Page 79 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

Hide And Seek

Cole

Three weeks.

That’s how long it’s been since I last heard from Lila. Three weeks where I’ve done everything I could do to reach her, trying my best to be subtle and not come off as overbearing even though deep down, all I wanted to do was track her down and ask her why exactly she hadn’t picked up a single one of my phone calls.

She seems not to want anything to do with me. It’s like she wants to erase everything we’ve shared in the last two months. I’ve tried to understand it and tell myself that this must all be a lot for her, but I still can’t help the pain that goes through me every time I think about it. It’s hurting me so much to know that she’s intentionally avoiding me.

It’s impossible to go a full day without thoughts of her consuming my mind to the point where it’s so hard to breathe, it feels like I’m having a panic attack.

Does she really not feel the same way I do? I would have bet anything that she felt the same connection that I did.

Had I really imagined it? Had I been so desperate for her affection that I convinced myself that she felt it, when there was nothing there? Was I the only one who fell? Because if she did too, then how can she continue to act as if I don’t exist?

I shake off the thoughts that threaten to drown me, focusing instead on the road ahead of me and the steering wheel in my hands. I need to see her as badly as I need to breathe.

I pull into the apartment complex of Lila’s building, staring at the card Sue gave me with her apartment number.

I’ve driven by this place every day for the past three weeks, hoping to get a glimpse of her coming or going with no success. Finally I broke down and asked Sue for her apartment number since Lila refused to give it to me before. I guess it was her way of making sure to have distance if anything went wrong.

Maybe that’s it, but I don’t care. I’m going to find a way to convince her how good we could be together, because even if she doesn’t need me, I need her.

A moment later, I’m standing in front of apartment 14C. Taking a deep breath, I finally raise my hand and knock.

Whatever’s been going on, it’s time to fix it.

“Just a minute.” Lila’s muffled voice comes through from the other side of the door. I shove my hands into my pockets, heart racing wildly in my chest as I hear her padded footsteps drawing closer to the door. She pulls it open, instantly freezing in shock as her eyes land on me. Hair in a messy bun piled atop her hair and feet clad in bright yellow socks, it’s obvious that she wasn’t expecting any company. But even caught unawares like this, she’s still easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

For a moment, I almost forget why I’m here, or that I should be upset with her. Instead, I’m lost in the vastness of her ocean eyes, my gaze only leaving them to catch a glimpse of her baby pink lips. There seems to be a glow about her. Has it always been like this? Or is it more pronounced because it’s been so long since I’ve seen her?

Her gaze is shaky. Fidgety.

“Cole, I—what are you—what are you doing here?” she stutters.

“Well, since you haven’t answered any of my calls, or responded to any of my texts, you forced my hand. I was worried you’d been kidnapped or something.” I try to play it off as a joke, even though my heart is doing little flips in my chest at finally being able to set my eyes on her again.

“Well, as you can see, I wasn’t kidnapped, and I’m doing great,” she shrugs.

“I see. So you’re admitting that you’re deliberately avoiding me.”

“Cole—”

“Can I at least come in? I’d prefer not to have this conversation in your hallway.” She sighs defeatedly, angling her body just the slightest bit to let me through the door.

“Thank you,” I say, resisting the urge to shut my eyes when the sweet scent that always seems to hover around her wafts past my nose.

“How did you even know my apartment number? Because—” Lila starts and then pauses mid-sentence. “You know what? Don’t answer that. Sue and I are going to have a lot to talk about,” she mutters under her breath, gesturing me into the living room.

My eyes skim the place, the smallest smile on my face. Her place is exactly how I would’ve pictured it. Quaint, warm, andvery organized. Lila never struck me as the type of woman to have a single thing out of place.

“Why are you here, Cole?”

“I told you I needed to know why you’ve been ignoring me. The decent thing to do—” she cuts me of.

“Cole, I really don’t have the time to—”

Suddenly she freezes, her hand flying to her mouth. She raises a finger up as though to tell me to give her a moment, quickly disappearing behind an adjacent door to the living room. The sound of vomiting fills the room, followed by running water a minute later.

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