Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(29)

“I believe you. I would always have believed you.”

“I know that now, and it means a lot.”

Mum pulled me into another hug; this one was tighter and almost squeezed the air from my lungs.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’s going on here?” Jasper asked, appearing in the doorway. “Oh, I see, having secret hot chocolate moments without me. I’m hurt.” He pretended to stab his heart.

Mum sighed and shook her head in discouragement.

“Sit down, Jasper.” She got up to make him a drink.

Jasper sat down. “Sorry about earlier. I wasn’t thinking. We cool?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Let’s just forget it.”

“Okay. So what are you two talking about? How awesome I am?”

Mum snorted which made me laugh.

“See, this is why I’m unable to love,” he said, waving his hand in Mum’s direction. “Well, actually it was Abby whoring herself to my best friend, but you’re not helping. When you’re sitting in your big death chair in the retirement home, crying to yourself about never seeing your only son get married, just remember it was half your fault.”

‘Cole!’

I stared at Jasper with the same dumbfounded look as Mum. These fine words came from an adult.

“A death chair in a retirement home,” Mum repeated. From everything in that little speech that was what stood out to her!

“Yeah. All those old people have a chair they always sit in, ninety per cent of them’ll die there!”

I shook my head. “Wow.”

I wasn’t even going to try. Mum opened her mouth but shut it quickly. Good call, Mum. It was best to not encourage him.

“What are you two doing tomorrow?” Mum asked.

“I’m going to buy some new games because I’m so bored I want to die. I’m guessing Oakley’s hanging out with Cole, where they’ll make eyes at each other and pretend they’re not minutes away from ripping each other’s clothes off.”

I gave him a tight smile. “Shut up, Jasper.”

“I don’t think I will. You should just get it over already. We all know you want to.”

“I’m tired.”

“Of course you are,” Jasper muttered, sheepishly.

“Okay. Night, sweetheart. Love you.”

“Love you too, Mum.” I turned to look at them, and they were both smirking at me. “Whatever!”

I hated when Jasper was right. It didn’t happen often but when it did we never heard the end of it. The truth was, me and Cole were getting closer, and it was only a matter of time before something happened. I didn’t even want to stop it anymore.

I got back into my bed, and this time I was tired. It was almost three in the morning, after all. My phone was on the futon beside my pillow. Would Cole be mad if I called him now? Before I could think myself out of it, I dialled his number. The worst that could happen was for him to tell me to call again in the morning.

“Hello,” Cole murmured on the third ring. His voice was thick with sleep and it made me smile.

“Hi,” I said as cheerfully as I could.

He groaned. “This better be good, Oakley. I was having a real nice dream.”

“Yeah, what about?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

I didn’t have to see him to know he was grinning.

“Let me guess, you were naked?”

“We both were.”

Whoa. That was kind of obvious, but I didn’t expect him to just come out with it like that. He’s probably joking. Say something, Oakley!

“Wanna know what we’re doing.” His voice was husky, and I didn’t know if it was because he was tired or turned on.

“If you’re touching yourself right now I’m going to–”

He laughed, cutting me off.

“Sorry, that was funny. Just so I know though, what would you have done if I was? Spanked me?”

I sighed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

Men!

“Fine. Okay, yeah, I would definitely spank you. Well, after I tied you to the bed and ripped your clothes off.”

The line was silent. Ha.

“Promise?”

“Oh my God, Cole!”

He laughed again. It had turned into a competition, and I wasn’t winning!

“You coming over? I don’t have any handcuffs, but I think there are some scarfs around here somewhere.”

I sighed in defeat. There was no way I was going to win.

“What are you really doing?”

He chuckled. “Lying in bed, talking to a beautiful girl.”

“Really? I should let you go then.”

“Yeah, you’re kinda disturbing us.”

“There’s not really another girl, Oakley.”

“I know! There’s no way anyone would put up with you.” I joked, trying to turn the attention away from my jealousy.

“You keep insulting yourself,” he responded.

“Oh very funny. Oakley loves Cole. Oakley insults herself!”

“Say that again,” he whispered.

Oh God! I had just told him I loved him.

“Oakley insults herself?” I repeated, knowing that wasn’t what he wanted me to say.