Page 41 of Stolen Summer

I groaned, dropping on the bed beside my phone, and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know how I feel other than being in his presence puts me in a constant state of annoyance.”

She laughed. “Yeah, you like him.”

After Frankie and I hung up, I called Ann at the diner and explained what happened. She was happy to hear my voice. Dad and Sadie weren’t the only ones worried about me. If being confined with Cole taught me anything, it was that I had more people in my life who cared about me. I might feel lonely, but I wasn’t alone.

I went through my remaining texts. The last one was from an unknown number. It didn’t take me long to figure out who it belonged to.

Cole:

I lied. I’m not a patient man, Killer.

My eyes rolled as I read the text again. I started to type a snarky reply but deleted it.

What I needed right now was to not think of Cole or his proposition. What I wanted was to spend some quality time with my dad and forget about the mountain of problems waiting for me outside this house.

Sadie went home while Dad and I vegged out on pizza, popcorn, and chips, played cards, and watched movies. I couldn’t remember the last time we had a day like this. Where I had not a care in the world. Where I wasn’t stressed or working on my feet all day or annoyed at how messy the house was.

But the carefree feeling only lasted until I saw the stack of bills still on the kitchen counter where I’d left them. With a heavy sigh, I thumbed through the papers, damn well knowing it would hamper my mood, and yet I couldn’t resist. It was a kind of torture you hated but loved, like having your feet tickled. One after another. All overdue. And many were months past due with bright red collection notices stamped on the front.

Life could be emotionally abusive.

And I’d suffered my fair share.

I couldn’t believe I was considering his proposal. Damn it. Damn him.

He offered me a temptation he knew I couldn’t turn down, and that got under my skin.

I stared at the unanswered text and sighed. My mind was made up, but Cole could wait another day or two for my answer. Call it his first lesson in patience. Why did he choose me? Maybe it was pity for the poor girl next door, and if that was the case, I’d hate him for it. I wasn’t a charity case, something I planned to make abundantly clear when I saw him next.

Taking the bills to my room, I set out to prioritize which were the most pressing. My stressless day was over. I couldn’t ignore my problems any longer.

I made one promise to myself…

I would not let my emotions get tangled. I would not fall for Cole Riley. I would protect my heart and treat him like every other rich asshole who came into my life. Heartless. Emotionless. Cold. Indifferent.

I didn’t know who I felt sorrier for. Me or Cole?

Would either of us survive the summer unscathed?

Chapter Fourteen

Ten hours later, I tripped out of the diner, catching myself before I toppled onto the street. I had no idea what I stumbled over. A rock. The door. My own damn feet. Exhaustion nipped at my heels, making my legs heavy and my feet clumsy.

The worst fucking part, other than just completely a nearly double shift?

I had to walk home.

Feet aching, I sat on the curb and pulled out my phone. I need to start driving the car.

Swiping my finger over the screen, I searched my contacts. Hating to be a nuisance to anyone, I could always pay for an Uber home, but that cost money, and despite the bills stuffed into my pocket, I was hesitant to spend any of it. One could argue I’d be coming into some money once I accepted Cole’s offer, so a ride home shouldn’t be a big deal.

For me, money was always a big deal.

I could call Cole.

We had yet to talk, and although making him wait was fun, my overdue bills weren’t getting paid sooner by me holding out. I should call him and get it over with like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Just think of it as a job.