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Cole forced hiie She seemed stunned “My mother is still alive,” he said “So is my stepdad”

Anger flashed in her eyes Her mouth opened and closed “You told me they were dead You said you didn’t have parents”

He rubbed the back of his neck as the shao, but they are still alive” Still ht you should know”

“You just” She pressed her lips together into a stern line “Of all the”

Cole closed his eyes He should have kept his mouth shut

COLE LIED TO HER His parents were alive The words kept repeating in her mind The hurt and surprise had reverberated inside her and she’d followed her first instinct to sprint for the bathroom She felt betrayed and she didn’t think she could control her wild emotions

She had taken her ti Cole would have gotten the idea and slither out of her apartment and far, far away from her Instead, he stayed She’d seen the determined, almost defiant look in his eyes and she knew she was in for a battle Angie had immediately scooped up her keys and walked out of the apartment, only to have Cole follow her

Cole lied to her His parents were alive Angie glanced up at the gray sky and noticed the dark, ominous clouds She took an unsteady breath and inhaled the scent of rain

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell ie said to Cole as they walked to the Starbucks at the corner of her street She huddled in her jacket to ward off the coolbreeze but she also wanted to distance herself froht you’d lie to me”

“I didn’t lie,” Cole said calmly “My parents haven’t been part of my life since I was fifteen They may as well not exist”

“You acted like they were dead Actually, you let ie frowned and shook her head “Who does that?”

“Angie,” he said with a deep sigh “Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”