Cole

by Xyla Turner

  “God, I never knew you to be such a cold bitch. Is this because I wanted a divorce? You trying—” I couldn’t hear Bryce anymore because the phone was out of my hand and in Cole’s.

  Oh goodness.

  All of my senses heightened as I saw Cole with the phone and then he hit the red button and put the phone on the table in a tight controlled move saying more than his fiery eyes showed.

  “Cole, that’s not necessary.” I stood and picked up my phone.

  One of his brown eyebrows rose in question before he said, “It’s absolutely fucking necessary. You’re not going to be any more bitches. That’s for damn sure.”

  Hell, the man was right. I wouldn’t be too many more bitches because the one waiting for me was about to get a one-ticket bus ride to stay with her father. Then they could bitch and moan together.

  I exhaled loudly and put a smile on my face as I took a step toward him. Sliding my arms up behind his neck, I kissed him for everything he had done, exposed me to or made me do. I was eternally grateful.

  Cole moved me away from him before he said, “Why does this feel like a good-bye kiss?”

  “Because it is.” I smiled again. “I have to go.”

  “I’m going with you,” Cole said. “We’ll take my car.”

  Oh no.

  “No,” I said with a quick shake of my head. “This is my battle and while I do appreciate you. I really do. I need to deal with this one. I’ve had so much fun.” I tried to change the subject. “I mean, this has left me speechless.”

  “Bethany?” Cole pulled me into him. “Let me come.”

  “No, not this time. You’ll come over but this one, I need to handle.”

  His shoulders relaxed.

  Man, this guy, so sweet. Just as I wanted to stay in our little bubble, the dark forces outside came to burst it. That just made me upset, but I knew a line needed to be drawn. If not, they would continue to run my life and I was simply too old for anyone besides me to run my life.

  My phone started ringing again, but I shut it off and put it in my purse. Cole let me go and I quickly gathered my belongings. As I packed up, Cole threw my bag in the passenger’s seat and opened the car door for me. I knew he wouldn’t let me just leave, and I was right. He pulled me against his body as he leaned on the car.

  “Tomorrow is Sunday. The plan doesn’t change. We’re going on an all-day adventure,” Cole informed me.

  “Okay, Cole.” I placed my weight on him and then my head on his chest.

  The man kissed my hair as he held me tighter. God, I didn’t want to leave, but I needed to handle my lovely daughter. I patted his chest as a sign I needed to go.

  “Duty calls, huh?” He leaned back so he could see my face.

  “Tomorrow,” I declared. “I gotta go.”

  Cole dipped his head and took my lips as if that were the actual last time I would see him. It was like he was trying to mesmerize the curves on my body, the shape of my mouth and every way my tongue could twirl around his. When he finally pulled back, we were both panting to catch our breath.

  “Tomorrow,” Cole repeated.

  He released me from his cobra grip and I got into the car with the dreadful feeling like I was forgetting something. A sadness passed over me when I was on the other side of the security gate and I dared not look back to see the man that gave me all those feelings staring after me.

  I was hooked.

  Chapter 6: Crossroads

  Cole Magon

  Standing in front of the house, with my feet shoulder-width a part, a dark cloud seemed to hover over me as I saw her break lights brighten and fade as she slipped away. My chest tightened with a slight pain that sliced through my insides.

  Damn.

  I walked back inside, pulled out my phone and called Roger. In one hand, it was good to feel connected to Bethany by talking about her and in the other hand, I needed information.

  “Roger, man. How you doing?” I greeted him.

  “I’m good and yourself? That third date, right? She was the one. Am I right?” I could almost see the satisfied smile on his face.

  “Nah, Bethany is the one,” I clarified. “The absolute one.”

  The man laughed was so hearty, I found myself smiling too despite the ache in my chest.

  “Man, some things never change. Good ole Cole Magon is stubborn now just as he was on the field. I’d never forget your agent being so mad with you because you wouldn’t do an endorsement that you thought was ostracizing an already ostracized culture.” He emphasizes that last part because that was my direct quote.

  “Yeah, that was some bullshit.” I was shaking my head thinking about it. “He was wrong for asking me to and I let him know.”

  “Oh, I know.” Roger was still laughing. “He came back red-faced and foaming at the mouth. We told him, you were right, but he was just looking at the dollar signs. He was young then.” Roger defended.

  “What’s his excuse now?” I countered.

  “Ah, touché.” He calmed himself. “So, Bethany, huh?”

  “Yeah, Bethany Wade,” I repeated. “What do I need to know?”

  “What do you know already?” Roger asked me as I sat at the table full of uneaten Thai food. I should have given her a plate to go in case she grew hungry or made her finish some of her food before she left.

  Damn.

  “Know she has an ungrateful and spoiled daughter, an asshole of an ex-husband and she’s a lawyer. A good one, I gather,” I shared. “I know she loves tuna, talks shit but can back it up and has a nice nasty way of telling folks how it is.”

  There was silence on the phone.

  “Hello?” I called.

  “Uh, yeah. Um, have you spoken to her?” Roger asked with alarm in his tone.

  “Yeah, she just left my place. We did our three dates. Why?” I asked.

  He scoffed before he said, “It’s just that, her friend that filled out her profile almost said the same thing. Crazy.”

  “Roger, I want her, man. I need to know what I’m up against.” I was not above begging or bargaining.

  “I hear you and I see that you are determined. Bethany is a bit of a mystery to me, honestly. She’s smart as a whip, has a serious legal mind and they’re even talking partner at her law firm. The crazy shit is I don’t even think she wants it. She works hard and the woman’s a closer. Cold as ice is what some say. But, I don’t see that she’s cold more than she is protective. Maybe that’s the match-maker in me.” He laughed at his own joke. “Her breakup had the potential to be nasty, but she cut that man off at the balls and didn’t bat one eye. The guys thought she’d take time off, but she just kept going as if she was waiting for him to dissolve himself. It was crazy. That daughter of hers is a product of her ex-husband. Selfish and spoiled rotten. That’s really all I know. She doesn’t date or anything like that but it’s not like people haven’t tried.”

  “Who’s her friend that referred her to your organization?” I asked.

  “Curtis, one of her co-workers.” He answered. “I was trying to get her other friend Trish to sign up too. She’s a news anchor at the local station, over at AGX and she’s single.”

  He laughed at his own internal joke.

  “Can you set up a meet with the two of us, so I can find out more about Bethany?” I inquired.

  “Cole, I know you dig her but setting up meetings with her friends or co-workers to get information is not how dating goes nowadays,” Roger informed me. “Now, you stalk them on social media and compare what they say to what they post.”

  “You mean that Twitbook or Shibama-gram stuff?” Cole asked. “Yeah, I don’t know that shit. Why would I stalk her when I can just get the info from people she knows?”

  “Or,” Roger interjected. “You could simply just ask her and pray she’s truthful.”

  Right.

  I did ask her, but I want to know how to win her. How to make her mine. That’s what I need to find out. Would she even know how to answer me even thoug
h I could have sworn she claimed me as well?

  “Yeah, I guess.” I finally answered.

  “Man, you’re already gone, aren’t you?” Roger noted. “She know you played ball?”

  I ran my hand through my hair. “Naw, it hasn’t come up but we need to have that conversation. Alright, man. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Night.”

  My appetite was gone so the food would be my lunch on Monday since I planned to take Bethany out of town tomorrow. Then we could have the conversation about my past. She may have already known and was waiting for me to bring it up. It wasn’t a secret, but I just had enough women in my lifetime that was with me because of who I was or at least what I represented. Bethany had seen my house, so she knew I was well off enough but she still needed to know.

  After cleaning up the food, flipping through the sports stations, I grew restless and text Bethany.

  Me: Miss you

  Me: Already

  She never responded and eventually I fell asleep on the couch waiting to hear from her. A loud sound caused me to jump up and quickly looking around the house to get my bearings.

  There was a knock on the door.

  Quickly walking toward it, I figured it could be Bethany. My heart did a quick somersault at the prospect but when Sue Mae smiled up at me with a blue rolled up mat, I nearly groaned.

  “Oh, not happy to see me. Late night?” She laughed.

  “Something like that. Sorry.” I apologized.

  “No worries. We’re doing yoga in ten minutes if you want to join.” The look on my face must have said everything I was thinking because she quickly added. “I’ll just come back tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” I began closing the door and stumbled back to the couch where I fell asleep.

  Checking the phone, I saw a text from Bethany.

  Bethany: Cole, I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to go with you today. Raincheck?

  Fuck!

  Me: Is everything alright?

  I waited all of twenty seconds before I dialed her number.

  “Morning,” she answered in a groggy voice.

  “Is everything alright?” I asked.

  “Cole? Yeah, everything is alright. Why?” she asked.

  “You cancelled today. I wanted to make sure everything was okay.” I tried to keep the desperation out of my voice.

  “No, it’s not okay and I’ll share with you when we see each other again,” Bethany said.

  “When will that be?” I knew the hurt was seeping through with that question.

  “How about we meet on Wednesday for lunch? My schedule is free,” she offered.

  “I’ll check my schedule and confirm.”

  Yup, it was evident.

  I was anticipating seeing her today and having to wait until Wednesday felt like a lifetime. What the hell happened she couldn’t see me until then? My mind started reeling but Roger’s words came back to me and I did as he said.

  “Bethany, I was looking forward to seeing you today. Since you can’t, is there a way we could at least meet tomorrow morning or something? Really early or really late works for me,” I sighed. “I really want to see you and waiting until Wednesday will drive me fucking nuts.”

  Silence met me over the phone and then I felt slightly foolish for putting all my shit out there. Yet, I also felt relieved because if she had any question about my buy-in for us, I was telling her.

  “Cole,” she whispered. I could hear her moving around. Then she said, “A lot of things happened last night. I can’t even begin to share everything in the few minutes I have. My daughter is pregnant by the roadie and despite the cold bitch I’m accused of being, I can’t turn her away like that. I had fun with you and I’m not trying to drag you into my hassle of a life that is bound to take over. I thought I would have time, maybe even dream. We should have left yesterday and stayed in our bubble like you said.” She grew quiet. “But I like you a lot. Probably more than I should with the growing drama that’s looming over my life right now. I won’t drag you into that. I just can’t—"

  I cut her off, “Bethany, I’m not a child. Please don’t presume what I can and can’t handle or what I’d be willing to take on.” A sharp breath escaped my mouth as I continued, “Look, I’m telling you. I want you and everything that comes with you. Why would you deny me that? Deny us that?”

  “Cole,” Bethany muttered.

  “No, answer me.” I pushed.

  “Maybe it’s too much for me. Have you thought about that?” she said in her way.

  “Then let’s discuss that face-to-face. It’s too much for you. I’m too much. It’s all too much, then we talk about it.” I wasn’t backing down. “Now, today you can’t meet. Tomorrow morning? Let’s say six in the morning. I’ll come to you.”

  Bethany didn’t say anything but then she said, “Alright. I’ll meet you at that place we first met up. The tuna sandwiches.”

  “Six o’clock?” I asked.

  “Yes, six o’clock.”

  “Good, I’ll see you there and Bethany.” I called after her.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  “I’m glad your daughter is home, safe and sound.” I tried to bring it back to what her worries were really about.

  “Thank you, Cole. I’m glad too. See you tomorrow.”

  The line went dead, and I felt close to dead with the new plot of her daughter getting pregnant. How could I or would I even fit into her story? She was already trying to cut me out, but she didn’t know, I made my living being a quarterback and could find an opening or I’d take the dive myself.

  She did not know, but she was about to find out.

  ***

  Sitting in the booth facing the door, so I could see her when she entered was proving to cause more anxiety than I anticipated. There I was, losing my mind because of a woman. That was simply unheard of.

  Five minutes of six, Bethany walked through the doors, spotted me right away and gracefully walked toward the table I selected. I stood when she was close enough and surprisingly, she walked right up to me and initiated a kiss. I didn't need to be told twice, had no reason to second guess it or even act like I was shocked. I simply took over the kiss and pulled her into my body. It brought us right back to that bubble.

  Our bubble.

  "Morning," she said after she pulled away.

  "Morning." I smiled at her.

  We sat down at the empty café in the back corner. The servers were busy preparing for the morning rush since they just opened up at five-thirty. The coffee smell was the strongest during the early morning which woke me up since I didn't get an ounce of sleep the night before.

  "You look beautiful," I told Bethany as I took in her three-piece navy suit with a skirt that showed those curves and a tailored jacket that accentuated her small waist. Her warm brown tone was bright with a vibrancy that reassured my aching heart.

  "Thanks," Bethany said with a smile.

  A server appeared before us and asked, "Can I help you, ma'am?"

  "Yes, can I get the fruit cup, large coffee and lightly buttered toast?" she asked with a pleasant voice.

  The waiter nodded his head, turned to me and after I shook my head and held up my full cup of coffee.

  "Great. I'll be back with your order," he said before he retreated back behind the counter.

  Bethany's eyes met mine before she sighed and said, "I don't want to fuck this up."

  Why that was funny and why I burst out laughing was misleading since I, myself, felt the same way.

  “I hear you, sweetheart,” I commented with my head nodding up and down in agreement. “I’m with you. I don’t want to fuck this up, either.”

  Bethany blew out a breath of relief and sat back.

  “Okay,” she nodded. “My daughter, Brittany, is back home after, you know, running off with the uh… the uh… the roadie,” she finally spit out. “Well, now she’s pregnant, and he’s moved on to the next girl, so she’s left holding the bag. I had full well planned to
send her with a one-way ticket to her father’s house in Newkirk but after finding out about her pregnancy, I didn’t feel right sending her to that hell. The man wouldn’t know what to do with a pregnant daughter no more than he did with a pregnant wife. That should have been clue number one, the man was unfit. For better or worse, huh?”

  “Worse, being the worse,” I commented.

  “Hmm, seriously.” She shook her head and continued the story. “So, that’s going to take up some of my time. As you probably have gleaned, Brittany’s pretty needy, and a pregnancy is going to make that worse, I’m sure. I, uh, more than had fun with you, but I’m not sure what it looks like to prepare my daughter, who is not able to be on her own at the moment, to become a parent and start a relationship.”

  She had a valid point which gave me pause as I thought about my retort. However, I couldn’t really find one that seemed plausible.

  “You’re right, Bethany. It’s a lot to have to worry about and they are both new to you at this point and Brittany. I don’t really have an answer, except to say, I’m being the most selfish man on earth right now. I don’t see an alternative but to split your time or let me in so I can be your strength when you’re tired.” I offered.

  She laughed and answered, “I don’t need strength. I’ve been fine for—”

  “I know. You don’t need me but I want you. We want this. So, I can’t think of any alternatives.” I took a sip of my coffee. “Can you?”

  Bethany’s head twisted to the side before she said, “Well, yes. We put things on hold.”

  “Bethany, I’m forty-nine years old. Sweetheart, I ain’t got much time to put on hold. That’s not an option.” There was no way I’d leave room for that loop hole.

  It was selfish but I would not entertain that notion for a second. She didn’t get it or she did and was scared. But, Bethany was a grab the bulls by the balls sort of person.

  “So, cowboy, what do you suggest?” She raised an eyebrow. “I know you have a plan.”