him out.” Placing a bag of frozen peas on his wrist, he shrugs. “And then he said thank you and told me he wouldn’t kick my ass the next time I drop you off.”
Evidently, I got two miracles this Christmas.
Chapter 33
I snap my compact closed and stick it in my purse as my Uber comes to a stop in front of Cluck You.
“Thanks,” I tell the driver as I step out of the car, my red heels clacking across the pavement.
Stone should be getting out of work any minute now—but since I’m still banned for life—I’m forced to wait outside for him.
The sound of someone whistling snags my attention.
I’m about to tell the asshole off, but when I turn around, I see Cole sitting in the driver’s seat of Sawyer’s van. Presumably waiting for her to get off work, too.
“You look fancy,” he calls out.
Given I’m wearing one of old Bianca’s expensive silk minidresses and it took me nearly two hours to get ready tonight I would hope so.
I walk over to the van. “It’s my and Stone’s three-month anniversary.” I can’t help but smile. “We’re going out to dinner after his shift to celebrate.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about actually going out somewhere for once.
I’m also excited to tell him I was accepted into the psychology program at Duke’s Heart. My former self and I might differ, but psychology seems to be something we both love.
Whatever smart-ass retort Cole wanted to make falls by the wayside, and I’m appreciative.
Stone and my brothers aren’t exactly friends and I doubt they’ll ever be close, but at least he’s allowed inside the house now and they’ve stopped threatening to kill him whenever they cross paths.
“Well, we might as well wait for them together.” Cole gestures to the passenger seat. “Come on in.”
A smell that can only be described as heavenly hits my nostrils as I climb into the passenger seat. “God, that smells so good.”
“Dude, I know,” Cole agrees with a pout. “It seriously fucking sucks that I’m forbidden to have any.” His pout deepens. “Mr. Gonzales won’t even let Sawyer give me a doggie bag.”
I know the feeling. Stone isn’t allowed to bring home any leftovers either which sucks because I’m dying to know if it tastes even half as good as it smells.
“Tell me about it.” I give him a pointed look. “And I mean that in the literal sense because I can’t remember ever eating here.”
Humming, he rests his head against the seat. “Oh, man. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Moist and crispy…perfect crunch when you bite into it.”
My stomach grumbles. Damn.
“Fucking amazeballs.” Giving his head a small shake, he laughs. “Jace, Oakley, and I used to come here after we’d smoke—”
“Oakley?” I question because I don’t recall hearing the name before. “Is that a friend of yours?”
The smile wipes clean off his face. “Yeah.” A mixture of sadness and sorrow flicker in his green eyes. “Yeah…he was.”
I’m about to ask what happened, but Cole shoots his gaze out the windshield and beams. “There’s my girl.”
A bubbly, albeit visibly exhausted Sawyer walks over to Cole’s side of the van and gives him a kiss. “Your very tired girl.” She yawns. “Working back-to-back doubles kicked my butt.” She looks at me. “Stone will be out any minute. One of the dishwashers broke and he’s fixing it.”
I inwardly shiver as I imagine him crouched over, sleeves pushed up his forearms, with a tool in his hand.
There’s something so hot about a man who knows how to repair stuff.
“How was your day?” Sawyer asks my brother.
Cole starts to tell her, but Sawyer yawns again.
Eyes wide with remorse, she slams a hand over her mouth. “Lord, that was rude of me. I’m sorry.”
Cole doesn’t look offended at all. “How about we get you home and into bed?” I don’t miss the way his eyes gleam when he says the last word.
Gross.
Sawyer nods emphatically. “Yes, please.”
After trading places with Sawyer and exchanging goodbyes with them, I spot Stone walking out of Cluck You.
Running over, I wrap my arms around him. “Happy Anniversary.”
Body going slack, he squeezes me tight and breathes me in…as if he needed this hug more than his next heartbeat.
“Everything okay?”
I’m not sure what to make of his expression when we break apart, but he’s definitely not happy.
“No.” Frowning, he looks down at his shoes. “I didn’t get into the pre-med program.” He snorts. “They fucking waitlisted me.”
Oh, shit.
The crestfallen look on his face punches straight through