on. You’re a disgrace.”
* * * *
“I vote for the black-and-white backless outfit,” Annie said, eyeing the handful of dresses Christy had laid on the bed. “It has that sexy and temperamental look all the girls have while dancing salsa. The full-lace pink with the tight bodice and the slashed sides on the short skirt kicks ass too.”
“I don’t have that look,” Christy replied, amused.
“Sure you do. Big brown eyes. Dark, long hair. Boobs and hips and ass. That dress and some pumps, and you’re set. Sexiest salsera in town.”
“I don’t know.”
“What has Cole said? Which one does he prefer?”
“He hasn’t seen them yet. He came back from his business trip yesterday.” He’d gone on one of his consultations, and Christy had used the opportunity to hit the salsa shops and buy several dresses, all of them out of her comfort zone.
“I think he’d love any of these. What’s the occasion?”
Christy shrugged, a bit uncomfortable about lying to her friend. “I just want to welcome him home.”
“How come you didn’t go with him? You must have racked up hundreds of extra hours already at the library. I’m sure Mrs. Wilkinson can spare you for a day. You could have spent a romantic long weekend.”
“Not sure about that,” Christy mumbled.
Mrs. Wilkinson wasn’t the issue here. Cole was. He hadn’t wanted Christy to go with him. Not that he’d openly said as much, of course, but when she’d suggested tagging along, he’d argued she would be bored and that his schedule was very tight.
Bull. Shit.
Cole was pulling away from her. Big-time. Reverting to his old ways, keeping himself emotionally unavailable. And she had no clue why. He was barely talking. Most of the time, all she got was a nod in response or a distracted smile. And that was when he was around, because more often than not he was working like nuts and avoiding her. In the last week, he’d traveled more than in the six months they’d been together.
Christy’s cell beeped, and she opened the text message. Her heart sank as she read it.
“Cole?” Annie asked.
She nodded. “I won’t be needing any of these dresses. He has work and is canceling. Again.”
“What’s going on?”
Christy sighed, sitting on the bed. “I don’t know. Something’s up with Cole. He’s distant.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
She chuckled, not a speck of humor in her tone. “Easier said than done.” Talking with Cole when he didn’t want to was impossible, not to mention they had to be in the same room to even try.
She’d been racking her brain, trying to think of a reason that would explain his sudden withdrawal, but she always came up blank. They hadn’t had any fights, didn’t seem to have any issues. He’d just turned off like a switch, in a second, and left her in the dark. And alone.
“Todd had been pulling these kind of stunts at the end, before, you know, the incident with the neighbor.”
Annie was already shaking her head. “You’re not thinking Cole—”
“No, I don’t.” But he was hiding something. And whatever it was, it was eating at him.
“He adores you. You didn’t know him before. He’s like a new person. Call him,” Annie urged. “Or better yet, pick him up. Convince him to go out. Get him drunk and talking.”
“Nah.” Calling him wouldn’t work. Cole was not always answering her calls; more times than not he sent her a text later, alleging she’d caught him in a bad spot. Whenever he answered, his words were clipped. Going to pick him up would be like forcing him into something he obviously didn’t want to do—spend time with her. But worrying Annie would do no one any good, so she lied. “I’m sure he’s tired after his trip. Maybe it’s for the best we have a quiet night in. Now, what do you think of heading to your place? We can pack your bags for that Valentine’s trip to Florida, before my mother comes back in and makes another of her jokes about making curtains with my fatty clothes.”
Annie wasn’t so easily distracted, but she let it slide. “How are things in that front? Any improvement?”
Christy gathered the dresses and put them away. “Nope, but considering she’s still alive and breathing and there’s not an arrest warrant over my head, we’re hanging in there. Whenever I get the sniper rifle and the how-to-live-on-the-run manual I ordered online, all bets are off.”
Cole not being around was putting a great strain on their relationship, but it also