Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(65)

After dinner the server came over and set two molten chocolate desserts on the table. The girls practically melted in happiness as they dipped their spoons in. I started laughing at the inappropriate noises they made while they ate. Then I caught Evan’s drawn expression. He looked like he was about to be ill.

I really had ruined chocolate for him. I bit my lip. I knew I should feel awful, but his tortured expression was almost comical. He looked up just as a small laugh escaped. His eyes widened in surprise, and he pushed his chair away from the table and disappeared towards the side of the deck.

‘Shit,’ I grumbled, immediately following after him.

‘I’m sorry,’ Emma said softly, leaning against the railing next to me. ‘That wasn’t funny, I know. But … you should have seen your face.’

‘Really? Thanks a lot, Emma.’

‘See. Another reason you should hate me. I’m cruel. Very cruel.’

‘Yeah.’ I sighed. Her choice of words made me realize we hadn’t had our talk today. So I turned towards her and smirked.

She looked at me suspiciously. ‘What?’

‘While you’re here, you might as well give me another reason.’

‘Now?’ Alarmed, she observed the crowded restaurant.

‘It doesn’t have to be something that dark,’ I encouraged. ‘Just give me something. Why should I hate you, Emma?’

I watched her caramel-coloured eyes flicker in contemplation. She looked back towards the girls, who were laughing and oblivious. I waited patiently, bracing myself for what she could potentially say, because I knew she was going to tell me something.

‘Jonathan kissed me,’ she blurted, holding her breath as she awaited my reaction. ‘Twice.’

I opened my mouth to speak, but the beating in my chest stuttered and I couldn’t find a single word to say. She didn’t take her eyes off me. It was like she was preparing for me to be angry with her.

‘Did you … cheat on me?’ I asked, my voice caught in my throat. She kept her eyes locked on mine and shook her head very slightly.

‘But I never told you about the kiss,’ she murmured, her eyes challenging. ‘Hate me, Evan.’

I gripped the wood railing, sickened by the thought of him touching her in any way. I shook my head to rid myself of the image. She waited, her eyes flicking across mine. She had expected more of a reaction. I knew it. And I wasn’t going to give it to her, regardless of what was going on, on the inside.

‘My turn,’ I said, trying to relax my tensed jaw. ‘Did you leave with him that night?’

She looked up at me curiously. ‘No. I didn’t. I destroyed him.’ I was completely unprepared for her answer. She averted her eyes, which were laden with sadness.

It was difficult to talk about Jonathan, and think about what he’d done to us. But if I was going to be able to move on, I needed to understand what had happened between them.

‘Emma!’ I turned towards Cole’s voice, and then he saw who I was with, ‘Oh, and Evan.’ His cheeks were deep red as he made his way over to us, bumping the back of a few chairs along the way. He sized Evan up and stated, ‘You’re not a girl.’

‘Not that I’m aware of,’ Evan returned mockingly.

‘I thought this was a girls’ night.’ Cole turned towards me, dropping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me towards him.

‘Cole –’ I glared up at him, my voice thick with warning, not caring for his flare of jealousy.

‘Oh, right,’ he remembered impatiently, removing his arm.

‘I’m going to eat chocolate,’ Evan announced sharply, then strode away from us.

‘What was that about?’ I shot at Cole. ‘I thought we talked about this.’

‘We did,’ he stated, leaning in to kiss me. His sloppy kiss tasted like a whisky bottle. ‘Doesn’t mean I like him here.’

I sighed. ‘You’re drunk.’

‘It does happen.’ He smiled, blinking lazily.

Emma leaned away from him when he tried to kiss her again, taking her phone from her pocket. He was trying to apologize, but she ignored him as she sent a text, obviously annoyed.

‘Wanna shot?’ Serena asked, sitting down next to me with two shot glasses in her hands.

‘Sure,’ I answered, picking one up and tapping her glass before swallowing down the bourbon with a wince. ‘Thanks.’

I looked over at Emma and Cole again. She took a step away from him as he reached for her. He was obviously drunk. And she was …

‘Serena, what did you mean when you said that they weren’t dating?’

Serena followed my gaze to Emma and Cole. A devilish smile crept over her face before she leaned in to explain.





21


Twelve Days


I WATCHED COLE LEAN TOWARDS HER AS SHE examined her phone again. He said something in her ear, and she smacked his arm with a laugh. Completely different from how they were last night at the restaurant.

I stood inside the house, a beer bottle in my hand, as they leaned against the railing next to each other on the deck, their backs to me. I continued to study them. He half smiled at her, and she shook her head, laughing in disapproval. If they weren’t dating, and he wasn’t asking for anything more from her, then what were they doing together?