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I took no joy in the fact that otten worse
"Screw the salt and lime," I whispered, and headed over to the tequila
With Cole’s help and the help of people ere introduced to ot drunk to the point where I was happy but I could still control which foot went in front of the other By the tie was chattingclose to hear what I had to say, and for a little while, at least on a superficial level, I could forget there was a Marco
Across the roo with a pretty brunette
It looked like we’d each found ourselves sorew still upon the countdown and we all started shouting down from ten
"… TWO! ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Cheers rent the air along histles and claps, and I turned to suy-I-couldn’t-remember-his-name’s face just as his mouth descended toward mine
The instant his lips touched my lips, I tensed
He kissed
I felt the burn of tears in my nose and in the back of my throat and I abruptly broke the kiss I looked up, horrified by the wet in ized to his neck since I couldn’taway frooers in Cole’s flat and hurried out into the chilly stairwell It was cold, but it felt nice againstskin
"What the hell was that?" Ihand
As if in answer,
That was a surprise It was nearly ih to soed with calls Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I almost dropped it when I saw the caller ID
It was like the no-tingle kiss had conjured hi the breath whoosh out of me, I stared at the phone, unsure what to do
Then, as if someone else had taken over my body, I pressed the ANSWER button and held the phone up tohere" – he started speaking, and the sound of his gravelly voice in my ear caused me to close my eyes in pain – "and for the "
Still I didn’t speak
"I want to knohat’s going on, Hannah What’s really going on? I keep going over it and over it in my head, and no matter what my brain tells me happened that day, I refuse to believe the person that broke up with ot to be so me" He sounded desperate, and the pain in his voice was like a fist twisting in hed, his voice lowering to a ruin return
Marco waited a while
Then he hung up
I droppedwhy I suddenly felt like a coward "I miss you too," I whispered
CHAPTER 20
A week later school had resuain Morning classes had gone quickly and I’d now settled atwhile I had a free period
When the phone rang I didn’t think anything of it I answered it and got Neil at Reception
"Hannah, we’ve got a Cole Walker at Reception for you"
Wondering what the hell he was doing there, I tried not to let my mind race with the worst possibilities "Send hihhappened to Jo? She was past due and maybe…
It seemed to take forever for es orjust as Cole cah my doorway and slammed my door shut
Slowly, nervously, I stood up
Cole was furious and I had not a clue as to why "What’s going on?"
Thebeyond frustrated and angry "I buo"
My stomach dropped
"Marco has a family?" he asked in disbelief "A kid? A wife?"
"No" I hurried toward him in denial "He has a son… Cole, we can’t do this here"
"Just tell et through an explanation that would ithout breaking down, but I attenant when he cao She was an old friend of his They’re not together But they have a three-year-old son"