Page 149 of Shelter
I wanted her with me. Day in and day out. I wanted her body stretched out beside mine every night. I wanted to offer her happiness and fulfillment with my hands. I wanted to own a controlling share of her smiles.
If Ava didn’t want to talk to me, I could stand it. She might be angry. She might be afraid of my disappointment. And, hell yeah, I was disappointed, and I didn’t think I could hide it. Just days ago, she’d let me know just how much of a hand I’d had in her struggles. Maybe she blamed me for this setback. Maybe she blamed me for everything.
I could handle that. As long as she was alive, we had time to work out the past.
But Elise was refusing to talk me, and I wanted to climb the walls.
The light turned green, and I gunned into the intersection, my tires shrieking. Yeah, I was the asshole in two o’clock traffic weaving my way past school buses and carpool moms.
If she sent me away, I wouldn’t be able to go. If she tried to ignore me for eight years, I’d come unglued.
How could I have done that to her?
The interior of my car erupted in Weezer’s “Hash Pipe,” making me jump. Without thinking, I pressed the green answer button on the dash screen.
“OLD KING COLE WAS A VERY OLD SOUL AND A VERY OLD SOUL WAS HE!” Louis’s voice boomed through the cab.
“Jesus Christ, Louis,” I swore.
His laughter bounced off the Audi’s interior, and I turned down the volume. “You driving? Not trapped behind the desk in your new office, old man?” he asked, his words squeaking with his natural cheer.
“No,” I bit out. “Today’s gone to shit. I need to go—”
“Whoa, wait—” Louis’s tone instantly sobered. “What’s wrong? Is Ava okay?”
I filled my lungs and let them empty. I didn’t want to come out and admit the truth. Saying it aloud made it even worse. “I don’t know.”
“Cole… shit, man,” he said gently. Louis knew all too well what the years had been like. Even as a confirmed pothead, he’d been relieved for me — and for Ava — when she’d gone into treatment. “Can’t tell you how bummed I am to hear that. What happened?”
I wanted to keep it in, but I found myself spilling my guts. “She’d been doing great since she got back, but last night… she left in the middle of the night and didn’t come home.”
“Damn,” he murmured. “Any idea where she is? I can be there tonight if you need me to be—”
“No, no. She’s safe. Flora has her. I’m headed over to her place now.”
“Flora?”I heard his surprise and then his delight. “You meanourFlora?”
In spite of my grim mood, I mustered a chuckle. Louis had always loved Flora. Who didn’t? “Yeah, our Flora.” I told him. “We looked her up a couple of weeks ago… and I… I… um…” I found myself floundering. I wanted to tell him about Elise, but I didn’t know where to start.
“What?” Louis pressed, sounding worried.
I cleared my throat. “You remember Flora’s daughter, Elise?”
“You mean the one you had a crush on but never talked about?” His pointed question stuck me right between the eyes. Had it been that obvious?
“Yeah, that one,” I admitted hoarsely.
“She still single?” I could almost see him perking with interest, leaning in. As though I could hear his focus sharpening. “You finally taking your shot?”
I sniffed a laugh. How did he know me so well? “She is. And I am.”
“But?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Did Bree take away your stash or something? You’re unusually astute today.”
“Fuck you, man. Tell me what’s wrong. You sound like a sad sack.”
I laughed, despite being a sad sack. I turned onto Kaliste Saloom without peeling out. Louis’s well-timed call had literally slowed my roll.
