Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(61)

“What about that mirror in the hallway?”

“Yeah, that too.” Maybe she didn’t know it, but I was decorating the house for us both. All I had to do was get her to stay with me. “What about photo frames? I promised Leona I’d put her picture up so I wouldn’t forget her.” Like I could ever forget my beautiful, crazy niece.

“I think I saw some in the first or second aisle, we can go back in a minute.” Great, back to the start. Why the hell did I say anything? I scowled at how stupid I was.

“Aww, stop the frowning.” Oakley rubbed her thumb over my forehead as if erasing frown lines and smiled. “We’re almost finished and then you can take me home to bed.”

I was sure my eyes lit up when she said that. “You know, we don’t really need to get the frames now.”

She stopped walking and grinned up at me. “Oh, really? You have a better idea?” I nodded. I had a much better idea. “We’re getting them. I think you can wait an extra five minutes.”

“Can’t,” I grumbled. “How the hell am I going to concentrate on picking stupid photo frames out when all I can think about is those legs of yours wrapped around me.”

“Cole!” Oakley scolded, ducking her head to hide her blush.

I laughed and nudged her forwards. “Alright, just hurry up. The sooner I get you naked the better.” She giggled and pulled my hand towards the stupid lamps. I was picking the closest one, and then the closest frames and getting her home.

“Oakley…” I said, when we had been looking at two very similar-looking lamps for seven minutes.

She frowned. “Cole, what you buy for your house is important. You have to live with it every single day.”

“I can live with either of those, what I can’t live with is not being–” She gasped and slapped her hand over my mouth. Her cheeks turning a dark shade of red. I would never get bored of making her blush like that. “You’re such a prude, beautiful.”

“And you’re such a…” She paused and frowned. “Whatever the opposite of prude is.”

“Oakley!” We both turned around at the sound of her name. Marcus, her old gymnastics coach bound towards her, and she stepped into his outstretched arms. “Oh my God, I haven’t seen you in years.”

“I know, it’s been too long.”

He gasped and pulled back. “How have you been?”

She smiled. “Good. You?”

“Fabulous. Listen you should drop by the gym sometime.”

“Yeah? I’d love to. I can come next week.”

“Perfect. Drop me a text?” She nodded, took his phone and started tapping her number in. “Cole, how’s it going?”

I shook his hand. Marcus had always been really good to Oakley; therefore I liked him. “Good, man. How’s Jack?”

Marcus shrugged. “The same, gorgeous and possessive.” He’d been with Jack for as long as I’d known him.

Oakley handed his phone back. “Here. Text me your number and we’ll meet up next week.”

“I absolutely will.” He kissed her cheek and shook my hand again before gliding off towards the kitchens. The man didn’t walk like normal people, the only part of him that moved were his legs, his upper body was that solid.

“Nice to see him again,” Oakley beamed. Marcus hadn’t spoken about those bastards like everyone else did, and I think she appreciated that.

“Yeah, he’s a good guy. Now can we please finish in here and go?”

When we finally got out of the damn shop, I was ready to burst – from boredom and sexual frustration.

“Straight to bed?” I asked as we got in my car. She smiled shyly and nodded. “Good, because you’re getting it.”

“Who said romance was dead,” she muttered sarcastically.

“Please. I can do romance. You want roses on the bed?”

“Not really. Don’t fancy thorns stabbing me to be honest.”

My parents’ car was in the drive when we got back. I let out an exasperated sigh. “Why can’t they leave us alone?”

Oakley opened the car door. “This is their house, Cole.”

“Whose side are you on?”

She laughed and got out. I traipsed behind in a bad mood. All the house crap was still in the boot, apart from the big stuff that was getting delivered. We still had to get it over to the new house and store it in the spare room. All I wanted to do was lock myself in my bedroom with my girlfriend and forget everything else, but the universe hated me today.

The front door opened right before we reached it. Mum and Dad stepped out. Mum had her bag and Dad was holding his car keys. It was all looking positive. “Oh, hey. Did you get everything you need?” Mum asked me as she gave Oakley a hug.

“Pretty much. You guys going out?” Please say for a while.

“Yeah, dinner at Judy’s,” Dad grumbled. Judy’s my aunt, Mum’s sister, the lady that criticised everything.

“Oh, stop moaning, David. I endure your mother, the least you can do is put on a smile for my sister.”

“My mother is nowhere near as bad as your sister,” he argued.

“Alright parents! As fascinating as this is, we’re going to go inside. You two enjoy your dinner.” I pushed Oakley inside and shut the door before they could say anything else.