Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(50)

“Exactly.” Cole didn’t feel as convinced as before. Like he was confused, also. More than he’d been willing to admit. Still, his offer stood.

Elise sighed. “No, Cole. When I’m thinking straight I know there’s nothing right about that plan. We barely just met.” She took hold of his hand again. “Honestly, I’m not ready to be a mom.”

Cole stared straight ahead, his other hand still on the steering wheel. For a long time he said nothing, just let her words hang in his heart for a bit.

She broke the silence first. “I’ve made up my mind.” Her voice was softer now. “I’m going to call an attorney your aunt told me about. He manages adoptions. She gave me his business card when I went back to her clinic . . .”

He wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “Elise, you should give it some time. You can’t undo a decision like adoption.” Cole still couldn’t believe they were discussing this now. He studied her and tried to understand. What could’ve brought this up tonight? And then it hit him. The answer was there in her eyes. Kind and tender, deeper than the ocean. Until now their relationship had spun around her. But now . . . now she loved him as much as he loved her. That was it.

And this decision, it was her way of caring for him, loving him.

She smoothed her dress and smiled at him. “I want you to be at Liberty in the fall.” Her smile was as genuine as springtime. She ran her thumb along the top of his hand. “You’re going to be a doctor, Cole.”

He didn’t respond right away. There was freedom in this new plan of hers, freedom for them to pursue their dreams. But still Cole wasn’t sure. Something about marrying her by Christmastime sounded wonderful. The stuff movies were made of. He reached across the console and took her other hand. “I just want to say it again.” He looked deep into her beautiful eyes. “My dad would’ve done whatever it took to love my mom. To love me.” He had never been more sure. “And I want to be the same kind of man.”

They’d each said what they needed to say. Cole checked the time on his phone and then he grinned at her. “Come on, Princess. I gotta get you to the dance.”

“Yes.” She giggled and the mood lifted. He opened the door and jogged around to her side. As she stepped out she put her hand on his cheek. “Thanks for listening.”

His knees trembled, and not because of the chilly late March evening air. He wanted to kiss her so bad he could barely think. Deep breath, Cole. Get to the dance. His silent pep talk helped him. He took a step back, grinned and took her hand. “Thanks for talking.” He wove his fingers between hers. As they set out across the parking lot, he kept the pace easy. “Now . . . for the next three hours, no talking, all right?”

She laughed. “What are we going to do?”

Cole let his head fall back, the joy from earlier filling him again. “We’re going to dance, Elise.” The night was going to be okay, after all. “Until the very last song.”

And that’s just what they did. They took a break only when he and Carolyn Everly were named prom king and queen. Up onstage, as they were getting their crowns, Carolyn whispered in his direction. “I knew it would be you.” Her smile was more genuine than flirty. Carolyn was aware of Elise. “I don’t know any other guy like you, Cole.”

Her compliment touched his heart. Being with Carolyn was as natural as breathing. The two of them had grown up together. Their classmates were clapping, cheering, and the photographer was motioning for them to get closer.

“Hold hands,” he told them. “This is for the yearbook.”

Cole took Carolyn’s hand and they both posed for the picture. After, while they were still on the stage, they faced each other. “You look pretty, Carolyn.” It was true. There was something timeless about Carolyn. She was a good girl from a good family. In the back of Cole’s mind he had always pictured marrying someone like Carolyn one day.

But that was before Elise.

They shared a hug and before they parted ways, Carolyn’s eyes lit up. “Wait! I forgot to tell you!” Whatever her news, happiness spilled from her. Before Cole could ask what it was, Carolyn blurted it out. “I’m going to Liberty. I got my acceptance letter yesterday!” He could tell she wasn’t trying to make things awkward between them. “Looks like we’ll get another four years together.”

Any other day, any other time and this would’ve been the best news and Cole would’ve celebrated. But he could feel Elise watching from somewhere in the crowd, so he kept his response tame. “Wow, that’s amazing!” Cole took a step back. The crowns were still on both their heads. “Let’s talk later.” He pointed to the dance floor. “I . . . I have to go.”

If Carolyn was disappointed in his response, she didn’t show it. Everyone thought she was the sweetest, prettiest, most popular girl at Clear Creek High. And besides, Carolyn didn’t have feelings for Cole, that much was certain. After all, she was here with Burke Ballinger, senior quarterback. She gave Cole a quick wave and danced down the steps to the spot where her date was waiting for her. Cole watched Burke take her in his arms. Whatever he was saying, one thing was sure.

He was smitten with Carolyn Everly.

Were the two dating? Cole let his look linger a bit longer. Maybe they were. The idea would’ve bugged him before, but not now. Not when he was here with—