Page 104 of Devilry

I’m confused and frustrated, but I miss him like crazy. I hate this feeling. The unknown, the fear, the anticipation of the worst.

Cole and I aren’t supposed to feel like this. Not anymore. Not after how far we’ve both come. I was so sure we’d left that uncertainty behind.

“I need to head over to King Koffee to try out for this barista job, anyway. Maybe it will take my mind off it all.”

“I still don’t know why you insist on running yourself into the ground. How do you plan to fit working into your schedule?”

“Callie, hundreds of students work and study. If everyone else can do it, why can’t I?”

“Everyone else isn’t involved in a research project that has a four-year workload crammed into one.”

She’s persistent with her argument, and the care factor is cute enough that I don’t bother explaining to her—for the millionth time— the ins and outs of the scholarship students at King University.

Holding the back of her head, I steady her as I kiss her forehead. “I appreciate your concern, but it won’t be that bad. And if everything turns to shit, I’ll have some spare hours on my hands.” I rise off the couch. “If I’m going to be miserable, I may as well be making money.”

“I think you’re overreacting about both of them,” she says, stopping me from leaving. “Aiden needs to calm down, but you do not owe him anything, nor should you be feeling guilty about things that were never his business in the first place.”

She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “And Cole. Hewillcome around.”

“How do you do that?” I ask.

“What?

“Put everything in perspective.”

She gives me a sad smile. “I’ve had a lot of practice. Cole might not be the perfect match for you because of the circumstances, but that’s for you and him to navigate. A fight over or with Aiden should not be the reason you end.”

I scoff at the mention of Aiden. “He said some really shitty stuff to me.”

“I don’t doubt it, babe. Just remember, when he comes around, because he will, don’t let him get away with it. If someone upsets you, you let them know. And Aiden needs to know. Otherwise, he’ll walk all over your kind and forgiving heart, just like he does to mine.”

The exhaustion in her voice has me sinking to the couch. “I’ve been too busy whining about my life, and not spending enough time worrying about you.”

“I’m fine,” she says, waving me off. “I just think it’s time I let this stuff with Aiden go. I'm sorry my realization came at your expense, but if I don’t want to keep going around in circles, I have to break my own heart and move on.” Unshed tears fill her eyes. “I love him, Elijah. I really do. But I don’t like him anymore.”

I wrap my arms around her, while she cries into my shoulder. “Here, I’ve got a little present for you,” I say, hoping to comfort her.

She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands. “What is it?”

I pull out an unopened packet of Werther’s Originals and she smiles. “I promise they make everything better.”

***

“Elijah, you’re a natural,” Joe, the owner of King Koffee, tells me. I find it hilarious that’s his name, but I don’t bring attention to the small things that amuse me. “The job is definitely yours. I’m just going to need a few days to work out the schedule and I’ll be in contact.”

I put my hand out and he shakes it. “Thank you so much, sir. I appreciate the opportunity.”

“None of this sir bullshit, son. The name is Joe.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

I give him a quick wave goodbye and head out of the shop. Checking my phone, I see a missed call from Cole. Stunned, I stop in the walkway, and a girl walks right into me.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” I say. “Are you okay?”

She doesn’t waste any time acknowledging me, turning her scrunched up face and walking away. Finding the nearest bench, I take a seat and hit the call button.

It takes less than two rings for him to answer. “Elijah.”

---