Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,74

Another reason I think she always tried to get rid of me.

In a way, Cole is like me. We both do what it takes to survive. We’re just fighting two completely different battles.

But Cole has taught me that I can turn that pain into power. That I have the ability to stick up for myself. Even if I fail every time I go up against him, he has a strange way of encouraging me. This is just another level of hell, and I feel like I’m doing better at it.

I lean my head back, soaking up what little sun there is. Today is the first day of my three-day suspension, and I chose to do nothing but hang out in the pool. Celeste had a date with some girlfriends and asked me to join her, but I declined, wanting to spend it alone. Even though it is a cloudy day. It’s Oregon, after all, and we’re right on the ocean. Gloomy seems to be the norm. But I like it.

I’ve got a black bikini on that has silver hoops connecting the sides on the bottoms and straps for the top. It’s going to give me terrible tan lines, but I’m not really concerned because I don’t think I’ll get much with the clouds. Plus, I’m already pretty tan.

I hear the back door open, and I sigh. “Did you bring me leftovers?” I ask Celeste as I place my hand down and run it through the water, turning around.

“I skipped lunch.”

“Cole?” I ask when I see him standing by the pool. Wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, he has his hands in his front pockets. “What are you doing here?” I ask, my eyes darting to the door to see if he came alone.

He walks over to the lounge chair and sits down. He bows his head and runs his hand through his dark hair.

“Everything okay?” I ask, not expecting an answer.

He looks up at me. “I can’t … I can’t get you out of my mind,” he admits softly.

“What?”

“What you told me at the clubhouse last night. I can’t forget it.”

I sigh. “Cole, please—”

“Just hear me out,” he interrupts me.

I get off my raft and swim over to the edge, placing my forearms on the side. His blue eyes watch every move I make, and I can’t decipher the look.

“I knew someone who was taken advantage of. She was strong, but I still saw it eat at her.” He looks away from me. “I hated not being able to help her. To save her from the memories. And the betrayal.” He swallows. “She was like you. Had no one.” His eyes come back to mine, and I try to swallow the knot in my throat. “You know I would have never let Deke touch you, right?”

I look away from him because no, I didn’t know that. That night in the cemetery and then again at the clubhouse—he never made a move to stop him.

“Kellan?” I can’t help but ask.

“I was testing him.”

“What does that mean?”

He runs a hand through his hair. “He wants you, Austin.”

“Yeah, dead like the rest of you.” I snort.

“No. He wants between your legs, sweetheart. Deke was baiting him. I had to follow through.”

My eyes drop to my hands on the wet concrete, avoiding his gaze.

He sighs heavily, and I glance up at him. He’s staring down at me. “Just know, I wouldn’t let anyone touch you, Austin. No one but me.” I’ve never seen his blue eyes so soft. And I hate that it makes me feel warm inside as if someone actually wants to protect me. It’s crazy to think of Cole that way. Maybe this is just another one of his games.

“I want you to tell me—”

“I don’t talk about it,” I interrupt him.

His jaw sharpens. “Why not?”

I laugh like that was funny. “Because no one ever cared,” I snap.

He gets up and walks over to me. Bending over, he grabs my hand and lifts it gently. I have no other choice but to climb out of the pool as he pulls me up. He cups my face and pulls my body flush to his, the water soaking his clothes instantly. “I care.”

“Why?” I ask nervously. “You’ve hurt me. I’m not gonna tell you something just for you to play some sick game with me.”

“It’s not like that,” he growls.

“Then what’s it like, Cole? Because I’m getting a headache trying to figure it out,” I snap.

He takes a step back,