Page 153 of Ten Day Affair

"Sam."

"What?"

"You said I made you fall for me."

Heat creeps up my neck.

"I was emotional. People say things that aren't exactly accurate when they're emotional."

"Do they?"

I notice he's supporting his hurt arm with his good hand. "Yes. They do."

He's quiet for a long moment, just watching me. Outside, Arden is probably pacing on the beach, giving us enough time to get dressed and pretend like we are normal people.

"How long are you here?" Cole asks.

"I leave Monday morning."

"I'm leaving Monday too. I'm closing on the house. Can I see you again while we're here? To talk, not to," he waves his hand without completing the thought.

"Oh, you sold it already? Congrats."

"Thanks."

"I don't know if seeing each other again is a good idea."

"Sam, we're neighbors. I'm not sure we can effectively avoid each other completely. I will be respectful. I feel like there is more to say. I'm just asking you to hear me out. Please."

Another stretch of silence. The coffee Arden brought sits untouched on the table, probably getting cold. Cole picks up his shoes from where they ended up beside the couch.

Why does this feel like the end of something that never really started?

"I don't know. Let me think about it."

He looks up from lacing his sneakers.

"What you did to the hospital, to my mom's wing, I can't just get over that because we have good sex."

Something flickers across his face. Pain, maybe. Or regret.

"I know."

"Do you really?"

He stands, fully dressed now. "I fucked up. I made choices that hurt you, and I can't take them back. But I've made changes to do better, to be better. You make me want to be better."

"I need you to go."

He nods again. There's no argument, no pleading.

"If you change your mind about talking, I'll be here."

"I may come by at some point. Give me some time."

Cole walks to the sliding door, pausing with his hand on the handle.

“For what it’s worth, falling for you wasn’t part of any plan. It just happened.”