The Right Side of My Pillow, стр. 34
Jade looked all around the room until her eyes finally settled on her hands. “Umm…yes. No. I mean, I have a job interview. My car died, so I need to catch the bus.”
“That’s crazy. Why didn’t you say something? I have like six cars in my garage. Take one.”
“That’s really okay, Cole. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to me. You know whatever I have is yours.”
Elise rolled her eyes. He’d never been this giving with her. She hated Jade.
“Come on I’ll take you to the garage.”
They left Elise in the kitchen and walked down the hallway silently until Jade spoke. “Cole. We can’t do this.”
“Do what?” He seemed clueless.
“Elise is not happy about this situation, and I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t be either.”
“What am I supposed to do? You need a car, and I have six. You need a place to stay, and I have six bedrooms. Does it matter that I want you here?”
She stared him in the eyes. “Cole…I…” Jade thought about just coming clean. “We’re not kids anymore. You’re a grown man, and I’m a grown woman. What if…” Before she could say another word, Elise appeared in the doorway.
“Did you figure out which car you’re going to drive, Jade?”
His eyes searched hers. “What if what?”
“Nothing.” Jade took the keys out of his hands that he offered her. “I’ll let you know if I get the job.”
Cole watched Jade get in the car and back out of the garage. He stared until she was gone.
He turned to go back inside. Elise glared at him before turning on her heels, walking away.
Chapter 19
The house was completely quiet when Jade came home. She’d purposely stayed away most of the day. Initially, she was relieved to think she might be alone since Cole’s car wasn’t out front. As she turned the corner toward the living room, the smell of burning sandalwood and the sound of it crackling and popping in the fireplace, let her know she’d been wrong. He was home. The soft reddish glow from the fire that illuminated against the wall was the only light that kept everything from being shrouded in complete darkness. That and a tiny incandescent lamp in the foyer by the main door.
Jade pleaded with the gods. Please let him be alone. It would be mortifying if she was about to interrupt something between him and Elise. She took just a moment to stand outside the archway that lead to the living room to see if she could hear anything. Nothing. Maybe she could go a different route to get to her bedroom. Turning her head down the hall one way and then the other, she realized it only led back to the kitchen or toward the living room. Unfortunately, there was no other alternative to get from where she stood to her room. Put your big girl panties on, Jade. So what if he’s with Elise. She’s his girlfriend. Jade chastised herself and after a quick pep talk, squared her shoulders then turned the corner. Her eyes darted from the empty sofa and chairs, all around the room, until finally resting on him.
Cole lie on the floor stretched out on his back with his hands clasped behind his head. His bare feet were crossed at the ankles while he stared up at the ceiling. He was alone. Relief washed over Jade as she released the pent up breath she hadn’t even known she had been holding. Then something else grabbed her attention. The softness of his face tugged at her. He looked so sad. It was written all over his face. Jade knew she should just keep walking, whatever was going on with him wasn’t any of her business. It was too bad her feet had a mind of their own as they walked softly into the room. “Cole?”
He hadn’t heard her come in and wasn’t quite fast enough to hide the heaviness of his thoughts from his face. Immediately, his eyes connected to hers as he raised up on his elbow. “Hey. How did your interview go?”
“I think it went well, but you never really know with those things. Where’s Elise?”
“She went home.”
Jade pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Cole, I can see this situation is hard on you. If you can just give me a couple of days, I can figure…”
He stopped her in mid-sentence. “No. I want you here.”
“But…” Her inner voice kept warning her. Jade. Just keep on moving. If you stay, you won’t be able to keep your secret. Did she listen? No. “Why is it so important that I’m here? We don’t have to live under the same roof to work on our friendship.”
He stared at her for a moment hesitating as if he were fighting his own battle within. Just when Jade thought he wasn’t going to share anything with her, he raised himself completely up so that he was in a sitting position—arms resting on his knees—and spoke. “I have absolutely everything I’ve ever wanted only to realize something was still missing.”
Jade was curious. What was he talking about? She walked farther into the room and perched herself on the edge of a chair directly in front of him. “I have my share of problems, but I can’t honestly say I haven’t had that one.”
The feeling of being alone was sometimes so overwhelming that Cole was terrified he might lose himself in it, and no one would ever be able to reach him. He’d hoped Jade could understand. If she couldn’t, no one could. When they were younger, she’d always kept the extreme feelings of loneliness at bay and had been the only person to bring him back from the abyss.
“Cole. I don’t understand what is it that you’re missing? I mean, you have everything.”
Jade’s haunted eyes held her own secrets from her past but still searched his for answers. As