Cole(23)

An image of Cole appeared in my mind—my seared memory of him in the elevator, watching me as the doors closed. The blood on the floor from his comrade. Him running. Him waiting for me as I finished my last lap. “I’m Cole.”

My fingers closed over her hand, and I cleared my throat. “Nope. Nothing.”

“You sure?”

“I wanted to hear about you and Jake, but I got one better. I saw it first hand, like a private Broadway show.”

She groaned. “Again. I am so sorry.”

“I know. I’m just torturing you now.”

“Okay.” She twisted around, peering up at my floor. “So, if I don’t talk to you all week, plan for Friday. It’s a definite for me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Today’s Friday.”

“Wha—” Her mouth opened and stayed there. The wheels were turning in her head. Then she smacked herself in the forehead. “I meant next Friday, and holy shit! I’m insinuating I won’t be around all weekend too. I am so—”

Our arms were still linked. I unlinked them, but pressed both my hands over her arms. “Stop. I know how you are with your guys.”

Her eyes closed tight, but she opened one. “Really?”

I nodded. “I’m an adult. I’m thirty years old. I can manage just fine. Heck—” I tried for a joke. “Maybe Dawn and I will meet up for drinks tonight.”

Sia laughed, relaxing. “You can take up knitting.”

“I’ll be her real knitting soulmate, not a pretend one like you.”

“Don’t tell her my lie,” Sia whispered.

“I won’t.” I shoved her forward, gently. “Now go. Have fun. Have lots of sex, and if we don’t talk before next Friday, I’ll meet you at my door. I’ll be the one wearing pajamas already.”

“Okay.” She moved forward, reluctantly, then turned around. She pointed at me. “Slumber party.”

I yelled as she was swallowed up by the crowd, “Friday night!”

Her eyes widened—

“Next Friday night,” I clarified.

She was still pointing at me, but switched to give me a thumbs-up instead.





My weekend came and went. It was fine. I found a bookstore and spent Sunday there, curled up with a book in one of the chairs. The next week passed just as uneventfully. Every morning, I looked at the clock. Cole was on my mind. I could’ve gone to run with him, but I never went. I was a chicken shit, but then one day I wasn’t. I actually stood. My mind was made up. My chest tightened, and butterflies whipped around in me as I grabbed my sneakers and dressed. I had my headphones in hand and got to the elevator, only to not push the button.

I couldn’t do it.

I was too nervous.

I hadn’t heard from Sia since yesterday, and today was slumber party day, but I hadn’t expected to. She had an event at the Gala last night. I loaded up on wine, and got tequila for her. Promising a slumber party was one thing, but actually following through was another. If the situation were reversed, I’d have a hard time staying four floors under the new man in my life. I figured she’d spend the evening with me, maybe even stay late, but once the tequila was in full effect, she’d sneak up to his floor. I planned to let her know she didn’t need to sneak.

Seven o’clock rolled around, and she sent no word. I texted, asking if she was running late.

Eight o’clock.

Nine o’clock.

She should’ve called me by now.

I waited till nine thirty, then checked my phone. No text. No call. No email. I got on Instagram and went to her page. There it was: a selfie of her and Jake wearing Hawks jerseys. They were at the hockey game.

I’d been stood up.





Maybe my subconscious took me there.

Maybe I needed to run off some steam. Maybe I needed to get out of my apartment… I couldn’t think of any other reasons, so maybe, just maybe I went to the running track looking for Cole. There. I admitted it. My friend stood me up for a boyfriend, and I went in search of the man I’d been too much of a coward to seek out all week.

I pushed through the door and jogged a few feet before stopping. Then I just stood there. I wasn’t dressed for running. I was barely dressed for anything. Pajamas. A white tank top over short sleeping shorts. Thank God, I’d grabbed a robe. I was dressed and ready for what was supposed to have been my night.

I knew he wasn’t here. It was foolish to think he would be. He ran in the mornings. He told me himself. And it was Friday, almost ten at night.

A bitter laugh escaped me, sending a puff of white breath into the air. It was chillier than usual in here. I closed my eyes, feeling the cold now, and I turned around to head back.