Page 7 of Purity

His eyes widen, but his grin stays fixed. “I can’t believe you. You will die on this hill. Almost five years later, you’re still protecting a guy you don’t even know for something he wasn’t even upset about.”

“Sensitive people don’t always say what they feel. I almost never speak up for myself when someone hurts me. For some reason, it’s easier to speak up for other people.”

Cole’s expression softens. “That’s why so many people trust you even when they aren’t super close to you. They know you’ll have their back no matter what. You’re an angel.”

Something about the way he says “angel” makes warmth wash over my whole body. He often calls me an angel, and I’ve never particularly liked it. It usually makes me feel like even more of a boring goody-goody than I know I am, but the way he said it this time…with heat and darkness in his voice. Goodness, he really is in a strange mood.

Something happened today. He’s upset, and he needs affection.

Cole looks beyond my shoulder. “I think we bored them with our reminiscing.”

My head darts to the side, and I see the two girls have drifted slightly away from us and are now engaged in their own conversation.

“Reminiscing isn’t really fun unless you’re a part of it,” I say.

“It’s okay. I really just want to hang out with you anyway.”

My stomach flutters. I just want to hang out with him too. I’m never more happy than when it’s just the two of us.

“Is something going on?” I ask. “You seem kind of down.”

His face falls, and he lifts his red cup to his lips. “Just shit with my parents, as usual.”

I nod slowly. “Is it about your new job? That you have to work for your dad soon, I mean?”

“We can talk about it later. I want to hear your news fir—”

“Livvy!”

I jerk in response to Mariana’s voice. She walks in our direction with a guy at her side, and I narrow my gaze on his face. He looks familiar. It’s only when he’s a few feet away that I recognize him as an old church friend.

“Cole,” Mariana calls out as she reaches us. “How did I not know before now that you’re friends with Travis? Livvy and I grew up with him. He went to our church.”

Cole’s brows draw together, and something that looks like panic fills his eyes. His head snaps in my direction. “Did you come here with Travis?”

I frown. “No…”

“No, I just ran into him,” Mari says.

I notice Cole’s shoulders soften at that.

What is going on?

Mari turns to me, pulling Travis’s arm. “Livvy, I think there’s a lot of potential here.” She lowers her voice so only I can hear her and adds, “He’s a Christian who fucks.”

I shoot wide eyes at her even as a smile rises to my lips. “Mari!” I admonish before glancing at Travis, who’s smiling at me.

“She told me you’ve never gotten drunk before,” he says, “and you’re looking to have a drunken make-out session. I just want you to know that I’m here for you.” His smile grows as he reaches out his hand for me to shake.

I reluctantly take it, resisting the urge to laugh at Mari’s tactics. I’m pretty sure this is more of an attempt to rattle Cole than to find me someone to kiss.

“What are you talking about?” Cole asks, his voice much firmer than it was before.

Mari shoots me a knowing smile before glancing at Cole. “Has she told you her news yet?”

“No, she hasn’t.” His eyes are hard when he turns to me. “Do you want to go somewhere private so we can talk?”

It sounds like much more of a command than a question. I shoot Mari an exasperated look, and she gives me a small, cheeky smile back.

---