it could never happen with us.
We wanted different things out of life.
“So you’re going to break up with Chad?” he asked.
And I couldn’t be sure, since my front porch didn’t have the best lighting, but his eyes told me he was hoping so.
Which shouldn’t surprise me, I supposed.
Despite whether that kiss had been a mistake or because of too much alcohol, it was still true that Cole didn’t like Chad. It made sense that he would have been counting down the days until something like this happened.
I released a long breath, needing to expend some of the nerves and uncertainty the prospect of breaking up with Chad brought me. “I’m going to talk to him when he gets back from his trip.” I pressed my lips together and met Cole’s eyes. “It’s time.”
“I think you’re right,” Cole said. Then after searching my face for a moment, he stepped forward, pulled me into his arms, and whispered against my ear, “And for what it’s worth, I’ll be here for you if you need me.”
“I know.” I wrapped my arms around his torso and let myself relax into his embrace. “You always have been.”
“And I always will,” he whispered.
I hoped so.
I really hoped he’d choose to stay here with me.
I sighed and nestled my head against his chest, needing his quiet strength right now.
Cole’s chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. And when he started rubbing my back with his hands, I relaxed against him even more.
When was the last time Cole had hugged me like this?
We gave quick hugs to each other all the time when saying hello and goodbye, sure, but the only times he really held me like this was usually when things were on the rocks with Chad. As if he only dared hold me when I was questioning my relationship with the other guy in my life, because doing it any other time would be crossing the invisible line he’d drawn when we first became friends and he found out I had a boyfriend.
But this was nice. So nice.
I loved the feeling of his strong arms around me. The feel of the muscular torso he trained every day to maintain. The faint scent of his aftershave that still clung to his skin.
“You’re a really good hugger,” I mumbled before I could think better of it.
His hands slowed their movement on my back, like he hadn’t realized until that moment what he was doing.
“Oh,” he said, sounding startled. “Uh…”
And it almost seemed like he was going to step away now that I’d called attention to our embrace. But being the selfish person that I was, I just hugged him tighter because I wasn’t ready to step away just yet.
It felt too good.
He let out a low chuckle. “Feeling a little possessive of me now that you know I’m not completely terrible at flirting with women?”
Ugh.
I scrunched up my nose and gently smacked his chest before pulling away. “You get one girl’s number and suddenly you’re Casanova.”
“Hey.” He took a step back and held up his hands, drawing my eyes to the way the fabric of his T-shirt stretched across his muscled chest. “I’m not the one who said I’m an amazing hugger.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I’ll have to warn all the women you meet tomorrow at the club not to compliment you too much,” I said. “Otherwise your head really may not fit in your helmet come training camp.”
“My helmet will fit just fine.”
I looked at my watch to check the time. It was already ten-thirty. I really needed to get to bed if I was going to make it through a full day at the salon and a long night at the club tomorrow.
“I’d better go inside,” I said.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, and I couldn’t help but admire my work. He was going to make so many jaws drop tomorrow night.
It actually might be illegal to look so good.
“I should get home, too,” he said.
He was about to head back to his vehicle when he turned around and asked, “And just so I’m not the only guy underdressed tomorrow, what exactly should I wear?”
“A nice T-shirt and jeans will be just fine.”
“That’s what you said for tonight, and you ended up wearing that.” He gestured at my dress.
I looked down at my teal dress and shrugged. “It’s a woman’s prerogative to get all dressed up if she wants, no matter the occasion.”
“Well, you definitely know how to