Page 130 of Broken Silence
“Today. I had to sort a job out and tell you two first.”
“You have a job?”
“Marcus offered me one teaching preschool gymnastics.”
“You could do that in your sleep.”
“Marcus said there would be more hours eventually, too.”
I purposefully left out the part about the gym being in trouble. That would only make Mum worry. Whatever happened, I’d deal with it as it came.
For now, I just needed some work. I had money saved, but if Cole wanted to live together, I wanted to be able to pay my way.
“That’s wonderful, honey. You’re getting your happy ending.”
“No one deserves it more than you,” Jasper added.
“I can think of two people who do,” I told them.
“I’m heading out before I say more soppy stuff,” Jasper said, ruffling my hair as he stood.
“He’s too cute,” I said to Mum while he was still within earshot.
“Fuck off!”
I laughed while Mum scolded him.
I wasn’t sure what would happen with Mum, but I wouldn’t be alone. Not with Cole and my brother around.
“Hey,” Cole said, letting himself into Lizzie’s room and flashing the smile that gave me butterflies.
“Hi.” I laughed when he pushed me down on the futon and buried his head in my neck. His weight on me was one of my most favourite things in the world.
“I’ve missed this. You should come to work with me.”
“Yes, I’m sure your boss would love you being all over a work colleague during office hours.”
“I don’t care,” he muttered against my skin.
“I need to talk to you.”
“No talking,” he said, kissing me.
I moaned against his lips, tangling my hands in his hair, and wrapping my legs around his waist. Damn, I’d missed him.
“I… need… to…” I said between kisses that were quickly making me forget what I wanted to talk to him about. “Cole, it’s about us.”
Groaning, he lifted his head to look at me. “We’re good, right?”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
“Is this to do with Australia?” he asked. His eyes turned from playful to serious, and I could see he was dreading this.
“Yeah,” I said.
“No. Don’t even think about doing that, Oakley. You said you wanted this and we’re no—”
I put my finger over his mouth, silencing him. “Will you let me do the talking first?”
