Page 4 of Don’t Leave (Stay #2)

CASSIDY

W ith my heart lodged somewhere in my throat, I finally catch up with Cole outside the building.

He’s already made it down the cement stairs to the pathway that snakes through campus.

Even though I yell his name, begging him to stop, he ignores me.

It’s like I’m not even there. When I’m close enough, my fingers wrap around his arm, biting into his flesh.

I’ve never seen him this angry. The Cole I know is always calm and in control of his feelings. But that’s not the case right now.

What I hate most is the hurt that flashed in his whiskey-colored eyes. I don’t want to lose him over a fledgling friendship with Luke.

“Cole,” I plead, “please stop and talk to me.”

In that moment, as I chase after him, it feels like he’s slipping through my fingers like sand. Allowing Luke to touch me was wrong.

“It’s not what it looked like.”

Those five words have him grinding to a halt before wheeling around to face me.

The movement happens so quickly that I slam into his chest. His fingers bite into my shoulders to steady me.

As his eyes collide with mine, I catch sight of the anger and uncertainty simmering within their golden depths.

“What do you think it looked like?” Even though his eyes flash, his voice remains devoid of emotion.

I gulp before forcing out the words. “I’m sure it looked like something was going on between us.” And in all honesty, maybe it had been. Maybe we crossed a line.

I’m not sure.

What I do know is that I can’t lose Cole.

“It had looked like he wanted to kiss you.” His eyes scrutinize mine before he says with even greater calm, “And it had looked like you wanted him to.”

Had I wanted that?

Had I?

I bite my lower lip, remembering the feelings of confusion that had spiraled through me before shaking my head.

No, I didn’t.

Not really.

The last thing I want is there to be any misunderstandings. It’s the reason I was honest with Luke about my relationship with Cole.

“We were talking about,” my gaze slides away, “what happened last year.”

For some reason, I’d assumed my explanation would smooth everything over.

It would give him insight as to why our conversation had looked so intimate.

Instead, he stares at me in confusion. It takes a heartbeat for me to realize that I’ve made a tactical error but it’s much too late to backtrack now.

“You don’t even know him.” His brows pinch together as hurt weaves its way through his voice. “You really shared all that with him?”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I shrug, silently wishing Cole could understand that a strange connection has been forged between us. It’s not romantic or sexual in nature, but there’s still something .

“He’s the one who got me away from those guys and out of the house. I don’t even like to think about what would have happened had he not been there,” I whisper.

He blanches, tugging me into his arms before wrapping them around me. “I know, I know.” His voice is thick with unspent emotion as he presses his lips against the crown of my head. “I’m thankful that he was.”

I release the pent-up breath from my lungs a deep breath.

“It felt good to sit down and talk to him. Even though we don’t know each other, I feel connected to him.

It’s not something that makes sense.” As scared as I am to force out the rest, I need to be honest with him.

“Those feelings aren’t just going to disappear. ”

His muscles stiffen and for a long moment, he remains silent. “What does that mean for us ?”

“It just means that Luke and I are friends. We’re in each other’s lives.” There’s a pause before I add, “After what he did, I owe him my friendship.”

He draws in a deep breath before releasing it. A steely quality enters his voice. One I’m not used to hearing from him. “You don’t owe him anything, Cassidy. Did he make you feel like you did?”

“Of course not.” I pull away enough to search his eyes. “It wasn’t like that at all.”

I suck the corner of my lower lip into my mouth before carefully considering what I say next. How do I convince Cole that he has nothing to worry about?

“I want us to be friends. I know he feels…” my words trail off.

“He feels what?” There’s a beat of silence. “Because I saw the way he was staring at you. The guy wants more than friendship.” Cole tilts his head as his eyes search mine. “You realize that, right?”

Unable to hold his gaze, mine skitters away before I force it back again. For weeks, I tried to keep my past hidden and now that he knows, I won’t lie to him.

About anything.

Instead of answering the question, I say, “I told him that I loved you and that we could only be friends.”

His fingers bite into my flesh as his grip intensifies. “Don’t you really think he’s going to be satisfied with that?” Frustration wafts off him in heavy waves.

“It doesn’t matter because I’m yours,” I whisper. “I love you. There’s nothing he can say or do to change that.”

Even though he still looks skeptical, Cole jerks his head into a tight nod before pulling me against him. Only then am I able to fully relax in his embrace.

We’re okay.

Relief slides through me at that thought.

Still wrapped up in Cole’s arms, my attention locks on a figure standing near the entrance of the Union.

Luke. Our gazes lock and hold for a long stretch of moments before I blink and rip mine away.

An odd prickle of unease blooms in the pit of my belly.

It feels as if I’m standing on the cusp of a decision.

But that doesn’t make sense. I’ve made my choice. Luke is nothing more than a friend. That’s all he’ll ever be. I think once we settle more into our friendship, he’ll come to accept that.