeling both relieved and annoyed.

“Yeah, well, keep me out of your drama from now on, okay?” he grumbles back.

I grimace, not sure I can promise that. Things are likely to get more complicated before they get any better. I can’t say for sure I won’t drag Liam into more of my messes, so I grunt noncommittally.

As I drive, a mix of nerves and determination grips me. Seeing Eva and sorting things out is all I can think about, especially with the looming fear of losing her.

I pull up to the house and hesitate. Jenny being here earlier than planned is annoying. My plan for revenge against her was ready, but with Evan knowing Jenny is here complicates things.

Getting inside, Jenny’s lounging in my living room, with Ethan glaring daggers at her. The air is thick with tension, and I know I’ll owe Ethan big for this. I need to sort this out quickly; I’ve got things to clarify things with Eva, and I want her in the right headspace for the bombshell I have to drop.

She cracks her gum and snorts. “Didn’t know Liam was into fat chicks… Disappointing, but what can I say?”

“No, I don’t think he’s into curvy girls, but I am,” I reply; a genuine smile plays on my lips as I think of Eva, her curves that fit perfectly in my hands, the feel of her skin under my touch.

Jenny laughs mockingly. “Very funny. So why are you with me then?”

I raise an eyebrow. “But I’m not with you, am I? In fact, I broke up with you two months into senior year and haven’t looked back.”

She tries another angle. “I blew you last year.”

“At a college party while I was too drunk to get it up. You shouldn’t even have been there!” I shoot back, my patience wearing thin.

“So why call me here?” she demands.

I lean in, my voice low and dangerous. “Just to see the look on your face when you realize you’re done.”

Her expression shifts to confusion. “Why?”

“Because destroying someone is fun, right? Tell me, did you enjoy what you did to the coach’s daughter? Unleashing Derek on her?”

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