Page 52 of Echoes of Us
"My hero," he smiled, and she tried not to notice how Cole's lounging posture suddenly stiffened.
The kitchen was small, forcing them to maneuver around each other as they gathered plates and napkins.It felt oddly domestic, the way Dale anticipated her movements, passing her things before she asked.They'd fallen into an easy rhythm by the time they started arranging slices on plates.
"You're good at this," Dale commented, watching her artfully arrange toppings that had slid during delivery.
"Had practice," she said without thinking."Cole always-" She caught herself, but not before seeing Dale's expression flicker with understanding.From the living room, she heard the distinctive sound of Cole setting his bottle down too hard.
"Sorry," she whispered."I didn't mean-"
"It's okay."Dale's voice was gentle.He reached past her for more napkins, his arm brushing hers."I like that you care about him."
A sharp laugh from the living room made them both turn.Cole had moved to sit beside Lisa, leaning in close to say something that made her giggle.His eyes, though, were fixed on the kitchen doorway where Ashley and Dale stood too close in the small space.
"We should probably..."Ashley gestured vaguely at the waiting plates.
"Yeah."Dale picked up a stack but paused."For what it's worth?I think he cares about you, too."
When they returned to the group, Cole's gaze followed their every movement, tracking each casual touch and each shared smile, yet he still refused to acknowledge her officially.
As the night progressed, Ashley found herself actually enjoying the easy flow of conversation.James launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his latest theory about dark matter, and Mike kept interrupting him with increasingly outrageous counter-theories that had everyone questioning if he was making them up just for the fun of it.
"But what if," Mike's eyes gleamed with mischief, "dark matter is just regular matter having a bad day?"
"That's not even remotely how it works-" James spluttered into his beer while Lisa dissolved into giggles.
For the first time in weeks, Ashley felt herself relaxing.These people were brilliant but real, passionate about their work but not taking themselves too seriously.When Dale started explaining a complex theory, she actually understood most of it - Cole's tutoring had paid off more than she'd realized.
"Impressive," Dale grinned when she finished his sentence about particle behavior."Someone's been studying."
She felt rather than saw Cole shift in his chair.For once, she didn't let his presence derail her.This was who she was now - someone who could understand quantum physics, who could make new friends, who could build something real in this timeline.
"Speaking of studying," James piped up, "are we not going to talk about how Professor Martinez almost cried when Lisa solved that impossible equation?"
"It wasn't impossible," Lisa protested, blushing."Just...improbable."
"Like the probability of Eddie finally asking you out?"Mike dodged the pillow Lisa threw at him, nearly knocking over his drink.
The room dissolved into laughter and teasing, Eddie and Lisa both turning spectacular shades of red.Ashley caught herself grinning, caught up in the genuine warmth of the moment.Even Cole's lips twitched, though he quickly hid it behind his bottle.
"Alright, alright," Dale intervened, though his eyes sparkled with amusement."Leave the lovebirds alone."
That's when Cole leaned forward, setting his bottle down with deliberate care.The movement drew every eye in the room.His smile was sharp enough to cut as he reached for the empty wine bottle on the coffee table.
"I have a better idea," he said, his voice carrying that dangerous edge Ashley had come to fear."Who wants to play truth or dare?"
In the sudden quiet, Ashley felt her heart stop.Because Cole wasn't looking at the bottle as he spun it between his fingers.
He was looking directly at her.
CHAPTER19
The wine bottle caught the lamplight as it spun, turning amber reflections into fluid starbursts across Dale's coffee table.Empty pizza boxes had been shoved aside to make room for their circle, the scent of garlic and melted cheese still lingering in the warm air.Music played softly from somewhere - one of Dale's indie playlists that made his apartment feel more like a cozy cafe than a grad student's living space.
Ashley tucked her legs under her on the floor, careful to keep her skirt in place.The carpet was worn soft beneath her, and she could feel the heat radiating from where Cole sat two people away, his long legs stretched out, one hand loose around a beer bottle.He'd rolled up his sleeves hours ago, and she tried not to stare at his forearms, at the way his signet ring caught the light with each movement.
The first spin landed on Lisa, who sat cross-legged between Eddie and James, her dark hair falling forward as she leaned to watch the bottle slow.The ice in Dale's drink clinked softly as he shifted against the couch behind Ashley.
"Truth," Lisa said, fingers playing with the silver pendant at her throat.
