Page 28 of The Problem with Dating

“I always thought your relationship with your sisters was why ours failed. They were too involved in your life. Inserting themselves into our business.”

“Oh? Is that why we failed? It had nothing to do with you inserting yourself in other women?”

Cole’s posture tensed for a moment before he shook it off. “You’re right. I was the reason it failed. Not them. Which brings me to my next point…”

“What do you want, Cole?” I asked, sensing his odd behavior.

He brushed his hand against the back of his neck. “I’m in therapy, Yara.”

“Good for you.” I meant that, too. I’d tried to get him to talk to someone for years, but he refused.

“So I can win you back,” he finished.

Not so good.

“Cole,” I started.

“I’m serious, Yara. I’ve learned much over the past year, and I miss you. I miss the comfort of you. I miss us doing things together.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you drunk?”

“I’m serious.”

“Well, don’t be. You’re talking ridiculous, Cole. We ended our relationship for a reason, and I do not see reconciliation being an option.”

“Why not?”

“Why are you doing this? Why do we have to discuss this?”

His bottom lip twitched, but he shook it off and took three deep breaths as if trying to tame his anger. “Okay. You’re right. I came on too strong. We can revisit this at a later time.”

“Or never. I’m okay with never.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I miss that spitfire personality the most.”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop.”

“You miss me, too, don’t you?”

Not even a little.

Have you ever dated someone, then looked back on said relationship and thought, “What the fuck was that?” That summed up my marriage. It was as if I’d had a bad fever dream and woke ten years later dazed and confused.

“Cole. No. I don’t. We’re moving on. I’m going to start dating. You’re going to date. We’re starting our own lives,” I explained.

“You’re dating? Who?”

“As if I’d tell you.”

He laughed again. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I used to love his laughter. That was until it was soaked in disloyalty.

“I have to go, but before I do…” I brushed my hand against the back of my neck.

I couldn’t help but think about what Tatiana mentioned and the harassment Alex had been facing. Even though that, too, wasn’t my business, I felt a tug at my heart to speak up to Cole.

“I wanted to mention something to you,” I stated.

He arched an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s going on?”

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