Page 87 of Echoes of Us
"Hey," he said softly, and for a moment, he sounded so much like her husband that her heart stopped."You've been crying."
She tried to laugh it off."That obvious?"
Instead of his usual smirk, his brow furrowed with genuine concern.He brushed his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear before it could crystallize in the cold."Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."She leaned into his touch, allowing herself this moment of vulnerability."Can we just...walk for a bit?"
He nodded, dropping his hand to lace their fingers together, both of them seeking warmth in the connection.They walked in comfortable silence, their joined hands swinging slightly between them.The campus was quiet at this hour and the snow muffled every sound until it felt like they were the only two people in the world.
"You know," Cole said finally, his voice thoughtful, "Dale used to do this when we were kids."
"Do what?"
"This."He squeezed her hand."When things got too much – usually after Dad had one of his episodes – Dale would just...walk with me.No talking, no trying to fix anything.Just...being there."
Ashley's throat tightened.She'd never heard this story before – not from her husband, not from Dale."Sounds like him."
"Yeah."Cole's smile was small but real."He's always been the better one."
"No," she said firmly, stopping to face him."Different doesn't mean better.You're both exactly who you need to be."
Something flickered in his eyes – surprise, maybe, or recognition.He studied her face like he was seeing something new there, something that both thrilled and terrified him.Then he kissed her, soft and sweet, nothing like his usual heated demands.When he pulled back, his smile held a hint of his usual cockiness, but his eyes remained gentle.
"Come on," he said, tugging her forward again."I know exactly what you need."
Ten minutes later, Ashley stared at the illuminated storefront of "Scoops & Dreams," her breath forming little clouds in the freezing air."Ice cream?It's literally snowing, Cole."
"Best time for it."His grin was positively wicked."No lines."
"Because everyone else has basic survival instincts."
"Live a little, sweetheart."He pulled open the door with an exaggerated bow."Unless you're scared of a little brain freeze?"
The store was empty except for a bored-looking teenager who perked up at the sight of actual customers.Heat blasted from the vents, making Ashley's cold cheeks tingle.
Ashley stepped closer to the display case, her eyes immediately finding the strawberry.The same craving that had sent her husband on midnight grocery runs hit her with unexpected force.
"Let me guess," Cole said, watching her face."Vanilla?You seem like a vanilla person."
She raised an eyebrow at him."Judging my ice cream choices?That's dangerous territory, Westwood."
"Oh?"He leaned against the counter, eyes sparkling with challenge."Enlighten me then."
"Strawberry," she said firmly."Double scoop."
"Double?In this weather?"Now, he was openly teasing her.
"The weather’s always perfect for strawberry ice cream!”
His laughter at her conviction echoed through the empty shop."Strawberry it is."He turned to the server."Make that two.And extra napkins – something tells me this is going to get messy."
They ended up on a frozen bench outside, huddled together more for warmth than anything else.Snowflakes landed on their ice cream, making Cole laugh every time Ashley tried to eat them before they melted.
"You've got a little..."He gestured to her nose, which was probably pink from both cold and ice cream.
"So do you," she said, fighting a smile as a drop of pink rolled down his chin.
"This was a terrible idea," he admitted, trying to eat his ice cream before it dripped while simultaneously shivering."Completely ridiculous."
