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When he looked at me, I saw a strength that was there to shield, not to suffocate.
It was the first time I’d felt that kind of security without feeling diminished.
Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to understand that.
Cole wasn’t trying to mold me into something or keep me within invisible walls.
He didn’t need to own me to feel close, and he didn’t need me to be smaller so he could feel strong.
For the first time, someone’s strength felt like it was adding to mine, not taking from it.
I smiled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you for not stepping in back there,” I told him.
He looked down at me, a trace of regret in his eyes.
“I wanted to. I wanted to tell her exactly what I thought of her. But…” He hesitated, and I could tell he was trying to balance what he wanted with what I needed.
I nodded, appreciating his restraint more than I could put into words.
“I know you wanted to. But letting me handle it—that’s exactly what I needed,” I said.
His expression softened, and a small, relieved smile appeared on his face.
For once, I didn’t feel stifled by someone else’s presence. I felt…safe.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice gentle, almost playful.
"I know exactly where to go," I told him with a smile. "Let's go for a drive."
After we gotout of Cole’s car, I reached for hand and started leading him down the narrow path.
“There’s a quiet spot by the lake I want to take you,” I told him, glancing back to catch the curious spark in his eyes.
We wound through the trees in comfortable silence, my heart thudding.
The leaves crunched beneath our feet, and soon enough, we reached a little clearing that opened up onto a glassy, still lake.
It was a place I used to come to think when things felt overwhelming.
“This is…beautiful,” Cole murmured, his eyes sweeping over the water, the tall pines framing the view, and the little wildflowers that dotted the edge of the lake.
“I didn’t think you could find a place this peaceful,” he added.
“It’s special,” I said softly. “I used to come here when I needed to get away. To clear my head.”
We found a patch of grass near the edge of the lake and settled in.
I drew my knees to my chest, feeling the cool air wash over us. For a few moments, we sat in silence, letting the quiet envelop us.
I didn’t realize until that moment how badly I needed this calm, and to my surprise, Cole seemed to feel it too.
His usually guarded, confident expression softened.
Cole exhaled deeply, almost as if he was letting go of something he’d been holding onto tightly.
“So, this is your quiet place,” he said, running a hand over the grass. “Do you still come here often?”