The last people he had relied on were his mom and stepdad. Only their love had been conditional. No matter how much he tried to do better, be better, it wasn’t good enough. They had deserted him when he needed them the most.
When he was with Angie, he had tried his best. He wanted it so much for them to work. He tried to hide the darkness but she seemed to know and understand. She didn’t push, but most importantly, she never pulled away. Even when she saw him at his worst, she was there at his side.
Which was why it stung when Angie pulled out of his arms in the parking lot.
He didn’t touch her because he thought someone was watching. He wasn’t thinking about his surroundings at all. He had simply longed for the connection they once shared.
It was his fault and he deserved to have her shut him down. He had gotten carried away in the role and slipped back into a time when he could hold her. Show his claim with a possessive touch. But Angie wasn’t his anymore.
Cole heard the outer door to his office open. He sat up straight and listened to the door close quietly. That was strange. He didn’t get many walk-ins.
“Hello?” The deep male voice echoed in the waiting area.
Cole dragged his hands over his face and sighed before he stood and left his tiny office. He should have known Patrick would not let this matter rest but he didn’t feel like dealing with it right now.
“Patrick,” he greeted the other man, noticing his wet hair and soaked coat. There were dark patches on Patrick’s shoes and jeans that indicated he’d stepped into a deep puddle. What they said was true, Cole decided. No one in Seattle owned an umbrella. “What brings you here?”
He glared at Cole and shook his head as the water sprayed from his drenched hair. “I want some answers.”
Cole should have known he wasn’t going to get out of this. “Sure. Sit down.”
“No, thanks. It won’t be necessary.” Patrick braced his legs and crossed his arms. “This will be very short.”
Cole waited. In the past, he and Patrick tolerated each other. They were both territorial about Angie. It took a while before Cole realized Patrick had no romantic interest in Angie. He never understood that. Angie was the most fascinating and sensual woman he’d ever met but her friends saw her as one of the guys.
At first he thought it was unusual that Angie’s closest friends were men. He didn’t like it. But he never complained or asked that she didn’t hang around those guys. He didn’t want to make it a competition, especially since he had a feeling he would lose. It took him a few months before he realized he was being ridiculous.
Unlike the women he had dated in the past, Angie wasn’t flirty or suggestive with other men. She didn’t want to make him jealous. Instead, she went out of her way to make him feel like he was the most important man in her life.
“Don’t mess with Angie and don’t mess with this wedding,” Patrick warned.
“I don’t plan to do either.” But his original plan was unraveling quickly. All he wanted to do was find Heidi and determine if she still had a substance abuse problem. Now he was tangled again in Angie’s life, resurrecting feelings and struggling between make-believe and reality.
“Brittany really needs this wedding to be perfect,” Patrick insisted. He suddenly looked weary. “She is so stressed out that she’s breaking out in hives. The last thing I need is for you to bring more drama to the situation.”
“Okay.” Unlike the rest of the bridal party, the wedding was the least of his concerns. All he wanted was to find out what happened to the maid of honor.
“I don’t know why you’re back in Angie’s life, but I don’t like it,” he said. “It can only mean trouble.”
Cole stood very still. Patrick didn’t know the truth. After what happened on the basketball court, he was sure Angie would tell her best friend the real reason they were together. Did she keep his secret to protect him or to keep Patrick from worrying?
“I’m sure you’ve discussed this with Angie,” Cole said. Was that why Angie pulled away from him? Did Patrick express the many reasons he thought they shouldn’t be together? Cole didn’t doubt that the list was a long one.
“I did, but she’s not listening.” He made a face that Cole understood. Angie could be very stubborn. “She always had a soft spot where you were concerned. But I don’t. And I’m not going to let you hurt her a second time.”
“I don’t want to hurt her.” Why did everyone think he didn’t have her best interest at heart? “I care about her more than anybody.”