“Oh, I was close,” she pointed out with a grin, hugging her books to her chest. “You know, it was great to see you at church Sunday. Wallace never brings friends along.”
“Really?” Please. I knew this trick. She was fishing.
“Yes, I was quite surprised.” She kept walking, assuming I’d pick up her step. “You two must be close.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I said, trying to feign embarrassment as I trailed behind her. Sure, it was immature, but I didn’t want her to think she had the upper hand—not that we were competing.
Her lips thinned as she paused near the doorway. “I guess you’re right. I’ve known him for months now, and he’s never mentioned you.”
I lifted both brows. “Maybe you guys aren’t all that close, either.”
Wait for it.
“Kidding,” I announced in my cheeriest Stepford voice. But not really.
She giggled and adjusted the books in her arms. “Perhaps you’re right.”
I couldn’t have smiled more if I’d painted it on in clown makeup. The longer we stood there, letting people go in around us, the more it became apparent that she was working up to something. How much longer did she expect me to keep up this charade? I was late enough as it was.
Outwaiting the Blake brothers had caused a significant delay in my schedule. It wasn’t like I could waltz upstairs and then pop out a few minutes later. How awkward would that be? No, instead, I did what any other girl in my position would do. I waited until I thought they were gone, ducked my head, and then bolted out the side exit.
Their argument had left a bitter taste in my mouth. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it’d been too strained, too lukewarm. Wallace kept his brother at arm’s length the whole time, but he didn’t push him away. Not earnestly. Confliction had anchored him to that spot, and he couldn’t move. Could he trust Cole? What would happen if he didn’t? There was no way the problem was that shallow.
Part of me wanted to smack some sense into the guy. Where was the patience he showed when I bared my soul about Ari? Where was the gentleness he showed when he took care of me in his room? When faced with his own flesh and blood, he just stood there. Angry, wounded, too stubborn to accept anyone’s help.
Maybe that was why another part of me—a very small part—had wanted to kiss Wallace then. Both sides of his mouth, between his brows, and every other place those stupid worry lines marred his expression. That part of me had wanted to hold him tight and give him the comfort I knew he couldn’t ask for.
But that part terrified me the most.
I shuddered and focused on Rachel again. She and Wallace had been friends, maybe even more, for a while now. Did she know anything about the situation?
There was only one way to find out. “So, uh, you know Cole, right?”
“What?” She lifted both brows, caught off guard. “You mean Wallace’s brother?”
“Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. “Do you know what happened between them?” Nice, Rena. Casual conversation shift.
Her gaze turned serious. “Do you?”
Crap. I hadn’t expected a counter. I could’ve bluffed my way through, but I didn’t want to risk it getting back to Wallace. “No,” I admitted with a sigh. “I was hoping you did.”
Disappointment wilted her posture. “He speaks very carefully regarding the matter.”
“Yeah, I know.” An acidic mix of guilt and anxiety began to churn in my stomach. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything.”
She shook her head and her rich auburn strands glowed like a halo under the fading sunlight. “You’re worried about him,” she said, looking around to make sure no one was listening. “I understand.”
“So, have you ever asked—”
“I think they had a fight,” she cut me off in a soft voice and looked down at her feet. “I wish I could do something for him, but he won’t talk about it. At least, not with me.”
The unspoken challenge fell between us. Could I do any better?
“I’m sorry, Rena, but I really should be going.” She edged toward the door with a shy reluctance in her step. “I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
My blood ran cold. Wallace? She was meeting him for dinner? “Hey, you’re not going to tell him about this, are you?”
“Why would I?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“We’ll keep this between us,” she assured me, grasping the door handle. “He wouldn’t be interested in girl talk, anyway.”
Thank God. I started to back up. “Cool, well...”
“Aren’t you coming inside?”
I faltered. “No, I, uh…forgot something I need to get. Maybe I’ll see you at church sometime.”
She brightened. “I’d like that.”
And I’d like to sort this thing out, once and for all.
We went our separate ways, and I made a beeline for the dorm. As soon as I was upstairs, I crashed in my chair, grabbed my phone, and flattened Cole’s number against my desk. Screw dinner. It was obvious one of the Blake brothers wanted my help. I couldn’t give up now.
My stomach growled in protest of the skipped meal, but I ignored it. I only had so long before Gabby and Aiden would realize I wasn’t coming to dinner—especially since I’d ignored their texts. There was no way I wanted them up here, breathing down my neck while I made this call. They’d blow the whole thing way out of proportion.
I tapped Cole’s number into the screen and held my breath. One ring, two…
“Come on,” I prompted, shuffling a few papers around on my desk. If he didn’t answer now, I wouldn’t have the nerve to call again. It wasn’t like I enjoyed going behind Wallace’s back to intervene.
Another ring.
I moved a second stack of papers, and a smooth patch of reddish-brown caught the light. My breath hitched in my throat. Ugh. Ari’s porcelain giraffe.
It was a polished reminder of her passing, of my own mortality, and I hated the way it looked at me. I’d bought the small figurine for her eighteenth birthday, but she didn’t live to see it.
Tears pricked my eyes, and I balled my fist. Damn it. Why was Wallace being so stubborn? Life was too short to let things come between people, especially family. Whatever he and Cole didn’t see eye to eye on, it wasn’t that important. It couldn’t be. Someday he might not have a broth—
“Cole Blake,” a familiar voice announced. “Go.”
I jumped and made weird little movements with my mouth in an effort to speak. “U-Uh…”
“Hello?”
Cole sounded just like Wallace on the phone. The familiarity was disarming. “Cole?”
“Yeah?” he asked in a cautious tone. “Who is this?”
“Oh, sorry. This is Rena. We met like half an hour ago.” The words spilled from my lips before I could stop them. How stupid did that sound? I grabbed a pen to busy my shaking hand.
“Ah, okay. You found my note.” There was a click before his voice echoed, like he’d switched me to speakerphone. “Sorry, I’m driving.”
“I can let you go,” I offered, twisting the pen through my fingers. “I just wanted to see what—”
“No, I’m good.” A muffled horn sounded in the background, and he muttered something under his breath. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d let me take you up on that coffee thing sometime. You know, to work this thing out.”
The pen slid from my grasp. “Wallace agreed to that?”
The line fell silent for a few moments, and my chest constricted.
“Not technically,” Cole admitted. “I kind of thought we’d sort through my shit—sorry, my crap—first. Maybe bring him in after I’m in the right mindset to work on the problem.”
Wow. He was really committed to salvaging this relationship. “Okay, well, when did you want to meet up?”
He clicked his tongue a couple of times. “Hmm, I doubt I’ll be able to swing another trip up there anytime soon. I’ve got a lot going o
n at work. Is there any way you could meet me down here this weekend?”
“Columbus?” I asked, scrambling to find a blank piece of paper in the stacks I’d made. “Um, yeah. How about tomorrow? I’ve got class until three, but I’m free after that.”
“Tomorrow would be great, but are you sure? I hate to make you come this far just for me.” He was definitely the outgoing twin. Wallace would’ve had this conversation wrapped up by now.
“It’s no trouble,” I lied. Actually, the idea of a two and a half hour drive didn’t exactly appeal to me, but I was willing to suck it up for a good cause.
“I really owe you for this,” he admitted with a sigh. “You might be just the person I need to get through to my brother.”
I smiled, cradling the phone to my shoulder. “I’m happy to help, Cole. So, where should I meet you?”
“There’s a cafe down the street from where I work. Would that be okay?”
“Sure.”
“Great.” He sounded like he was smiling, too. “Just let me find the address.”
I sat there in a daze, even after I hung up. Was I really going to hear the whole Cole story tomorrow? And was I willing to sneak around to do it? No one could find out about our little rendezvous until it was over, not even Wallace.
Especially not Wallace…
But it was for his own good. Once I sorted out Cole’s side of the story, I’d know how to approach the problem. Only real friends were willing to get their hands dirty. What better way to show I care than to brave his defenses?
The door knob twisted, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Gabby barged inside and called over her shoulder, “I told you she wasn’t dead.”
My shoulders sagged with relief. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” Gabby collapsed onto her bed, pulling Maverick down with her. “Where were you? Aiden texted a few times.”
As if on cue, Aiden wandered in from the doorway and took a seat on my bed. “I thought it was weird that you missed without telling anyone.”
“Sorry.” I rubbed my forehead. “I wasn’t feeling up to it. What’re you guys doing?”
Maverick stretched out and fluffed a pillow behind him. “It’s movie time. Isn’t that right, Glasses Dude?”
“You know he hates that,” Gabby whispered, jabbing him with her elbow before she turned back to me. “Anyway, we were all gonna chill here for a while, but if you’re sick or whatever, we can go to Aiden’s room. It’s not eight thirty yet. Your man could come, too.”
I ignored the man comment. “You guys can stay here. I’m feeling better.”
She shot me a weird look and grabbed her zip-up disk case. “You sure?”
“Absolutely.” I motioned for her to proceed, unconcerned about our guests, my homework, or any other trivial matter threatening to distract me. I had bigger things to worry about now, like secret reconciliation missions.
Gabby started rattling off titles, and I zoned out. If I could just get through the next twenty-one hours without freaking out, they wouldn’t suspect a thing. I loved them and all, but the last thing I needed right now was their input.
My bravery only came in short bursts of momentum, and if I stopped to over-think the situation, I’d bail on the whole thing.
Chapter Eighteen
Rain pelted the windshield, blurring the lights of oncoming traffic. The temperature had finally stabilized, so the rain-slicked highway wasn’t in any danger of freezing. That was the only thing I had going for me.
Once I got within about twenty minutes of Columbus, everything hit me at once. I cranked the heater full blast, but unlike Wallace, didn’t bother cracking a window. The chilled air would sting my face, and I didn’t need another reason to tremble. Ugh. I can’t believe I’m really doing this.
I’d worn a black thermal with my favorite pair of jeans tucked into boots. It was my go-to outfit for confidence. The boots made me feel empowered, and the thermal made me feel like I was some kind of secret agent—kind of fitting, given the circumstances.
If everything went according to plan, Gabby wouldn’t find my note until after dinner. She’d realize I cut out of town after class and would hopefully take it in stride. After all, it was Friday. People had plans on Fridays.
I mentioned that I had a few errands to run in Columbus and that I’d probably be back late. Even if she did make the connection, she’d be too late to stop me. I’d made sure of that.
My mind drifted into a guilt-laden fog. What would Wallace think of this? Would he be upset that I’d gotten involved? He should be grateful that he has a friend willing to step in. Well, maybe not grateful, per se. More like—
BOOM!
Ripped from my reverie, I drew a sharp breath as my car jerked left toward the median. “Shit!” I gripped the wheel, struggling to correct myself in the lane as something started thumping.
It pulsed all around me, vibrating in my seat. My heart joined the building rhythm as I veered to the right, forcing The Beast into the next lane. A car horn blasted behind me.
“Gimme a break,” I yelled, throwing my hazard lights on. With a hasty glance behind me, I slowed down and maneuvered onto the shoulder. Ugh.
I turned the car off and pocketed the keys, fighting to hold back panicked tears. “Not good, not good…” It didn’t take me long to retrieve my phone and speed-dial Drew’s number. As my big brother, this definitely fell under his jurisdiction.
“Spaz,” he answered. “What’s up?”
“The car’s freaking out,” I said, wincing as someone rocketed past, splashing water against the window. “What should I do?”
He didn’t say anything.
“Drew?”
“What did you do?” he asked, his tone dripping with accusation.
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Then, what happened? Where are you?”
Ah, hell. “Columbus,” I admitted, sinking down in my seat. “I was going to meet a friend.”
“What happened?” he repeated with more emphasis.
“It just went boom and jerked to the left. Then it started making a thumping noise, so I pulled over.” More cars motored past and I felt stupid sitting there, talking on my cell phone.
“You blew a tire,” he said matter-of-factly. “You blew a tire on my car.”
“My car,” I corrected, unwilling to accept the blame for something that wasn’t even my fault. “So, what do I do?”
“Do you know how to change a tire?” he asked in a tired voice.
Rain splattered against the windshield, and I looked down. “No.”
He let out another breath. “Well, I wish I could help ya, kiddo, but I’m down in Athens. Can you call AAA or something?”
A lump formed in my throat as I nodded, feeling pitiful and deserted. “Yeah.”
“Don’t get out of the car until they get there, okay?”
“Okay,” I repeated, laying my head down on the wheel. “I better go ahead and call, then.”
“You’ll be fine,” he reassured me, and I could almost hear the laughter in his voice. “Don’t freak out.”
“I’m not freaking out,” I groaned. “I just hate this stuff.”
“Yeah, I know. So, be careful.”
I lifted my head and grumbled. “I will.”
“All right. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.” I hit the red button and let out a deep breath. Great. Now what was I supposed to do? It was getting late. Should I call Cole?
I scrolled through my contacts list, grateful that I’d put his number in after our last conversation. Better get it over with. I put the phone to my ear and connected before I had a chance to rethink it.
“What’s up, Rena?” he answered.
His casual greeting threw me off. “Uh, hey…I’m going to be a little late.”
“Ah, that’s cool. Everything okay?”
“My tire blew out,” I explained. Bleh. I felt like an idiot. “I’m on the side of the road.”
/> “You want me to come get you?” he asked.
I blinked. “N-No, I’m okay. I’m about to call AAA. I should be there in, I don’t know, maybe a half hour.”
“Rena…” The way he said my name made me relax despite my anxiety. It was like we were old friends or something. “There’s no sense in that. I’ll just come change your tire, and you can follow me.”
“Uh…” Was that one of those polite responses, or was he really offering?
He chuckled at my hesitation. “It’s fine, really. Where are you?”
Relief eased through my tense muscles, and I melted against the seat. “I-71 South—pretty close to the Gemini exit.”
“All right, give me a little bit. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Stay put, okay?”
Butterflies flitted about in my stomach, and I tried to keep from smiling. Talk about a gentleman. “Okay.”
Nineteen minutes later, dusk had settled in, blanketing the already heavy cloud cover. A Jeep Grand Cherokee angled in behind me, and Cole stepped out.
I hurried out of the car and was about to call out a greeting, when our eyes met. My mouth fell open and whatever I was going to say disappeared. I just stood there, entranced, as the rain fell between us.
His hardened gaze held the slightest glint of gunmetal as he approached me, his lips tilted in a cocky grin. Was he this hot the last time I saw him?
I backed up until I could brace myself on the car. “H-Hey…”
“Hey, yourself.” His grin pulled at the corners of his eyes as he reached out to shake my hand.
Of course, by then, we were both soaked. My hand glided a little too easily into his grasp, and I forced a smile. “It’s nice to see you again,” I said. “Though, I wish it were under different circumstances.”
He nodded, still holding my hand. “Same here.”
About that time, a car sped past, and he tugged me close. Muddied water, reeking of city grime, sprayed his back, and he grimaced. “Why don’t you go wait in my car?” He let me go and wrung the bottom of his shirt. “It’s still warm, and this’ll only take a minute.”
“Like I’m going to let you get wet out here by yourself.”
Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) Page 12
