“Don’t do this, Cole, please. It’s over, you said it yourself. Donny isn’t a threat anymore.” I lean my head as close as I can to him, but the IV makes it difficult to move. “I love you, Cole. Are you listening to me? It’s you. I love you.”
Finally, Cole turns to meet my pleading gaze. Hope blossoms in my chest as his lip curves slightly. “I don’t love you, Hadley, I can’t.”
“W-what?” My lip quivers as my brain tries to process what he just said.
I knew he would do this.
I’d known it the second he’d stepped into the room, yet I can’t stop the feeling of complete despair that rips through me.
Cole doesn’t love me back.
Even though he knows I might be growing his child... he doesn’t want me.
“You heard me,” his teeth grind, “I don’t love you.”
“B-but... you need me.”
“I don’t need you, Hadley. I need what you can give me. Hurting you gives me an outlet, a release. But what we have? It’s not love. It can’t ever be love. It’s wrong. Dirty. It’s a fucking disaster waiting to happen, and I should have never have let it get this far.”
“You’re lying.”
God, why can’t I just let this go? He’s said his piece. He’s punched his fist through my chest and pulled out my broken, bloody heart.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want me.” My body trembles violently as I spit the words at him. “Look me in the fucking eye and tell me I mean nothing to you.”
Cole climbs out of bed and looms over me, driving the final knife through my chest.
“I don’t want you, preppy. I never did.”
By the time the sun filters in through the blinds, I feel weak with exhaustion. But after Cole had broken my heart, I’d cried myself into a restless sleep.
When I needed him most, Cole decided to walk away.
A knock at the door sends my heart into my throat. “Yeah?” I call.
“Hads?” Conner pokes his head inside. “How are you feeling?”
“Maybe ask me again later.” I grimace, and he slips into the room.
“Let me guess, my brother—“
“Please, can we not talk about Cole.”
“Uh, sure. Do you want anything? A fresh drink? Breakfast? I make a mean pancake. Ellen taught me and everything.”
He looks so pleased with himself I can’t help but smile.
“I’d really like to get this out.” I lift my hand.
“Doc should be along soon. James just spoke to him.”
“He did?”
“Well, yeah. It’s James’ house, or did you—“
“No, of course. I just... it doesn’t matter.”
A dark expression crosses Conner’s face as he comes over to the bed and sits down on the end. “How are you feeling, really?”
“Like I got kidnapped by a drug lord and then almost killed in a trailer fire.”
“Fuck, Hadley...” He grimaces.
“You asked.”
“Yeah, I know. If it’s any consolation, I’m really happy you’re okay.”
“It is, thank you.”
“And Col—“
“We’re not talking about him, remember?”
“My brother is a stubborn asshole, but he’ll come around.”
“Have you seen him?” I can’t resist asking. Even though I’m so angry with him right now, it doesn’t stop me from caring.
“Not since last night. Ace talked to him though. He’s...” Conner hesitates.
“Yeah.”
My heart aches.
For Cole.
For me.
For the baby that might be growing inside me.
For Ace and Remi and Conner.
I even feel sorry for James.
This family is so broken, so lost. I’d wanted to help. To reach Cole in a way they hadn’t been able to. But everything is different now, and something tells me things will never be the same again.
“Hadley?” Remi calls, and Conner goes to open the door.
“The patient is awake.” He shoots me a playful wink.
“The doctor just got here. I wondered if you wanted some moral support.” She gives me a knowing glance.
“Yes,” I say. “That would be nice.”
“I’ll leave you two girls to it then.” Conner salutes and slips around her.
“Hey, it’s good to see you awake.”
“I barely slept.”
“I’m sorry.” Her expression falls.
“It’s not your fault.”
Remi pulls out the chair and wheels it over to my bed. “So I was thinking... you should tell the doctor you think you might be pregnant.”
“Remi...”
“I know, I know. It’s the last thing you want to deal with. But you can’t pretend it’s not happening either. I heard James mention some blood tests. He could easily run the test discreetly.”
“What’s the deal there, anyway?”
“He’s a family friend. I get the impression this isn’t the first middle-of-the-night house call he’s made.”
“I guess it helps to have friends in high places.” My family has a doctor on retainer. Along with a lawyer, a publicist and various other staff.
Maybe there is more to James Jagger than meets the eye.
“Do you know what happened last night?” I ask.
“Ace wouldn’t tell me. He just said that we didn’t need to worry about Donny anymore.”
“So he’s gone?”
She nods, her eyes clouding.
“You know what gone means, right?”
“He kidnapped you, Hadley, and then tried to kill you and Ace. Donny Lopez is not a good person.”
“I know, but you’re okay with it? Knowing Cole and Ace—“
“James was there.”
“What?” I shriek.
“I overheard him and Ace talking. I think he...” She trails off, and my eyes bug out.
“Holy crap.”
“You can’t tell anyone, Hadley. Not a soul.”
“Who am I going to tell? You’re all I have.”
“Not true.” Her expression softens. “You have me and Ace, Conner... Cole.”
“I don’t have Cole, Remi.”
Maybe I never did.
I skip school the next two days.
After James’ doctor friend came by the Jaggers’ and removed my IV, I had told him about my missed period. He agreed to do the test since he was taking a blood sample.
I’d convinced Conner to give me a ride back to the dorms after that.
Ace and Remi didn’t want me to leave. Even James had asked me to stay a little longer. But I needed space.
I couldn’t be under the same roof as Cole and not be with him.
It was killing me.
So I’d left and hidden out in my dorm room for the next two days. Remi and Conner check-in constantly, but they are honoring my request for some space.
My cell vibrates and I half expect to see one of their names. But it isn’t.
I snatch it up and answer it. “Hello?”
“Hadley, it’s Dr. Miles.”