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But before I can move there’s the tinkling sound of metal. I just barely catch the sight of Cole’s hand moving away from my tray and the cutlery quietly sitting there.

I scowl and plunk myself down in my chair. “Thank you,” I grumble, bitter about the fact that Iamgrateful and he’s so damnedthoughtfulsometimes.

“You’re welcome,” Cole murmurs, digging into his mountain of food. I watch him as he begins to consume like…seven waffles, half of me wondering how the hell a single person – no matter how gigantic – can eatthatmuch and still have a pile of bacon sitting on the other side of the plate.

The other half of me that’s not pondering the massive amount Cole needs to eat to maintain his musculature is busy just…loathingmyself.

The feeling nips at me so much that I can’t even think about food right now. I huff and lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I don’t want to do this anymore, Cole.”

His fork stops halfway to his mouth, three triangles of waffle still stabbed on the end. “Do…what?”

“This!” I say, gesturing vaguely between us. “I don’t want to be…mad all the time! Hate you so much! It’s exhausting!”

Cole’s mouth works as he quietly sets his fork down and takes a deep breath, turning to me. “All right,” he says, looking me over. “How can I help you with that mission, Nadia?”

I narrow my eyes and impulsively kick his chair, which just makes him grin. “Stop being sosmug,to begin with.”

He tries to rearrange his face into less smug lines and fails. I groan, putting my elbows on the table and my face in my hands.

“Nadia, seriously,” Cole says, more gently now. I feel him lean towards me. “Whydoyou hate me so much? I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was exhausting. I kind of figured you got some kind of…weird power trip from it.”

“I don’t! I’m nice.”

“Okay,” he says, his voice very dry.

I slip my hands down and glare at him. “Iam.”

He nods, face impassive. “But seriously, Nadia –whydo you hate me so much?”

I drop my hands and glare at him. “Why are you messing with me?”

“I’m not!”

“Youknowwhy I don’t like you, Cole!”

He presses a hand to his heart and shakes his head at me. “I’ve been wracking mybrain, Nadia, since –“

His words falter and he reconsiders telling me when,precisely,he started reconsidering our relationship as an angry blush rises to my cheeks.

“I don’t know, Nadia.Pleasetell me.”

“Because, Cole! Because you broke my damn arm!”

Chapter 34 – Sheep Say Baa

Nadia

Cole’s mouth falls open in shock.

My voice cracks in rage at the fact that Cole is justpretendinghe doesn’trememberone of the most important days of my life.

“When we were eight – or, I was! You broke mydamnarm and –“

“Ineverdid that, Nadia,” Cole says, leaning closer to me and shaking his head slowly from side to side. “I didn’t even know you ever broke your arm!”

“I did!Youdid!” I almost shout, holding my right arm out to him like he canseethe well-healed bone. “You were there!”