Page 8 of (Un)Spoken

But the woman in front of me had ripped all other thoughts from my mind. I was consumed by her lips and smooth curves.

However, just as quickly as the thoughts overtook me, the thought of my best friend drowned them in cold water. Cole asked me to look after his baby sister—he wanted her to feel welcome and safe in his town. Something told me he didn’t want my little soldier leading the welcome wagon.

Clearing my throat, I took a big step back, trying to escape the floral scent that seemed to linger around her. “You heading over to the house tonight?”

She paused and took a slow breath. “Yeah, I think so. My parents are going to expect me for dinner, and I’d like to meet Alex.”

“You haven’t met yet?”

I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear her version of events over the past few months. While I knew Cole was trying, Victoria had been holding back; at least, that’s what Cole had said. And as much as the woman in front of me was a stranger, she was still a Campbell. They might have a tough exterior, but the inside was all warmth and love. When we tried to intervene and help Cole, she was the one leading the charge, spending all her time researching thebest treatment programs and ways we could support him. She was his cheerleader, the one constant in his corner. For Victoria to cut Cole out of her life meant something must have cut her deep, and the wound wasn’t likely healed.

“Nope,” Victoria answered, averting her eyes from my gaze. “We’ve talked on the phone, and she sometimes joins our weekly calls, but I haven’t met her in person.” She chuckled and gave me a conspiratorial smirk. “I’m very curious about the woman who convinced my brother to settle down.”

“I think it was the opposite way around,” I chuckled. “Alex would have been happy to keep dating, but Cole wanted to make things official. He would have married her months ago, but they decided to wait until things were more stable here.”

“That doesn’t sound like the Cole I remember.”

I met her gaze, taking in the pain and hurt hidden behind the dark specks of her eyes. As soon as she noticed me staring, she shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Ignore me, I’m just hangry. I promise I’ll be charming tonight.”

“I don’t know, trouble. I think I like it when you speak your mind.”

“We’ll see about that,” she chuckled, grabbing one more pastry and stacking it on her plate. “So, tell me what you’ve been up to, Adam? Besides destroying the box office and making women ages 18 to 35 lust after you.”

“Are you keeping tabs on me, Campbell?” I joked, hoping she didn’t notice my flinch.

“It's kind of hard not to, Rice,” she chuckled, putting her plate down and adding cream to her coffee. “You’re a pretty popular guy.”

As she spoke, another guest joined us. Even though they paid us no mind, my defenses rose, not wanting to exposeany part of myself. I cleared my throat, “I should get going, but it was…” I blanked out on words, too busy staring into Victoria Campbell’s eyes. “Good. It’s really good to see you again.” I squeezed her shoulder as I walked past. “But you’ll be there tonight?”

“Yup. I might try to squeeze in a quick nap, but Cole’s coming to pick me up later.”

“Good,” I repeated, as if it was the only word left in my brain. “Good. Then I’ll see you there.”

As I walked outside, I instantly regretted it. Every fiber of my body wanted me to go back inside and keep talking to Victoria. I wanted to know more about her and find out what had happened in the years since we parted. Never did I think that Cole’s little sister would knock me on my ass like she did.

When I reached my cabin, I turned, watching as she walked across the lawn. For most of my life, Victoria Campbell had been an afterthought.

But she certainly had all of my attention now.

FIVE

As we pulled up to Cole’s house, my heart started to beat a heavy rhythm. My nerves raced in my chest, and I could feel my pulse all the way down to my fingertips. Cole looked over to me as he shifted the car into park. With a soft sigh, he nodded to the house. “Ready for this?”

“Of course,” I said, hoping the tone of my voice didn’t betray me. As much as Cole tried to comfort me on the way over, letting me know all about the people waiting for us, I couldn’t help but feel a little nauseous. These were the people closest to Cole, a good barometer to tell how others in his life would receive me. All I could hope was that this evening would go well, and I could go and hide back in my cabin until the next day.

My brother opened his door, but let me take my time exiting the vehicle. Stepping into the driveway, I took a look at Cole’s new home with clearer eyes. It was something out of a storybook, this sweet little cottage in the middle of the woods. Everything from the bright flowers that lined the siding to the brightly painted teal front door screamed home. There was only one other house in view, a dark redone that looked more like a farmhouse than anything else. From our earlier conversation, I could guess that was where Marta and Curt, their close friends and neighbors, lived. They also had a son who was staying with them, but he was taking care of their restaurant so they could give Alex and Cole all their attention over the next few days.

“Hey,” Cole called out. “We’re back.”

“Victoria?”

My shoulders tensed as my name rang out, the sound bringing flashbacks to my youth. My parents rounded the corner, greeting me with welcoming but tight smiles. I greeted them the same, hating that the last time we spoke, we were arguing about this very trip. My mom was upset that I wasn’t bringing Emilia, but I was steadfast in my choice. And as much as they didn’t like it, at least my parents agreed not to say anything until I was ready.

As I walked further into the foyer, my dad’s eyes met mine. My father, Sam Campbell, was an imposing man to those who didn’t know him. His stern, unflappable exterior was honed through years in the military, never letting anyone see his nerves. He rarely smiled, saving those primarily for my mother and us. While he was absent for most of my childhood, there was still a part of me that loved my father fiercely. On the nights he’d be out late working, I’d stay up long past my bedtime, waiting for a couple of moments with him after he got back from base, needing a least one hug before falling asleep. As an adult, as much as I tried to say I was above it, I craved his approval, wanting to see that twinkle of pride in his eyes.

While that twinkle might have died a little on the day I told him I was pregnant, my need for his approval had not. At that moment, our relationship had irreparably changed—his perception of me shifted from the little girl who alwaysbegged for bedtime stories to a flawed but adult woman who owned her choices.

However, even though we’d seen my future playing out in different ways, I knew without a doubt that he’d move worlds to keep me safe.

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