Page 56 of Wrecked (Axle Alley Vipers)

“I don’t give a fuck what Brian’s trying to do.” Piper flinched, hurt clear on her face, and Brian held up his hands in surrender.

Cole turned away and half dragged, half stumbled up the steps to his apartment. Refusing to look any weaker in front of either of them than he already did.

He heard Piper apologizing for his ass-holic attitude, her words, and they walked away.

And what did he do? Nothing. He limped into his apartment and watched the woman he loved through his kitchen window—because there was no point denying his feelings anymore, not to himself—walk away with a guy who was everything he wasn’t.

Everything he would never be again.

Everything she deserved.

Chapter Seventeen

Piper stared up at the ceiling. So much for an early night. Sleep was not happening, and it was all Cole’s fault. What had he done to himself? Was that from chasing her down the stairs? She’d never seen him use a cane before. And why hadn’t he come to her last night? Why was he still avoiding her?

What the hell was going on?

Sitting up, she turned to plump her pillow by beating the crap out of it, then lay back and tried to get comfortable. He’d been rude to Brian when the guy was only trying to help. His pride had obviously taken a hit—that much was clear. But it still didn’t explain why he hadn’t come to her last night, why he obviously had no intention of coming tonight, either.

Her thoughts cut off when her phone rang on her bedside table. Her pulse did a kind of racy, fluttery dance, and her belly clenched. Anticipation fired through her as she put it to her ear. “Hello?”

“Piper?”

All the racing, fluttering, and clenching came to a screeching halt at the unfamiliar voice. “Um…sorry, who is this?”

“It’s Gerald.”

Gerald?

As if sensing her confusion, he added, “Gerald Clark, we had dinner the other night.”

“Oh, Gerald. Sorry, I was distracted.” She’d really hoped to never hear from the guy again.

“Look I know our date ended…well, abruptly, but I wondered if I could pop by sometime, or take you out for a coffee? I’m right around the corner actually. I could be there in a few minutes, if you’re not doing anything now?”

A few minutes? Who did that? This guy needed a copy of Dating For Dummies ASAP. “I’m actually having an early night tonight. But thanks for asking, Gerald.”

“Maybe another time? Tomorrow? I really think there’s something between us. We had a connection. I know you felt it, too.”

Eeek! Time to tell him straight. Hopefully without hurting his feelings. “Gerald, you’re a great guy. A really, really…great guy. But I don’t think we should see each other again.”

Silence.

“Gerald?”

“You don’t want to see me again?” he whispered.

“I’m sorry if I somehow made you think otherwise.” He breathed heavily down the line for a few minutes, and she started to get weirded out. “Gerald…”

“BITCH!” he screamed, then hung up on her.

She pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it in disbelief. Really?

Okay, maybe it was time to admit Alex and Rusty had been right. Gerald was obviously a nut. A nut who she’d brought home. Suddenly, she didn’t feel so bad that Cole had thrown him on his ass.

Cole.

Yep, now he was back in her head.