I’m surprised to see relief flicker over his expression. Was he sweating me ending things? That, almost more than his speech, loosens and melts all the places I’d frozen up inside. Is it enough to just have this—whatever this is?
Maybe. For the moment.
I can’t seem to turn away from Cole, even though he’s like the car crash you see coming but can’t seem to stop. No, bad analogy. Nothing is like that. Even when we crash and burn, Cole Muchmore will have been worth it.
Cole
When I get home, my dad’s still sleeping on the couch where he passed out last night.
I head straight for the shower. I’m supposed to work at Bo’s uncle’s auto shop today, but when I saw Bailey take off in her mom’s car, I texted that I was going to be late. My phone’s blown up with texts from Bo, but I don’t give a shit. I wouldn’t trade this morning for anything.
I bump into Casey coming out of our shared bathroom upstairs. Her nostrils flare at my scent and then her brows slam down. She grabs a fistful of my t-shirt and pushes me into the bathroom and shuts the door. As if our dad could hear anything in his state.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she whisper shouts. “You have her scent all over you.”
I ignore her and peel off my shirt. “Get out, Casey.”
“Cole, I’m serious. You can’t do this. Are you nuts? Of all the humans you could pick to fuck, you pick her? Do you want to die?”
For some reason, it angers me that she assumes I’m just fucking Bailey. Like she’s the usual random human the alpha-holes use to practice sex on. I must show some teeth when I growl because Casey flinches and steps back, the instinctive submission to alpha dominance immediate.
“Fates, Cole,” she sounds stunned. Frightened, even. “You really like her.”
“Get out, Casey,” I snarl.
She skirts around me and opens the door, slipping out. “Cole, you better stop this shit before you get us all kicked out of the pack. We’re only hanging by a thread as it is. Alpha Green probably would’ve done it already based on Dad’s fuck-ups if you and I weren’t still in school.”
Her words hit me in the gut.
“I have it under control.” It’s a lie, but I’ll get it under control. Somehow.
I can’t fuck Casey’s future up along with mine just because I can’t keep my dick in my pants when it comes to Bailey Sanchez. It’s not right.
Casey shakes her head as she pulls the door shut and I take her condemnation into the shower with me, washing away Bailey’s delectable scent, the traces of my betrayal to my father, family and pack.
Fuck.
Chapter 11
Cole
It’s been most of the week and I’ve managed to stay away from Bailey. I’d like to say I took the space to get my head screwed on straight and now realize there’s no way I can keep fucking around with a human, much less this particular one.
But rather than cure me of my obsession, the time apart gets me worked into a frenzy. I think about her all the time. Jack off three times a day to the memory of spanking her ass and fucking those plump cheeks. When I’m home, I watch her window from mine and text her. First I texted to ask if she got a response from Brumgard. Then to tell her that Brumgard assigned the articles. To talk about which article I’d been assigned and tell her I expected her to complete the assignment for me. She sent me a gif of a girl flipping off the camera, which made me laugh. She probably would still write it for me, but I’m actually looking forward to the assignment. It’s different knowing I’m doing it for her and her pet project as opposed to Asswipe.
I took the assignment of writing a feature article on one of Wolf Ridge’s sports heroes. I’m going to interview Wilde about being team captain and what that entails. It’s going to be good.
When I’m at school I’m always looking for her in the hallways. And then when I see her—fuck, when I see her—I always want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her off somewhere to get filthy again.
I settle for winking when we pass each other. Or glaring at her from across the schoolyard. She always feels the heat of my gaze. Always turns and blushes. Rubs a hand over the back of her neck like I made the skin prickle there.
But that doesn’t happen to humans—does it?
Today, though. Today she’s not in one of her customary dresses. She’s wearing those short shorts she had on last Saturday, and it’s driving me fucking nuts. I find her after school and cage her in at her locker, making it appear like I’m harassing her. Which I am.