Page 155 of Shelter
“So speak,” I spurred. The sooner we got this over with, the sooner I could leave. And my only thought was to get to my car. I could fall apart then. I’d make it home somehow, and I’d fall apart some more.
“Dammit, Elise. Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong. Nothing’s changed between us.”
I smothered a mirthless laugh. He couldn’t have spoken more truth if he’d tried. Of course, nothing had changed. He had not changed. His worry over Ava. His need to keep her situation locked down. And his insistence to go it alone. If this morning hadn’t made that clear, what else possibly could.
Little had changed for me. I still wanted Cole more than I should. In truth, he was all I wanted. But this time, I wouldn’t let myself be helpless. I couldn’t change the way I felt. I couldn’t change what Cole would do, but I could change what I did.
Summoning a strength I wasn’t even sure I had, I raised my eyes to his. Aware of Mama and Ava just down the hall, I kept my voice low. “More has changed than you realize. And I don’t want to do this with you. Not again.”
I shouldn’t have looked at him. Because I didn’t really want to see the way my words hit him. Like a slow-motion crash. First shock. Then pain. The last thing I’d ever want to do was hurt him.
But it would be better for us both — in the long run, anyway — if we put all of this behind us. The sooner the better.
His eyes narrowed on me. “What are you saying?”
I put a hand to my neck. Heat closed around my throat like a scarf knotted too tightly. I forced the words out. “I need some distance.”
“Distance.”He spat the word like a curse. Anger flickered in the blue flame of his eyes. “Bullshit, Elise. I just got you back.”
I ignored the rawness in his voice. I had to. “Please move out of my way, Cole. This isn’t easy for me.”
Glowering, he crossed his arms over his chest. “No way. We’re staying right here and talking about this.”
Thank God I saw the fight in his eyes. It awoke my own defiance. My anger. My spirit. And that was just the shield I needed.
I balled my hands into fists, my nostrils flaring. “God dammit, move!” I knew better than to approach him. Pushing him out of the way would be impossible. Touching him at all would be a tactical mistake. If I touched him, I’d weaken.
He gave the tightest shake of his head and spoke through gritted teeth. “That’s not going to happen.”
The fuse of my temper lit, and in an instant, I scanned the room. Could I climb out the window? Mama was on the ground floor. I’d look like an idiot, but did it really matter at this point? What about throwing a pillow at him? Or one of Mama’s orthopedic shoes. Would that give me the opening I needed to slip past him?
Probably not.
I raked my fingers through my hair, smothering a scream of frustration so it came out sounding like a wounded grazing animal. “Let me go!”
“Never.”
“Enough!” Mama’s sharp voice cut through the air.
Cole spun to face her, and my stomach dropped. Mama was interfering, and that couldn’t be good for me.
But she jabbed a finger into the air in front of Cole. “I love you like my own son, but this ismy house, and you are not going to hold anyone here against her will. Not Elise. Not Ava. Not me!”
My jaw dropped. And though I only had a view of Cole from behind, the set of his shoulders told me she’d surprised him too.
“But, Flora—“
“Do not disrespect me in my own home.” Mama’s brows were low, her voice even. I’d seen her warning tone more times than I could count, and although he’d never been on the receiving end of it, Cole got the message.
“Of course.” Though he didn’t sound happy, his voice had lost its angry edge. “You’re right. I apologize.”
Mama acknowledged his contrition with a nod of her head. “Now step aside.”
Cole turned back to me, his eyes wary, his mouth tight. “Can we take this somewhere else?”
He looked so stricken, I almost faltered. But this was likely the only reprieve I’d get. I had to take my chance.
I swallowed and shook my head. “I-I can’t.”
