“Great. I can’t wait to see you again, man,” Rush said. “It’s been too long.”
He hadn’t seen Rush since his wedding a few months ago, and he looked forward to seeing his old friend again. They shot the shit for a few more minutes, catching up on family members. After ending the call, Cole called Leesa. When it went to voicemail, he hoped she was out with her friends, having a good time, and left a message.
“Hey, angel. I, uh…” He laughed softly, realizing he didn’t have a purpose for his call. “I miss you and just wanted to hear your voice. I’m meeting my brothers for a drink. Call me later, or text me? Hope things are going okay.”
As he walked into the bar, he fought the urge to climb into his car and drive to Towson. He’d promised to give her the space she needed to deal with this on her own—or at least he’d promised to try. Although he knew himself, and he had no intention of waiting a week, a month, or a year. Yes, he’d wait that long for her if that’s what it took for her to come back, but he wasn’t about to wait that long to see her again. He’d already looked up her Towson address. He’d give her twenty-four hours to deal with this on her terms. If he could last that long.
“Finally.” Sam greeted him loudly from a table near the back of the bar, where he was sitting with Nate, Jewel, Tempe, and Shannon.
Cole placed a hand on each of his sisters’ shoulders. “I didn’t know you two and Jewel were going to be here.”
“You think we’d leave you guys to have all the fun without us?” Shannon said with a bright smile. “Tempe tried to beg off, but Jewel and I dragged her butt out anyway.”
“Hey, how are you doing?” Tempe asked as he took the seat beside Sam.
“Fine. Sorry I’m late. Schedule ran late, and I called Rush from the parking lot.”
“His wedding was so fun,” Shannon said as Nate flagged down their waiter and ordered a pitcher of beer. “You’re next, Nate.”
Nate grinned and reached for Jewel’s hand. “I’m ready, but my girlfriend isn’t. She’s the one you need to work on.”
Jewel rolled her eyes. “Seriously, you guys? Let us be in this amazing stage of bliss for a while. After marriage comes babies and real life. You have to remember, I practically raised my little brother and sisters. I want to enjoy Nate for a while.” She gazed into Nate’s eyes with so much love that it practically reached out and embraced him. “I can still hardly believe we’re a couple.”
“Oh, we’re a couple, all right,” Nate said with a smirk. “Any other guy even tries to come between us and I’ll—”
She silenced him with a kiss. “Not a chance. I’m yours, married or not.”
Cole sipped his beer, trying to ignore the way watching Nate and Jewel made him miss Leesa even more.
“So, Cole, I was thinking,” Sam said. “If Leesa isn’t back this weekend, maybe you and I can take a rafting trip Saturday night? Come back Sunday?”
“I don’t want to think about her not coming back for a night, much less through the weekend,” Cole admitted.
Shannon patted his back. “You fell hard and fast, didn’t you?”
Cole smiled but didn’t answer. Yes, he’d fallen hard and fast, but he wasn’t sure how much that mattered if Leesa decided to stay in Towson. He had a practice here that he had worked hard to build. His life was here. His family.
“Sometimes things just take a while to work themselves out,” Jewel said. “Look at me and Nate. Years passed between—” She winced. “Oh, gosh, it won’t be years for you guys. I just meant…”
“Don’t sweat it, Jewel.”
Sam narrowed his eyes at Cole. “It’s not like you to sit back and let things happen to you, Cole. What gives?”
“I’m trying to give her the space to do what she needs to do. I’ve waited a long time to find someone I care about. I’m not about to suffocate her and push her away.” His blood simmered at his inability to take control of the situation, and his frustration came out in a harsh tone. “Don’t you think I tried to go with her? I tried like hell, but she’s determined to do this on her own, and I get that. I do, but damn…” He shifted his eyes away from his siblings. “Can we not talk about this, please? I thought y’all were going to take my mind off this shit, not pound it into me.”
“Yes, of course,” Tempe said, glaring at Sam.
“Sorry, Cole. We didn’t mean to pressure you,” Shannon added.
“I did.” Sam’s voice was dead calm. “Just like you’d pressure me if the tables were turned.”
“What?” Cole snapped. “You’ve never cared this deeply about a woman in your life.”
“Neither have you,” Sam challenged. “Until now.”
Cole rose to his feet. He wasn’t about to sit here and be pushed by his brother when he already felt locked in a corner. “In case you haven’t noticed, Sam, I can deal with my own shit. I’ve got work to do. I’ll catch up with you guys another time.”
“That’s it, Cole,” Sam said, rising to his feet. “Bury your feelings in the lives of your patients, because that’s worked out well for you so far.”
Cole closed the distance between them, and Nate rose to his feet, his eyes darting between the two men. “You have a hair up your ass, Sammy? Because I’m not sure why you’re pushing all my buttons in the middle of Nate’s restaurant.”
Nate put a hand on Cole’s shoulder, and Cole shrugged him off.
“Hey, listen,” Nate said in a stern voice. “Whatever bullshit you two have going on, take it outside.”
“Sorry. I’m outta here.” Cole stalked out the front door and right into Kenna. Fuck. Could this night get any worse?
“Cole. I didn’t expect to see you here, but I’m glad I did.”
She touched his arm, and he shrugged her off and headed down the stairs.
“Cole!”
He turned, trying to contain the anger clawing for release. “What do you want?”
She came down the steps, and her tone softened. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“Yes, Kenna. I really do, and I’m in no mood—”
“Cole, it’s okay. I’m happy for you. You deserve to be happy. Tell your girlfriend I’m sorry I kissed you. That was low, and I’m trying to turn over a new leaf. I just temporarily forgot how.”
He huffed out a relieved breath, feeling like he was caught in a spider’s web. He didn’t trust Kenna, and it must have been written in his expression, because a sheepish look came over her face.
“I…” She looked away, and Cole swore her eyes were damp. “I know I’ve been a bitch. I never should have kissed you. Or bid on you. Or…”
He didn’t have it in him to try to run through the things she shouldn’t have done. He flat-out didn’t care anymore. He had one focus, and that was Leesa.
“Cole, I owe your girlfriend an apology, and—”
“No. Don’t go anywhere near her.” He didn’t mean to snap, but he was a hairbreadth from losing it, despite the sorrowful look in her eyes. “Look, Kenna, thank you. If you mean those things, thank you. But please don’t say anything to Leesa. She doesn’t need to feel threatened, or…”
He saw Sam come through the doors of the restaurant with Nate on his heels and turned toward his car.
“Okay, okay. But I mean it. I am happy for you.” Kenna headed toward the restaurant.
Cole fished for his keys, trying to ignore the murmurings between her and his brothers.
“Hey, asshole.” Sam’s deep voice was as calm as a summer’s day.
Cole turned a dark stare to Sam and saw Nate on his heels. Cole fisted his hands at his sides. He’d never been a violent guy, but at just barely two years younger than him, Sam had always pushed Cole in ways none of his other siblings dared to.
“Sammy, I’m really not in the mood for games.”
Sam held his hands up in surrender. “Neither am I. Dude, she’s got you all tied up in knots. Don’t you remember seeing this”—he motioned to Cole’s fisted hands, the tightness in his jaw, and if he could, Cole knew he’d point out the burning in his gut, too—“in him?” Sam said, pointing to Nate, who stood with his legs planted hip distance apart, arms crossed, shoulder to shoulder between Cole and Sam, clearly ready to jump between them if need be.
Nate’s eyes narrowed further at Sam.
“Cole, think about it. Nate stepped up to the plate with Jewel, even with all the shit he had hanging over his head, and you’re going to bury yourself in medical cases?”
“It’s different,” Cole insisted.
“How so?” Sam crossed his arms and cocked a brow. “Enlighten me.”
“She may not come back, Sam,” he seethed. “Jewel was here. Nate was here. They had history. Leesa and I have days. Her history is back in Towson.” And it fucking sucks.
“So?” Sam shrugged.
“So?” Cole shook his head. “Sam, she’s either going to come back or she’s not. If I go there and beg her to come back, she’ll feel pressured in ways she shouldn’t have to deal with while she’s got so much other shit going on in her life. I’m trying to do the right thing.”