Page 44 of L.O.V.E

I pinned him with a challenging glare. “You really need to ask?”

“No.” He looked over my shoulder. Scratched the side of his head. Dropped his gaze to my bouquet. “Listen, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“You left him because of me, because of what I said.”

Dear Lord, the room was hot. “I didn’t leave him, Cole. To be honest, we were never really together.”

“How do you mean?” He shifted the long wrapped box from his left hand to his right.

“He was never really with me, even when he was. His attention was always elsewhere.”

“Fucking prick.” With a huff, he shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. I’d die for him, but he’s oblivious when it comes to relationships.”

“Well. That’s not my problem anymore.”

Cole stared long and hard, not his usual melt me into the tile stare, but more a probe.“I like your glasses.” His voice was gruff, hesitant almost. “How many pair do you own exactly?” There was no judgement or mocking in his question, only curiosity.

Some women loved shoes. I loved eyewear. “I like to match my outfits,” was all I offered. I would not, could not, acknowledge the wholly inappropriate butterflies in my belly.

I would not fail the test.

I reminded him there was no reason for us to be talking, or friendly, or in close proximity for any reason by bringing that one reason to the forefront of our conversation. “Are those flowers for Victoria?”

Cole lifted the box in his hand. Swallowed. Nodded. “She’s been under the weather.” Shoulders tensing, he shifted, putting distance between us. “Who are you buying flowers for?”

“My mom loves peonies,” I lied. It was me. I loved peonies. Every year on my birthday, Lacey bought them for me. Only this year, she was naked on a beach somewhere with the man of her dreams. So instead of pouting over my scrambled eggs, I walked to the floral shop,myfloral shop, and bought my own damn flowers.

“Nats,” came an unwelcome voice over my shoulder, shooting prickly bites up and down my spine.

I whipped around, my back slamming into Cole’s front. Rock hard, warm, and not budging.

Holden stood five feet away. Eyes red-rimmed. Cheeks crimson. Veins popping in his neck. “This your boyfriend?”

“That’s none of your damn business.” Knowing that answer wouldn’t suffice, I closed my eyes. Inhaled. Released a slow breath. “He’s not my boyfriend.” Calm, cool, collected, I asked, “What are you doing here, Holden?”

Holden’s face cooled five shades, regret flashing in his blue eyes. “I love you, Nats. Did our time together mean nothing to you?”

There was no right or wrong answer. So I stayed silent.

He ran a hand through his unwashed hair, glare bobbing between me and Cole. “Can we talk? Alone. Five minutes.”

I shook my head. “Talking won’t make a difference.”

At his sides, his fists balled, veins mapping a violent trail up his arms. “You can’t give me five fucking minutes to apologize?”

At my back, Cole’s chest tightened. His hand came to my neck, fingers curling into a loose grip.

I shrugged him off. Everything about his presence and my reaction added fuel to my fire. I stepped away from Cole, closer to Holden, my heart beating a daunting rhythm. “You don’t get it. You don’t have reason to apologize. You are who you are. The very first time I was uncomfortable with your behavior, I should’ve walked away. But I didn’t because I was blinded by your beauty and so damn desperate to be wanted. So that’s on me.”

“We had something good, baby.” His pecks rippled under his Gold’s Gym T-shirt.

“No, we didn’t.”

Holden winced but quickly recovered, shoving his hands into his loose sweatpants. I couldn’t remember ever seeing him out of sorts like this. His public persona was everything.

Pleading eyes met mine. “I would do anything for you.”

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