Page 65 of Echoes of Us
"Then why are you here, Ashley?"For the first time, his tone held something other than polite distance."What exactly are you hoping to accomplish?"
"I miss you."The words fell between them, raw and honest."And I know you're angry-"
"Angry?"He set down his papers with deliberate care."You think that's what this is?"
"Then tell me what it is."She took a step closer, emboldened by the first crack in his polite facade."Because of this - this perfect civility?It's not you, Cole."
His laugh was soft, almost sad."And you're such an expert on who I am?"
"No, but I’m willing to find out."
He turned to face her fully, his gray eyes intense in a way that made her breath catch."You used to think you knew who I was and had the perfect image of who you wanted me to be."
"I know," she said softly."And I'm sorry.I'm not like that anymore."She took a breath, steadying herself."I want to get to know who you are.Really are."
Something flickered in his expression - surprise, maybe.Then his features smoothed back into that careful distance."I'm not interested."
He might as well have slapped her.
She convinced herself she was too proud to ask why, too afraid of his answer, but the question slipped out anyway, small and hurt: "Why not?"
"I told you before."His smile was gentle but final."You're not my type."
The casual dismissal hurt more than she was willing to admit, more than his anger ever had.
Before she could recover, voices approached in the hallway, coming their way."There you are!"Marie's voice carried into the lab, bright and familiar."Ready for dinner?"
"Just finishing up," Cole said, turning toward the door.
Ashley froze at the sight of her.Marie - one of her closest friends - stood there in a pretty dress, her dark curls placed carefully around her shoulders.The same Marie who'd stopped answering texts three weeks ago, who'd made excuses about being busy with study.
Marie's eyes widened slightly when she saw Ashley, guilt flashing across her face."Oh.Ashley.I..."She glanced between them, her usual confidence faltering."I meant to tell you."
Cole's expression didn't change, but something in his posture shifted - protective, almost.He moved toward Marie with deliberate steps.
"Tell me what?"Ashley's voice sounded strange to her own ears."That this is why you've been avoiding me?"
"Ashley-" Marie started, but Cole cut her off with a gentle touch to her arm.
"We should go," he said quietly."Dinner reservation."
Marie hesitated; conflict clear on her face."I'll call you?"she offered weakly to Ashley.
But Ashley had already turned away, pretending to be very interested in the lab equipment.She listened to their footsteps fade, to the soft murmur of their voices growing distant.Only when she was sure they were gone did she let herself look up.
The lab felt too small suddenly, too quiet.Her vision blurred as tears welled up, turning the pristine equipment into wavering shapes.She blinked hard, feeling them spill onto her cheeks.All her careful plans to bring Cole home had worked perfectly.She just hadn't expected them to bring him home to someone else.
And she certainly hadn't expected that someone to be her friend.
A sob caught in her throat as she pressed her palm against her mouth, trying to hold it in.The silent lab offered no comfort, just the steady hum of equipment bearing witness to her breaking heart.
CHAPTER25
The irony wasn't lost on Ashley as she stared at her behavioral psychology textbook, the words "Kübler-Ross Model" stark against the white page.Her highlighter hovered over the text, creating a small yellow dot where she'd held it too long.The library's morning light filtered through tall windows, casting long shadows across her notes.
Denial.That had lasted approximately thirty seconds after seeing Cole and Marie together.Her phone buzzed again - Marie's third attempt to call this morning.Ashley watched the screen fade to black, adding it to the growing collection of missed calls and unread messages.Some part of her still wanted to believe there was an explanation, wanted to pick up the phone and hear Marie say it was all a misunderstanding.But Ashley knew better.She'd seen the way Cole looked at Marie, and he was serious about her.
Anger came in waves.It burned in her chest during physics lab, watching Dale pretend everything was normal.It flared when she caught glimpses of Marie across campus, her friend's guilty expression only making it worse.But mostly, it simmered, quiet and steady, every time she remembered how carefully they'd hidden it.How many times had Marie listened to Ashley talk about Cole over the summer, knowing...?
