The Right Side of My Pillow, стр. 24
Quietly, she responded. “You don’t seem messed up to me. Do you think maybe you’re just scared to make a commitment?”
Frustrated, Cole ran his hand over his face. “Who knows? It’s not like I have any role-models to judge it by.” He shook his head. “My fault. You just wanted to watch a movie not listen to me whine about my problems. That’s why I pay a therapist. I didn’t mean to lay this heavy stuff on you. Let’s finish the movie.”
Jade couldn’t be mad at him for wanting to change the subject. Truth be told, there was a part of her that was relieved about Elise. Jade re-focused her attention back to the movie.
They sat in silence eating popcorn, drinking wine, both lost in their own thoughts. Jade reached into the bowl for more popcorn at the same time as Cole. When their hands touched the energy in the room change. Jade couldn’t breathe. For a long stretch of time, they just stared at each other. He was first to pull away and break eye contact. “This popcorn is good. I haven’t had any in a while.” Was she the only one who felt the electricity? Probably. It had always been one-sided. Jade was just thankful that Cole hadn’t noticed the goosebumps all over her arms.
He turned his full attention back to the screen, then spoke into the darkness. “Finally. That Nicole girl in this movie is gorgeous. I can’t believe it took that guy so long to make love to her. If I were Davis, there is no way I would be wasting time being angry.” Cole laughed. “I’d have her legs wrapped around me every moment we weren’t asleep. Hell, maybe even in my sleep too.”
The mere thought of Cole in that way created a tingling sensation between Jade’s thighs. She squeezed them together hoping it would go away. It didn’t help that the sex on-screen between Nicole and Davis was hot.
Cole looked over at Jade. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you. It’s something I would have said with Doug or one of the guys. You’ve always felt like one of the guys.”
His words were like throwing cold water all over her. One of the guys. Great. No, it was better than great. Her emotions were so damn confusing, and his words put things back into proper perspective. “No, really. It’s okay. I just…I would never have guessed you were attracted to black women. I don’t remember you dating any when we were younger.”
A crooked smile appeared on his face as he tossed the last of the popcorn into his mouth. “It wasn’t like there were that many. You were the only one even close to my age in Marymount. I certainly don’t have a preference. When I was younger, black, white, whatever, I just needed them to be hot and willing.” He laughed. “I still want them hot, but with a lot more substance now.”
Jade shook her head. “You’re such a guy. Men are always thinking first with the wrong head.”
“Ha. So are women. I can’t tell you how many women want to use me to blow off steam.”
“That’s gross. Sex for sex’s sake. I couldn’t do it. I want more. I’ll wait until I can have more.”
“So, you mean to tell me you’ve never had sex just because you were horny?”
Jade squirmed. “No. I haven’t.” She’d had sex for many reasons with Kevin but almost never because she was horny.
An image of Kevin popped up into Cole’s mind. Had Jade really loved him? Kevin was such a major ass. He still couldn’t believe she’d married him of all people. In his experience, people don’t change that dramatically, so it was highly unlikely, that he changed his asshole ways. The thought that Kevin touched Jade intimately made his skin crawl. His curiosity was getting the better of him. He asked as casually as he could. “So, how long have you and Kevin been divorced?”
At the mention of his name, Jade’s hands shook just a little. Her voice was low. “I told you Kevin was off-limits, but if you must know, we’ve been divorced for three years.”
He immediately regretted the question. The feeling of light-heartedness in the room changed. “Sorry. Off-limits.”
Jade finished the rest of her wine and stood. She gave him a small smile. “It’s late. I have an early day tomorrow, so I’ll finish the movie later.”
Cole could kick himself. She had told him that she didn’t want to talk about Kevin. Yet, he couldn’t seem to leave it alone, and that made her want to leave. There was nothing he could do but watch her go. The loss of her presence was instant the moment she stepped out of the room.
Chapter 13
Cole went to open the front door. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He could tell she was in a mood. “This is a surprise. What made you decide to drop by?” He stood back so Elise could come inside.
She walked past Cole slightly then stood up on tip-toe to kiss him softly on the lips. “So, I need a reason to come over? Never mind that we haven’t spoken in over a week.”
Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “Of course not. I just wish you had given me a heads up. That’s all. And, if I remember correctly it’s you that haven’t been answering my calls.”
“I needed some time to calm down. I put a lot of work into the dinner party and it just seemed as if all of your attention was focused on Jade.” She sneered her name. “We both seem to be wishing for a lot of things lately. I still haven’t accepted why my boyfriend would let some random woman come and live