揧eah??
揧ou抮e going to have to help me get decent. I have a hard time imagining myself as something any man wants to see right now.?
She laughs. 揙h, stop. To him, you抮e Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe rolled into one. But I抣l help you get ready…？
Later, after she抯 done with her words for the day, we go shopping and buy a sundress that matches my sling.
A few more nerve-racking texts with Destiny, and my chariot awaits.
She抣l send Cole抯 driver over and say he抯 picking up one of her friends. Kind of important because he knows the code to their gate.
It抯 easy enough to joke about our secret mission and Dess?bright laughter helps.
At least this way, if I抦 utterly humiliated by Cole Lancaster, I can pretend it was all just a bad joke.
Destiny opens the door with a squeal before I can knock.
She stares at me and lunges, curling herself around me like a scared kitten.
揈liza, oh my God. Are you okay? I was so scared. I thought you棓
I hug her with my one good arm while she clings to my neck. 揑抦 fine, honey. It抯 great to see you again. I would have called sooner, but I figured your dad didn抰 want to see me anymore. I didn抰 want to make this more awkward.?
She pulls away, tossing her head with a lopsided teenage grin.
揘o way! He抯 pretty much having Eliza-withdrawls梖or realsies梑ut promise me something??She waits until I nod. 揑f you guys ever break up for real, can we still be friends??The kid bites her lip.
揑 love you, sweetheart, no matter what happens with your dad. Don抰 you ever worry.?I pat her cheek lightly, loving how her smile lights up her face.
揂wesome. Thank you.?
揙kay, now I need your help. Can you show me to the kitchen? And make sure the coast is clear. The best conversations always happen over a steaming cup of coffee.?
揜ight! I抣l grab everything you need. Oh, but Dad doesn抰 drink the kind of coffee you do… He抯 surprisingly basic with his morning cup. All we have now are regular old Wired Cup beans.?
揚edestrian tastes for the CEO of a whole coffee chain, huh??Leave it to that lunk to make me smile. 揑 came prepared, Dess. Don抰 worry about the beans.?
And I抦 as good as my word.
Once I抦 in a kitchen that抯 only slightly less impressive than the lab, I brew up a very simple blend. Toasted vanilla beans and cacao with a mix of peaberries I抳e brought, plus the standard coffee on hand in the house. It抯 my latest black-and-white experiment, customized to Cole抯 liking.
A little while later, when he comes home and heads to his balcony, he finds the steaming cup of coffee waiting.
I hunker down behind a patio couch, taking deep breaths so I don抰 hyperventilate. My heart feels like a hummingbird behind my ribs.
God, if this doesn抰 work…
But I watch his handsome silhouette as he lifts the cup and takes a slow sip that ignites those sky-blue eyes. He stops and looks around.
揈liza??
I don抰 answer.
Cole takes another pull from his cup and when he lowers it, he抯 wearing a smile that melts my heart.
揈liza, show yourself. I know damn well Dess didn抰 make this.?
Heat throbs under my cheeks.
Okay, deep breath.
This is what I came here for, right?
I stand up quickly and walk out from behind the couch, keeping my eyes trained on the ground. I just can抰 bring myself to look at him yet.
揥hat are you doing here??he asks, slowly moving toward me.
I force myself to meet his gaze, trying not to choke on my next breath.
Cole抯 eyes glow like diamonds with the magic power to send me to heaven or hell.
揇estiny let me in,?I say, shifting my weight shyly.
He smiles wider than before, his eyes twinkling.
揋ood Dess.?His eyes roam my body, and he抯 silent just long enough to make me well aware of it. 揝hit. You抮e still in a sling.?
He sighs, something protective and hurt in his expression.
揑t抯 on the mend. All thanks to you, Cole.?
揃ullshit.?His face falls. 揧ou抮e in that thing because of me. Because I had my head so far up my ass I couldn抰 see the danger right in front of me. Goddamn, I抦 so sorry. If I抎 just come to my senses sooner棓
揅ole, can you sit??I ask softly. 揃efore you go off on yourself, Troy told me a few things you should know.?
He motions to the sofa and we sit together.
Between quick sips of coffee that ground him, I relay everything the monster told me about what truly happened to Aster Lancaster.
His face works through every emotion imaginable.
Anger.
Sadness.
Betrayal.
Disgust.
Relief.
Finally sweet relief.
But I also see something else every time he looks at me. And I can抰 let myself get too wrapped up in it梩oo hopeful梠r I抣l never finish my story.