Page 74 of Love Me Again

I sigh deeplyfor the millionth time as I stare down into my glass, swirling the amber liquid of my scotch while my mind runs amuck.

It’s been over three hours since I stormed out of the house. I wandered around aimlessly till I found a bar, and well, here I am, nursing my fourth glass of scotch. Was I being an idiot and irrationally jealous over absolutely nothing? I don’t think so.

Why is she so fucking eager to see that dickhead anyway? How can she say they were just friends when I fucking saw them kissing? That was more than friends for sure. I’m not a fucking idiot. I see the way he looks at her, and I’m supposed to just be okay with them spending time together? No. Fuck that. We’re finally on the right track, things were good between us, and she goes and pulls this shit.

Maybe she’s trying to sabotage us because deep down, she wants him and not me? They were seeing each other before she was forced into living with me. Perhaps pushing this wasn’t the way to go. Could she be biding her time till the six months is up, and she’s going to take Alaia and be with that idiot and divorce me? Oh God, the mere thought of it made my heart clench terribly.

I knock my scotch back and wince when it burns my insides on the way down. I drop a couple of bills on the bar and walk out back to my car. My head was a mess again. I didn’t know what to think or what to believe anymore. I just know I love her, and I’m petrified of losing her. I told her I would visit Sophie just to piss her off. That was a shitty thing to do on my part after everything we’ve been through. I didn’t think about the repercussions of my final words before I walked out.

I really hope she’s at home and didn’t think I would actually go and see Sophie and leave again. Oh, Cole, you’re such a moron.

I drive home in a panic; my heart was beating up in my throat until I walked into the house and saw her sitting on the sofa reading. I heave a sigh of relief inwardly. Shayla’s eyes lift from the book she was reading, and she looks at me. Just seeing her riled up the anger I felt before I stormed out. I keep picturing that arsehole kissing her, and I fist my hands at my side before I turn and walk upstairs without a word. Maybe steering clear of each other for a few days might do us some good.

I check in on Alaia, who was still asleep in her crib, before going to my bedroom and running the shower. A nice, long, steamy hot shower should help ease some of this annoyance I had brewing inside of me. You’d think the four double scotch’s I had would have helped take the edge off, but it did nothing. I just added tipsy to the long list of things I was currently feeling.

I step out of the shower and wrap the towel loosely around my waist, rubbing the back of my stiff neck as I walk out of the ensuite bathroom. I hear a knock at the door and stare at it for a moment. For a fleeting second, I thought about ignoring it and letting her think I was asleep, but I was intrigued to see what she has to say. I walk over to the door and open it. Shayla looks me over, a little startled. She obviously didn’t expect to see me half naked and dripping wet. I lift my arm and rest it against the doorframe as I watch her with my eyes narrowed.

“Can we talk?” Shayla finally voices, her tone soft, barely an octave over a whisper. I remove my arm and step aside, wordlessly inviting her in. I watch her closely as she walks into the bedroom, chewing her bottom lip a little. She turns and faces me with an audible sigh, her green eyes rake over me again, and I see a spark of desire ignite in the depth of her eyes. I bite back the smile and cross my arms over my chest, waiting for her to start talking. “Do you want to get dressed first?”

I shake my head and continue to stare at her intently. “No. You want to talk, so talk.”

Come on, baby, just apologise so I can kiss you already.

Shayla sighs, closing her eyes briefly before she looks at me again. “Where were you? You’ve been gone for hours?”

I shrug my shoulder, “Out.” I reply in a blasé manner, and she narrows her eyes at me. “I’m a big boy. I don’t have to inform you of my whereabouts.” I gripe coolly, and Shayla glares at me.

“You weren’t with Josh.” She states, and I shake my head slowly.

“I wasn’t.” I sigh, licking my lips. “Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know, Shayla?” I add, taking a step toward her. Shayla watches me closely, her eyes skim over my body, looking for any sort of mark that will confirm her suspicions. She thinks I went out and screwed another woman—no, she thinks I went out and screwed Sophie.

“Who were you with, Cole?” She snaps impatiently. I clench my jaw, rubbing it gingerly before I comb my fingers through my wet hair and avert my gaze from her stormy one. Let her stew for a little bit.

“Does it matter?” I ask indifferently, and Shayla places her hands on her hips, her brows fused together snugly as she waits for me to continue.

“Yes, it matters.”

“Why? I can’t tell you who you can spend your time with, so I assumed the same would apply to me, no?” I reply coldly and walk around her. Shayla turns, watching me as I tug off my towel and hang it over my neck. “Was that all?” I casually ask as if I wasn’t standing in front of her naked. Shayla stares at me, her lips parted, green eyes wide, radiating a mixture of annoyance and longing.

Shayla clears her throat and shakes her head a little before regarding me curiously again. She takes a step toward me, gazing up into my eyes. “Answer me.”

I stare at her. “I will when you ask me a question worthy of an answer.” I retort gruffly, and her eyes narrow to slits. I can feel the tension thickening between us, that electric pull flares up deep inside me as we glower at one another. She’s feeling it too, I can tell. The way she’s breathing slow and shallow, the way her soft lips are parted, and that fierce look in her eyes— we’re going to either fuck hard or a very heated argument is about to erupt.

“You want to play?” She hisses, stepping up to me, nodding her head. “Fine.”

I smirk at her darkly and lick my lips. “Playing is what I do best, baby.” I drawl, staring into her eyes. I take her chin between my thumb and forefinger and tilt her head up till our lips are a breath apart. “But you already know that.”

Shayla pulls her face away from mine and glowers at me. “You’re avoiding the question, Cole.”

I shake my head and bite my lip. “You’ve not asked me one yet, Shayla.” I throwback with a one-shoulder shrug. “Ask me.”

“Were you with Sophie?” She spits her name as if it were poison, and I resist the urge to smile. Maybe I was a little drunker than I initially anticipated.

I purse my lips and step closer to her, the scent of her shampoo surrounds me instantly, and I want nothing more than to bury my nose in her hair so that I can fill my lungs with that intoxicating scent. “And if I were?”

She shoves me away from her, shaking her head in disbelief as she watches me closely. “I don’t believe you.” I see the tears gathering in her eyes already, and it broke me. “Tell me you didn’t?”

I sigh and shake my head. “You really have no faith in me at all, do you?” I ask, not bothering to mask the hurt in my voice. “I was alone drinking at a bar. I am capable of spending time on my own.”

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