Page 91 of Muddy Messy Love

Cole winces. “Actually, I need to get back to work.” My heart sinks, but I hide it. Cavalry lost. “Will you be okay?”

“I’ve survived eighteen years so far.”

Cole flashes me an apologetic smile as he refills Mum’s teacup. “I’m not sure how.”

His grumbled validation makes me smile. “I’ll walk you out while it brews. Queen Sheila will request a replacement if it’s too weak.” Come to think of it, maybe her dislike of me follows the same logic. Perhaps my weakness renders me unpalatable too.

Connecting our hands by monkey grip, Cole leads us back into the living room and stops short of Mum. She stares up at him expectantly.

“I’m afraid I must be going, Sheila. It was…enlightening to meet you,” he says.

I hide my smile at Cole’s carefully chosen word, but it bursts free regardless when he turns Mum’s outstretched hand to the side, opting to shake rather than kiss it.

“So soon?” she asks. “We were just getting to know each other.”

“Work calls,” he says.

“Of course. An important man such as yourself.” Mum bats her eyelashes, flashing a flirty smile, and I wonder if she realises how she presents. Does she choose this behaviour, having considered all options and consequences, or simply lack awareness?

I clear my throat and follow Cole through the gallery. Three hot-pink suitcases stand at attention outside Beth’s open bedroom door. Funny, that. “Where would you like these?” Cole asks, halting at their feet.

“On a plane?” I suggest, and he smirks. “But in here will have to do, I guess.” I walk into Beth’s room and gesture towards her bed. One at a time, Cole lays each case at the end of the mattress, ready to unpack. The sight makes me shudder. I still can’t believe Mum’s here. “Thank you.”

When I click the bedroom door shut, Cole pulls me into his arms. “I feel terrible leaving. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

I nod. “I’ll lock myself in my studio for the day and crank up the music.”

“Good idea,” he says. “You were wrong, by the way.”

“About what?”

Cole crinkles his nose. “She’s pretty bad.”

My shoulders slump. “I’m so glad you see it.”

“It’s hardly subtle,” Cole scoffs. He strokes the back of my neck with warm fingers, and my gaze drops to our feet as Mum’s opinion of my art sweeps through my bones, turning them black and crumbly.

“Hey,” Cole says, lifting my chin. “Don’t let her get to you.”

I huff out a hopeless laugh. “Believe me, I try. It’s harder than you think.”

He catches my eyes with his. “You are exceptional. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

A smile tugs at my lips. I hold my fingers up an inch apart. “I think you may be a tad biased.”

“Bollocks,” Cole says, but I grimace and drag in a breath.

“My mum doesn’t actually like me, just so you know. She’s told me more than once and knows me better than anyone. So consider yourself warned.”

Cole seems stunned as he silently takes me in. The disbelief is there—after all, mums are biologically built to like their offspring, right?—but then his frown returns, almost angrily. “Then there’s something wrong with her, or she doesn’t know you at all.” He presses his hand to my sternum. “It’s my job toread people, and I see you. The real you. In here, and she’s kind—brave—honest.Verylikeable.”

I can’t help but shudder. Is it possible I’ve fooled him too?

As if reading my thoughts, Cole sighs, then cups my cheeks. “No one else smiles and greets Bernie every morning, let alone helps him pack away. Unlikeable people don’t do that. And did you know Hannah is your number one fan and forever warning me not to screw things up?” He shakes his head. “You’re a good person, Aves. Your friends see it. I see it. It’s time you did too.”

“Wait…” I frown. “You see me with Bernie? How?”

Cole sighs and drops his arms. “That’s what you took away from everything I just said?” He rolls his eyes, then lowers his lips to mine, but I turn my head.

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