Page 10 of Don’t Leave (Stay #2)

COLE

E xactly how long does it take for two girls to use the bathroom?

It’s been at least twenty minutes since Cassidy and Brooklyn took off. During that time, at least a hundred more people have piled their way through the front door of the house. This party was already jam packed when we arrived.

I’m torn between staying here she left me or heading toward the bathroom to see if they’re caught up in a line.

I contemplate my options for a couple of seconds before heading down the hallway.

Long blonde hair catches the corner of my eye and my head swivels in that direction before landing on Brooklyn.

Relief rushes through me. She’s standing with a tall, buff dude. I recognize him from around campus but have no idea who he is. It takes a moment to realize that Cassidy isn’t with them.

“Brooklyn,” I shout.

It’s no surprise that she doesn’t hear me with the blaring music and insane amount of people. I continue to shove my way toward her before tapping her shoulder and yelling her name.

This time, both her and the guy she’s with swivel toward me.

The dude stiffens before stepping closer and throwing an arm around her shoulders.

It’s tempting to roll my eyes at the possessive heat flaring in his narrowed gaze.

Normally, I’d find this guy’s behavior hilarious, but I’m not in the mood for it. I need to find Cassidy.

Where the hell is she?

How did she get separated from Brooklyn?

“Chill,” I mutter. “I’m looking for her friend.”

Even though he remains silent, his muscles relax. Although, he still doesn’t step back to give us some breathing room.

“I thought Cassidy was with you?”

Her brows pinch together as her red slicked lips settle into a concerned line. “We split up after using the bathroom,”

I shake my head. It’s obvious this douchebag is the reason for their split.

My knowing look isn’t lost on Brooklyn as her lips lift in humor. “The last time I saw of her, she was heading back to find you.”

Great.

At this point, all I want to do is find her and get the hell out of here. I’ve had enough of this madness. I want to go home and hit the sheets.

With Cassidy.

Preferably naked.

“How long ago was that?”

Her face scrunches in thought. “Maybe about ten or fifteen minutes ago.”

I run a hand through my hair before pulling my cell from my back pocket and calling her. When she doesn’t answer, I fire off a quick text before trying to call again.

There’s still no answer.

I glance over the sea of students. She’s got to be here somewhere. Even if I have to wade through every damn room in this house, I’m going to find her.

“If you see Cassidy, tell her to call me.”

She nods before her attention returns to the dude who is hovering over her as if someone might try to swipe the tasty bone he plans on sinking his teeth into later tonight.

For a moment, I feel bad for Austin. Even though he came here tonight with another girl, he’s still hung up on Brooklyn.

He’s been messed up ever since they broke up.

It’s not that I don’t sympathize, but his freaking mental state is beginning to affect his ability on the ice. The guy needs to pull it together and move on.

Instead of dwelling on those thoughts, I push my way back into the living room. My gaze roves over the crowd, searching every shadowed corner for Cassidy’s blue scrubs. The continuous strobe light effect isn’t making it any easier.

Is it possible she went upstairs?

I have to shove more than one person out of my way to reach the staircase. When I’m on the landing, I turn, surveying the surging mob. The flickering lights make it impossible. I decide there’s no harm in checking the second floor.

As much as I love a good party, this is just obnoxious. And I’m over it.

As I reach the landing, fingers tug my hand. Relief washes over me as I spin around, reaching out to grab hold of her. That’s when I do a doubletake and realize it’s not Cassidy.

Instead, I find the last person I expected to see at Western.

Jackie.

I blink. It’s tempting to rub my eyes until the apparition in front of me disappears.

Jackie fucking Carlton.

Here in the flesh.

As much as I try to convince myself that it’s a simple case of mistaken identity, I know the truth. This girl was my best friend for over a decade. She owned my heart for two years before smashing it to pieces.

I drop her fingers as if they’ve burned my flesh before retreating a step.

“Hi, Cole,” she murmurs.

Even though she says the words softly, I still hear them. It’s like the party around us has become muted and she’s all I’m aware of.

My jaw clenches until I feel the ticking of the muscle. “What are you doing here?”

She takes a tentative step toward me as her gaze searches mine. “I transferred to Western for the fall semester.”

My mind spins.

“I haven’t seen you around at all,” I grunt.

She shrugs before glancing away. “I’m only part time. I’m taking two classes one day a week and living at home, so I’m not on campus very much. I’ll be moving into a house with Amy and Danica before spring semester starts and then I’ll take a full load.”

Which means I’ll probably run into her more often. The idea leaves a sour feeling in the pit of my belly. This night just took a massive nosedive.

I clear my throat, only wanting to get away from her. “I hope it all works out for you.”

The need to find Cassidy and get the hell out of here feels imperative. I don’t want my ex anywhere near her.

The fact that Jackie now attends Western means I’ll have to open up and tell Cassidy what happened with my ex. With her living out of state, I never worried about running into her. It was so much easier to push her out of my mind and pretend the past didn’t exist. That’s no longer possible.

“Cole.”

My gaze jerks unwillingly to hers.

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. “Can we go somewhere and talk?” When I remain silent, her voice turn pleading. “Please? Just for a few minutes?”

No way.

Maybe she feels we have a lot to talk about, but I don’t.

I have nothing to say to this girl.

Which is sad. For a long time, she was my best friend, and we spent every waking moment together. Now I can’t even stand to be in the same room with her.

“No, sorry, I’ve got to go. I was looking for someone when I came up here. I need to get back downstairs.”

Before I’m able to turn my back on her, she raises her voice. “I met Cassidy.”

My heart stutters as I whirl around to face her. Even though I would never hit a girl, I realize my hands are bunched like I might throw a punch. It takes effort to unlock my tense muscles.

When I’m able to keep my voice level, I growl, “Stay the fuck away from Cassidy. What you and I had is over. You ,” I emphasis by jabbing a finger at her, “destroyed everything I felt for you.”

Even though there must be people milling around us, I’m not aware of anyone but her. My eyes stay locked on her wide brown ones.

She’s the one who threw away our relationship, not me. The longer I hold her gaze, the more I realize that I feel nothing but anger for her. The love that had always been there is gone.

This is the first time we’ve seen one another since she called me right before Thanksgiving last year to tell me that she was knocked up. At the time, I wasn’t sure which hurt more. The fact she’d thought she loved another dude or that she’d been screwing him behind my back and ended up pregnant.

She takes another hesitant step toward me. “I introduced myself. That’s it.” The edges of her lips slide up nervously. “She seems really nice.” Her voice dips. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about what happened between us. I really am.”

The last thing I’m interested in is rehashing the past or listening to her lame apologies. The knowledge that my ex took it upon herself to speak with Cassidy makes it even more crucial I locate her.

The idea of them having a private conversation makes me cringe.

“Look, I’ve really got to go.” Now that I know that they spoke, I’d bet my ass that Jackie has something to do with Cassidy’s sudden disappearance.

Fuck.

As I try to stalk past, she blocks me. Even though I could easily push past her, I don’t. I have no desire to touch her at all. That small irony isn’t lost on me. When I was younger, I couldn’t keep my hands off her.

“Cole?”

Impatience radiates off me in heavy waves.

Can she feel it?

I’m over this conversation. I need to get away from her and the memories that are eating me alive. What sucks most is that this girl is tied to almost all my childhood memories, not just the ones we spent dating.

I grit my teeth, more aggravated than a few minutes ago. “Yeah?”

She bites down on her lower lip. When we were together, it used to drive me crazy. Now it does nothing for me. Uncertainty fills her dark gaze. I really hate that I still know all her looks and what they mean.

“I get that now isn’t a good time, but do you think we could sit down and talk at some point?” She gulps before adding, “Maybe it’s not possible to be what we once were to each other, but could we be friends?”

Is this girl joking?

Hell no, we can’t be friends.

Her betrayal cut to the bone and killed everything I once felt for her. I didn’t just lose a girlfriend, I lost my best friend.

My lips thin as I shake my head.

“Please?” she whispers. “I miss you. We’ve been friends since we were seven years old. I hate that you’re no longer part of my life. Can you just think about it?” There’s a pause. “Please?”

I gape at her as if she’s grown a horn on her head. “You forfeited my friendship the moment you decided to screw around behind my back.”

As soon as I let those words loose, tears spring to her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Can’t you understand that I made a mistake? I’d do anything to go back and fix it.”

I snort before taking a step and closing the distance that separates us. “I was faithful to you, and I trusted that you were doing the same because you loved me. Instead, you shit all over our relationship. So no, I can’t forgive you for that.”

Unable to stomach another word of this conversation, I push past her, stomping my way down the staircase.

Memories are roaring through my head like a locomotive.

Us kids playing in the tree house my dad built.

Working on homework or playing video games in middle school.

We’d hang at each other’s houses or go to the movies when we were in high school.

She never missed a hockey game. She was always in the stands cheering me on.

I remember the day I realized I wanted her to be my girlfriend but was too chicken shit to push the words out.

I was afraid she didn’t feel the same way about me and that it would change our friendship.

When I finally worked up the courage to tell her, she beat me to the punch.

It all rushes through my head as I shove my way into the living room.

I plow a hand through my hair before sliding my phone from my back pocket only to realize the damn thing is dead.

Fuck!

I have to find Cassidy and I have to find her now.