Beautiful Mess(65)

“You’re welcome, Ambria,” he said in her ear, not letting her go.

Finally, she pulled away. “See you Monday.”

“See you Monday.” His eyes followed her until her car disappeared down the street.

The rest of the weekend, though short, seemed to drag on, due in combination to Bri missing Cole, and Carly being extremely obnoxious. So Bri literally almost burst into tears when Sunday afternoon finally arrived, and Carly and Aunt Rachel were all packed up to go home. The whole family went out to lunch before Connor drove his sister and niece to the airport.

Bri rode home with Summer and the twins. She couldn’t help but smile as they walked in and Summer let out a huge, tension releasing breath.

“It’s good to have our house back, isn’t it?” She smiled at Summer in a rare moment of solidarity.

“Yes,” Summer smiled back. “Yes, it is.”





Chapter 15




Monday afternoon in ceramics, Bri unceremoniously dropped her things down next to Cole.

“Hey there,” he smiled at her. “You seem awfully chipper this afternoon,” he laughed as she flopped into her seat with a grunt.

“I’m exhausted,” Bri replied. “I’m still recovering from Hurricane Carly, and this morning at practice Belinda went all gestapo on us. Yes, our first competition is in a couple of weeks, but it won’t do her any good if we’re all dead! I am so not looking forward to practice tonight.”

“I’m sorry.” Cole’s eyes twinkled like he was anything but sorry, and Bri swore he was holding in a laugh.

“Whatever,” she shook her head at him. “Anyway, I have a favor to ask. Summer is having her book club over at our house tomorrow night. Is there any way we could study at your place tomorrow?”

“You want to come over to my house?” He lifted a brow at her suggestively.

“To study,” she eyed him. “If that’s okay?”

“Hmm, I have one condition.” Bri looked at him skeptically. “You let me come pick you up and take you home.”

Bri grinned. “Deal!” Since overcoming her aversion to Cole’s Ducati, she had eagerly accepted any offered ride.

There was no complaining then on Tuesday, when Cole showed up at Bri’s house on his motorcycle. They walked into Cole’s house to find Jimmy, and a bunch of his friends, sitting around a poker table in the middle of the living room.

“Dad!” Cole exclaimed, exasperated. “I thought you said you guys would be out of here by the time I got back!”

“Calm down, we’re just finishing this hand and we’ll get out of your hair. Hello, Bri!” Jimmy smiled at her. “Care to join us?”

Bri was about to accept, when Cole leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“If you say yes, they’ll never leave. Just to warn you.”

“I’d love to Jimmy, but Cole and I really should study tonight. He has a big test coming up.”

“Next time, then,” Jimmy winked at her.

“Yeah, sorry about this, Bri,” Cole said loudly, to make sure everyone could hear. “I told my dad yesterday that he’d have to have poker night somewhere else tonight, but apparently he seems to have forgotten.” He eyed his dad meaningfully.

“Sorry, Sport,” Jimmy grinned sheepishly. “I promise we’ll be out of here in fifteen minutes, twenty tops.” He turned back to his card game.

“Why don’t we go hang out in my room until they’re done?” Cole asked. Bri nodded and followed him to his room. He shut the door behind her, blocking out the noise from the living room. Bri set her bag down, and glanced around his room. It looked just like she remembered, and still had that same comfortable feel.

“Well,” Cole let out a breath. “Are you thirsty? Why don’t you make yourself at home, and I’ll go get us a couple of drinks?”

“That’d be great, thanks!”

“Okay. Be back in a few.” He ducked out of the room.

Left alone, Bri wandered around, stopping when she noticed a sketch pad on the nightstand. Curious, she picked it up and flipped it open. She froze. Shock, and something like panic, stopping her heart.

It was her. A picture Cole had drawn of her smiling. She turned the next page, and the next. A picture of her laying out on the beach at Venice. A surprisingly detailed drawing of her face, a sad expression clouding her eyes. A picture of just her eyes, their amber hue startlingly pronounced.

Bri’s legs gave out as she frantically flipped through the sketchbook. Her heart pounding, she became more and more distressed with each page. They were all of her. Some were just quick sketches, some were black and white drawings, and some were very detailed in color. The drawings became more current the further she progressed through the book. A picture of her in her dance uniform, her from behind all dressed in black, and finally, a drawing of her asleep against Cole’s chest. She felt her stomach lurch. She was shocked, and horrified, and confused. She didn’t know what this meant, or even what to begin to make of it. All she knew was that she felt somehow violated and exposed.