Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(33)

“Are you coming in?” she asked as I parked outside Ali’s house.

“Are you asking?”

“Did that sound like a question?”

“Err, I think so?” I said, laughing. “I don’t know. I’m confused so I’ll just come in.”

The house was empty. Sarah had left a note saying they were all at her parents’ house, and we could join them if we wanted. As I thought, Oakley didn’t want to, so we ordered a pizza and sat in front of the TV.

“You’re coming out again tomorrow. Kerry’s ordered another night of ‘getting trashed’, so I’ll need you to suffer with me.”

Oakley laughed quietly. “Sounds good. Although I’m not doing shots.” She shuddered. “Never again.”

“So you don’t do gymnastics any more?” I asked, changing the conversation. She shook her head. “Are you still really bendy?”

She nudged my side with her elbow. “I should have expected that, shouldn’t I?”

Grinning, I tried, discreetly, to look at her full lips; in reality I was probably just staring. I had never wanted anything more in my life than to kiss her that very moment and carry her upstairs.

“Do you want to start it again?”

“Yeah, I would like to. Maybe when this is all over I’ll join a class,” she said and smiled sadly. “And yes, I’m still really bendy!”

Hmm… “Prove it.”

Oakley pushed me down on the sofa. My eyes widened in shock. She sat on my lap with her legs either side of mine. Okay, I like where this is going, but huh?

“Um,” I mumbled, mentally punching myself. That was all I could say?

“I shouldn’t have to prove it, you should trust me.”

“You’re such a fucking tease.” I groaned, pulling on my hair.

“And you’ve got a filthy mind!”

Oakley giggled and laid down, settling her body in between my legs and her head on my shoulder.

“Not that I mind,” she mumbled against the skin of my neck. My hands automatically tightened in her hair.

“Oakley,” I murmured, closing my eyes as she kissed just under my jaw. She ignored me and carried on planting little kisses all over my neck and jaw, working her way across to my mouth.

I moaned loudly in anticipation of finally kissing her again. Just as she reached the corner of my mouth, the sound of car doors opening outside reached my ears. No. Fucking. Way. Oakley looked up, and I knew the moment was over.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.” I groaned. This had to be a joke.

“Nope.” She pushed herself off me. “They’re back.”

“Someone up there hates me.”

Oakley laughed and threw a cushion at me, which I used to cover my lap just in time for the front door to open.





Chapter Eleven


Oakley




I grinned as Cole’s scowl quickly turned into a warm smile, just in time for Jasper, Mum, and Ali to walk in the house. I was just as annoyed that they came back at the worst possible time but thankfully, I hid it much better than him.

Jasper’s glared at Cole for a second. It was as if he knew what had almost happened. Back home he wouldn’t leave me alone with anyone. Cole was different to anyone else though. He was the one who saved me. He was the only man I felt comfortable with and the only person I wanted near me. If it hadn’t been for him, I would still be that silent girl hiding a terrible secret.

“Hi love, hi Cole,” Mum said.

“Hey. How are Nan and Grandad?”

“Good. They miss you. We’ll have to go over there again soon.” I nodded in agreement. It wasn’t actually that long ago that I saw them, but I suppose they hadn’t gotten their fix since we came back. “You two had a good evening?”

“It was great,” Cole replied, putting a little too much emphasis on the word ‘was’.

“Where’s Lizzie?” I asked before anyone could pick up on his tone.

“Staying at a friend’s,” Ali replied.

“Guess who we ran into outside Nan’s?” Mum whispered as Jasper went to the bathroom.

Cole smirked. “Angelina Jolie?”

“How did you know?” Mum replied sarcastically. “Abby.”

“Jasper’s cheating ex?” Cole asked.

I slapped his arm. Thankfully, Jasper wasn’t in the room to hear that.

“How is she?”

“She’s doing well. Working at your old school full-time now. She lives just along the way from Nan, in the house where that crazy old man used to live.”

Mr Johnson, the crazy, but harmless, old man. He used to walk around the village asking if anyone had seen his turnips. He was a farmer before he became too frail to work. I heard he died of a heart attack a couple years after we left.

“Was Jasper okay seeing her again?”

Mum shrugged. “Must’ve been, they’re going for a drink tomorrow night.”

“What?!”

Jasper walked back in the room, ending that conversation, and Mum walked into the kitchen. Jasper and Abby were sort of okay just before we left, so I guess it was good he was making an effort to catch up with her. I’d spent a lot of time hating Abby on Jasper’s behalf, but the past four years had taught me not to hold a grudge. Life throws too much crap at us as it is, so why hold onto something negative if we don’t have to?