“You what? Why?” Bri was shocked. She was even more surprised to find that this news loosened something in her chest that she hadn’t realized was even there.
“Well, I decided that dating just for the, um, benefits, wasn’t fair to anyone.”
“Oh. How did she take it?”
“She was upset. But I was honest with her, and she seemed to understand.”
“You told her you couldn’t stand her because she was a total bitch?” Bri half teased, half hoped.
“No!” Cole laughed. “I just told her that we could keep pretending all we want, but my feelings for her hadn’t changed. I said that I wasn’t interested in her at all romantically, and if we kept going like we were someone was going to get hurt.”
“Wow. And you got out of there with your head still intact?” Bri had a feeling that Serena had been furious. And when she got mad, she got mean.
“Barely,” Cole admitted with a laugh.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” he smiled, his eyes holding hers. His gaze was making Bri a little uncomfortable. There was an intense well of emotions hiding in his eyes. She wasn’t sure what they were, or what it meant, but her body was responding to it. Her breath caught, and butterflies swarmed her stomach. Unable to take it anymore, she turned her head and looked out the window beside her.
They finished eating, and Cole drove her home. After they said goodbye, Bri watched as he got on his motorcycle and started it up. She didn’t think it was possible, but Cole just got a little hotter. For a brief moment, she regretted not letting him take her out on his bike. But, luckily common sense reappeared. He flashed her his sexy-as-hell smirk, that riled up those dang butterflies again, before putting on his helmet and zooming off.
Oh, man, she was in some serious trouble.
Chapter 13
“So, how would you feel about meeting my dad?” Cole asked one day in Ceramics.
Bri, who was working on her slab piece, paused a moment.
“It’s not a big deal, or anything. My dad just wanted to meet the person responsible for my “unbelievable turnaround in math”. His words, not mine,” he grinned. “Maybe on Tuesday you could come to my house to study, and meet my dad. What do you think?”
“Um...” Bri was a little surprised by Cole’s request. But, they were friends after all. Friends hung out at each other’s houses and met their parents. She’d never had the chance to meet Cole’s dad last summer, and now it seemed Cole was ready to rectify that. That was all this was. Nothing more, no need to worry. Bri smiled. “Sure. That would actually be great, because my brothers are done with their soccer practices, so my house is going to be a little loud from now on.”
“Great,” Cole tried to sound nonchalant, but his eyes sparkled. “I’ll make sure my dad is there. Then he can stop bugging me about it. So does this mean I finally get to meet these little monkeys you’ve been talking about?”
“My brothers? You want to meet my brothers?”
“Of course! And the infamous stepmom, too, if that’s okay?”
“Um, sure, I guess. Not that you’d be able to avoid it. Soccer doesn’t start up again until spring. In fact, we may want to start considering other locations to study at. Liam and Logan take rambunctious to a whole new level!”
“I don’t mind at all,” Cole reassured her. “I love kids. They are the highest form of entertainment! I bet I could get some good dirt on you from them!”
Bri laughed. “Well, I’ll have to make sure I grill your dad on Tuesday for some dirt on you, then!”
“On second thought, how about we agree to a no dirt digging truce? I’m horrified to think what my dad might spill.” He shivered dramatically.
“Deal,” she laughed. “Now, quit distracting me. This slab piece and I have some unfinished business,” Bri glared at what was supposed to be a rectangular vase in front of her. It looked more like a lopsided cereal box.
Cole laughed loudly, earning a warning look from the teacher.
“You know, the key to art is to become one with what you are doing. You’re not going to be able to threaten it into submission.” He had to stifle another laugh.
“Ugh, why did I take this class?” Bri groaned. “This is in no way fun. It’s more humiliating and depressing than anything. Kind of like golf. And just like golf, I completely suck at it!”
Cole burst out laughing again, and Bri couldn’t help but join him.
“Oh, Bri,” Cole wiped a tear from his eye. “I spend my whole day just waiting to hear what freaking hilarious, off the wall comment you’ll come up with next. You never leave me disappointed!”