Page 88 of L.O.V.E

Natalie brought her palms to my chest and pushed.

“No,” I growled, holding her steady.

“Cole,” she protested into my mouth.

That fucking incessant ringing.

Natalie pushed again, her rejection crushing.

I bit her bottom lip, pinching her flesh between my teeth, ensuring she couldn’t pull away. Couldn’t leave me.

But she did.

“Goddammit, Cole. Stop,” she said, slapping my chest and jerking back.

Her chest rose and fell. Worried eyes met mine. Her tongue made a slow drag across her bottom lip, and she winced.

Good. I wanted her pain. Wanted to kiss her better. I wanted everything.

The ringing stopped, then started again.

“Fuck,” I mumbled, yanking the cell from my pocket. I looked at the screen. Guilt washed clean my lust haze.

“Everly, hi.”

Natalie’s head whipped up, her blush darkening.

“Cole? Honey?” Sobs came across the line.

Victoria’s mother hadn’t reached out to me once since the funeral, despite my calls and frequent attempts at visiting.

“Everything okay?” Agitation balled in my gut.

“I can’t. I can’t. Oh, God. I miss my baby so much.”

“Yeah. Yeah, me, too,” I said out of habit.

Natalie pushed me away, much harder than before, and I stumbled back, catching my balance too late to grab her before she fled.

“Cole. I’m sorry. I’m a mess and I just…” Everly continued, but I couldn’t hear a word.

Natalie shoved her feet into her boots and before I reached her, she was shrugging into her jacket.

Lacey asked, “What happened?”

Ellis stood, arms crossed, glaring my direction.

Sobs and a shrill voice pierced my ear.

Natalie turned to her friend, ignoring me. “I need to go. I’ll call you in the morning.”

She couldn’t leave. “Natalie, wait!”

“Natalie? Who’s Natalie?” came through the speaker, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Everly. Give me a moment.”

“Everly?” Lacey clapped a hand to her chest. “Oh, Nat Brat.”

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