Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(40)

Chapter Thirteen


Oakley




My eyes fluttered open and the first thing I saw was Cole sleeping beside me again. The cover was pulled down revealing half his naked chest. He looked so peaceful. I still wasn’t used to seeing him every morning. We had been back together almost a week, and I couldn’t be happier. Everything was so easy with him. We could do absolutely nothing and I would still have a great time.

Being in Cole’s house again felt amazing, but at the back of my mind I couldn’t help thinking how close it was to my old home; the scene of so many things I wanted to forget. I refused to look at it, but that didn’t stop me knowing it was there.

Cole thinks I should look and face it. Every single good memory was overshadowed by the bad ones though. I should knock on the door and see if the new owners would let me look around.

‘Face your fears head on’ was what Cole said, but I was doing that with the trial. Seeing the house as well was too much.

Cole stirred beside me, rubbing his eyes as he woke up. I watched him with a content smile until his eyes met mine. He reached out and stroked my cheek. Touching me was the first thing he did when he woke up, it was as if he had to make sure I was actually there.

“Good morning,” I whispered, closing my eyes at the feel of his fingertips gently gliding across my jaw.

“Morning,” he replied and kissed me. “I love spending Sunday mornings like this, and every other morning actually.”

I sighed and pressed my head into his shoulder, breathing him in. “Me too.”

“What are we doing today then?”

“You don’t have to keep me busy to stop me thinking about tomorrow, Cole.”

His chest bounced gently underneath me as he laughed.

“You know me too well. Are you okay about tomorrow though? You’ve not really mentioned the trial recently.”

“That’s because I’ve been too happy.”

Cole grinned, making that little dimple show. “What made you so happy?”

“Watching Hollyoaks again. I missed it,” I replied.

His fingers suddenly jabbed in my side gently as he started tickling me.

“Cole! No!” I squealed and wriggled, trying to get away. “Okay, okay! It’s you!”

Cole stopped immediately. “I thought so.”

It suddenly occurred to me there was something I needed to do.

“I’d like to go shopping today. I kind of have a feeling that this will the last time I’ll be able to do it in peace.”

Once the reporters learned I was back instead of giving evidence from Australia, I knew they wouldn’t leave me alone. The case had become high profile because the arrest of my father uncovered one of the biggest paedophile rings in our area ever. That was the only thing I was proud of, stopping that.

“Whatever you want,” he replied, kissing my forehead.

I got up and pulled the cover off him. “Let’s get ready then.”

This was going to be the last day that was somewhat normal, and I was determined to make the most of it.

“No trial talk today. It’s banned,” I said to Cole as we walked downstairs.

After breakfast, I went to have a shower and get dressed. Cole’s house was empty, and I didn’t ask where everyone was because I had a feeling they had gone out to give me and Cole time alone.

I got out of the shower and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Cole was sitting on his bed when I got back into his room. He frowned. “Why’d you get dressed?”

“Because, we’re going out now!” I shook my head and sat on the bed. “Do you need to shower first or are you walking around dirty?”

“I happen to like dirty.”

“Shower, Cole!” I ordered, and tried not to grin.

While he was showering, I put on some make-up. Every time I brushed mascara over eye lashes or stroked lip gloss across my lips it was like sticking two fingers up at my dad. I could finally make choices for myself and wasn’t controlled by him.

“Are you ready?” Cole asked as he walked back into his bedroom. He wore a white T-shirt and dark blue jeans. Even dressed so plainly he still took my breath away.

“I’m ready.”

I got off the bed and set down my compact mirror on his bedside table. In the corner of his room was a stack of large cardboard boxes where he had started packing. In about two weeks he would be moving into his first house. His and the vendor’s solicitors were currently sorting out all the legal stuff, but because there was no chain the sale was going through quickly.

I couldn’t wait for him to move in. We already had most of the paint he needed and had chosen a new kitchen and bathroom suite. The carpets were picked out, and he was going to order a little closer to the time.

“Where is everyone?” I asked. I couldn’t not ask any more. There was no way I wanted his family to feel like they had to go out of their own house because of me.

“Mia’s taken Leona to her Tots Music and Movement class, and my dad’s taken Mum somewhere.”

That didn’t really answer my question. I wanted to know if they had planned to do that anyway.

Cole grabbed his keys and slipped his shoes on. “Mall or town?”

“Mall. That okay with you?”

He shrugged. “I couldn’t care less, Oakley!” Right, he hated shopping.