Page 78 of Second Chance Wedding
When Ben didn’t, Cole inhaled. “What gives, Ben?”
Ben didn’t respond.
Cole pressed a palm to his eye socket and rubbed hard. “You’ve got nothing to say? You just took ten years off my life with this stunt. You do know you could’ve been killed riding in the dark, right? And that isn’t even the worst thing that could’ve happened to you.”
Ben glanced at him, obviously confused or oblivious, and Cole sighed. “Ever watch the news? Ben, kids like you go missing every day. They get taken and sold, and they don’t—” He broke off and wiped a hand over his mouth to stem the string of curses that fought to emerge.
“I’m sorry,” Ben said, finally breaking his silence.
“Where were you going?”
Ben leaned his head back against the seat rest and closed his eyes. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Is this about that girl you liked? Your friends?”
“No.”
Cole fought his frustration. “Thenwhydid you sneak out on me like that?”
“I didn’t plan to, but I thought you wouldn’t take me if I asked. And I wouldn’t get another chance if I waited.”
“Another chance to do what? Get yourself killed? Arrested?What?”
“To see him!”
Cole felt like his brain would explode with the bits and pieces of information Ben fed him. He wasn’t in the mood for twenty questions. “To seewho?”
“My father, okay? The sperm donor,” Ben said tightly, the words thick with tears. “I was going to seehim.”
Shock flowed through Cole. Of all the responses, he hadn’t expected Ben to say that. And even though he knew he needed to get them going, Cole stayed put, unwilling to break the flow now that Ben was finally talking.
“I just— Mom never goes anywhere and leaves me behind. Ever. I knew this was my only chance.” Ben swallowed hard. “I know I shouldn’t have snuck out, but I had to so I did. Did you tell my mom?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you have to? Can’t this just be between us?”
Cole’s low grunt revealed his thoughts on that. “I can’t keep something like this from your mom, Ben, even if it lands me in the doghouse for letting it happen on my watch.”
Which it would. Ana trusted him to keep Ben safe, and when he thought about all the things that could’ve happened… Another string of curses sounded in Cole’s head, and he groaned. “You could’ve been killed, Ben. Taken. Just likethat,” he said, snapping his fingers.
High traffic, distracted drivers, and bicycles weren’t a great mix. And to have made it from the southern side of Wilmington to that gas station was a good ten miles in the dark. So much for thinking he and Ben had built some kind of friendship or trust.
“But I wasn’t. You don’t have to tell her and freak her out.”
“She trusted me to keep you safe and I didn’t.”
“I’m fine. She doesn’t need to know! That’s why I did it now, while she’s gone. I didn’t want to hurt her. If Brooks hadn’t ratted me out,youwouldn’t have known anyway.”
Cole struggled to maintain an even-keel because Ben’s words were true. He’d fallen asleep on the couch under the impression Ben was asleep in his bed. At least safely ensconced in his friggin’ room.
Cole wouldn’t have known about Ben’s stunt if not for Brooks—or until the police showed up at the door should something have happened to Ben, and they’d been made aware. “Does the sperm— Does your father know you’re coming to see him? You’ve talked to him?”
Ben shook his head. “No. Remember earlier today when you asked me what I wanted for Christmas?”
“Yeah.” Cole also remembered the way an expression had flashed over Ben’s face before Ben had shrugged.
“Ever since then, all I’ve thought about was if I could haveanything, it’d be to see him. Just once. And with my mom gone, I could do it without hurting her.”
