Page 114 of Devilry

“So, let’s up the stakes. I want to know all the juicy details about you two,” she points at me and Cole.” If I win the next hand that’s what I get.”

Feeling bold, I speak up. “How about you ask what you want to know and I’ll tell you?”

“No,” Cole protests. “She has to earn it.”

“She’s already won two hands, don’t let her kick your ass in a third one,” I taunt.

He throws the cards on the table in mock defeat. “Fine. Fire away.”

Earlier, Cole had mentioned he told his mom and Trey we’d met at King, and that I was his student. He said while their opinions wouldn’t have changed anything about us, neither of them are upset or disappointed.

“So how’d you meet?” she starts.

The easy questions first, I guess.

“I ran into him while I was running. Literally toppled both of us onto the ground and sprained my ankle.”

Her hands fly to cover her mouth. “Oh my god, how embarrassing.”

“God, you don’t even know the half of it,” I retort.

“So, did he walk you back to your place? What happened after?”

I give the nape of Cole’s neck a subtle squeeze, letting him know he can take the reins on this one.

“Actually, he refused to take my help and ran— actually he limped, away as fast as he could.”

Cole doesn’t even wait for her to ask for the follow up question before he dives in. “I didn’t see Elijah again until he showed up in one of my Studies in Religion electives.”

Meghann’s gaze shifts from his to mine and back again. Geena and Trey are watching her just as closely, waiting to see her reaction.

“So you’re his professor?”

He gives her a quick nod.

I don’t know what I expected but the silence isn’t it.

Trey’s the first one to break it by tugging on the end of her ponytail. “What? Cat got your tongue? Just say what you want to say, so we can all move past it.”

“What are you both thinking?” she says with much more hostility than I expected. “Cole, you worked so hard for this job. Why would you put it in jeopardy like that?”

He doesn’t say a word, and anxiety blooms in the pit of my stomach at her question. I really thought she’d be okay with it. Cole always spoke of Meghann like she understood him, like she always had his back.

I guess, just like Aiden, the backlash comes from the people you least expect.

Moving from behind Cole, I shift off the couch, so I can head to our room. “Where are you going?” Cole asks, grabbing my wrist.

“I think you need to have this conversation without me here.”

“No, there’s no conversation to be had.” He sits me back down, and I want the ground to swallow me whole.

He looks back at Meghann who doesn’t look like she’s about to back down any time soon.

“Babe,” Trey says. “Why don’t you and Cole have this conversation another time?”

“Another time isn’t going to change the fact that I think he’s playing with fire.” Her gaze lands on me. “You both are.” Straightening her back, she rests her forearms on the wooden table and leans forward. “This isn’t personal.”

“Like fuck it isn’t,” Cole bites back. “I’ve never once attacked your choices. I wasn’t that overprotective brother that made it difficult for you and Trey to be together. I saw how happy you were, and that was all that mattered.”

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