Filed to story: My Life with the Walter Boys Book (I & II) PDF Free
“Impressive, right?” Katherine said, surveying the room with a satisfied gleam in her eye.
“Very,” I told her, which was true as long as you ignored how the place smelled like a cross between a cafeteria and a retirement home.
Katherine wasted no time putting me to work. “I have some paperwork that needs my immediate attention, but if you go talk to Gabby”—she pointed to a pretty redhead in a beige sweater—“she can give you something to do.”
First, I helped separate and fold clothes. Boring but easy. Once that was done, I spent an hour putting price stickers on DVDs, then moved on to breaking down cardboard boxes. I had just started sorting the sizeable collection of tableware—serving platters, plastic kids plates, fancy bone china, and mason jars galore—when I felt someone staring at me. Despite his location on the opposite side of the room, my eyes immediately snapped to Cole, who was standing at the front of the room holding a storage bin.
The oatmeal I ate for breakfast turned to stone in my stomach.
His gaze was fixed on me as if he’d been waiting for me to notice him, and now that I had, he started in my direction. I tried not to panic, but the two of us hadn’t spoken since our encounter in the barn, and I still didn’t know how to explain myself. So far, Cole had respected my wishes and kept his distance, but it appeared his patience had run out.
Instead of watching his approach, I returned my attention to a stack of ceramic bowls, examining each one to make sure they were clean and undamaged. One had a crack extending from the rim down to its base, so I set it aside. I felt the exact moment he reached me, but I chose to finish my task rather than lift my head and meet his eyes. Cole huffed, then carelessly deposited the bin he’d been carrying onto the table, making a set of wineglasses rattle together.
“Hey, Jackie.” Instead of giving me butterflies, his flirtatious drawl put me on edge. “Fancy meeting you here.”
I took a second to compose myself before facing him. “What’s in the box?” I asked in a toneless voice.
“More crap from the basement.” He patted the lid.
A few rows over, something glass shattered against the floor, and we both jerked our heads in the direction of the noise. The burly lumberjack type from the lobby was cursing a broken lamp at his feet.
“Cole,” I said after turning back to him. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought it was obvious.” He gestured to the bin. It was the clear, plastic kind, packed with what appeared to be baby clothes. “I’m delivering said crap.”
Yeah, uh-huh.
To my knowledge, this was Cole’s first time bringing a donation despite working on the basement for two weeks and Tony’s being only a few blocks away from the community center.
“Well, you missed the drop-off spot.” Which was in the lobby he’d walked through moments ago and marked with impossible-to-miss signage. “If you head back upstairs, I’m sure you’ll find the table with a huge sign taped to the front that says ‘All Donations Here.’ If not, you can ask Gabby for directions,” I said, pointing her out. “She’s a community center employee, so she knows her way around.”
“I don’t see her,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine. “Why don’t you show me instead?”
If he was going to be difficult, then two could play that game. I set my jaw. “I’m really busy right now. I should get back to work.”
Cole’s gaze flicked down to the dishes, then back up to me. “I’m sure those will still be here when you get back. Plus, I don’t plan on leaving until we talk.”
I exhaled through my mouth, blowing the breath up into my bangs. “Okay, fine. Follow me.”
After leading him back to the lobby where he delivered the bin, I headed for the front doors. Hopefully, we could slip outside before Katherine saw us. Cole removed a Tony’s Auto Repair snapback cap from his back pocket and pulled it on as he stepped out beside me. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still overcast, and mist clung to the ground in swirling, wispy ribbons. Two volunteers chatted quietly as they took a smoke break. Whatever conversation we were about to have required privacy, so I gestured to a paver walkway that meandered through banal landscaping toward a grove of pine trees with a wooden gazebo at the center.
Neither of us spoke as we followed the path away from the building, and I spent those minutes arranging my thoughts. I knew I couldn’t keep avoiding Cole, but how was I supposed to tell my maybe sort of boyfriend that we had to break up because I didn’t want to be kicked out of his family in the event we didn’t work out? The mental gymnastics was draining.
When we reached the gazebo, Cole motioned for me to step inside first. It had built-in benches, most of which were wet from the rain. I found a small section that looked dry, brushed my hand over the wood to make sure I wouldn’t spend the rest of the day wearing damp jeans, and sat down.
“That was a pretty slick move you pulled this morning.” Cole leaned back against the support post opposite me, tucking one foot over the other with a casual grace that was annoying and attractive at the same time. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“What move?” I asked.
“Offering my mom help with the rummage sale to get out of your chores,” he replied, flashing me his dimple. “I’d watch out if I were you. Isaac is furious. He thought he was done mucking stalls for the foreseeable future, and you ruined that for him.”
“First off,” I said, which made Cole’s smile bloom in full, “I told your mom I’d do my chores when we get home. If Isaac hadn’t opened his mouth, then she never would have paid him any attention, and I’d still be responsible for the stalls. Second, how is Isaac being pissed at me news? In case you missed it, your cousin has been angry with the universe for months now.”
He chuckled. “Fair. It’s kinda hard to miss when he’s being arrested.”
“Any idea what his issue is?” I asked since we were on the topic. “Alex and Nathan said it started after your uncle visited, but they—
Cole didn’t let me finish. “I didn’t come here to talk about Isaac.”
Down to business, then. “Okay.” I calmly crossed my legs. “What would you like to talk about?”
“Don’t do that,” he said with a frown.
“Do what?”
“
That.
” He gestured at me vaguely. “Don’t talk to me like I’m a kindergartner you need to placate while acting like everything is fine.”
“I’m not acting—“
“Yes, you are.” Annoyance was creeping into his voice, so he paused and slowly inhaled through his nose. “Listen, I’ve tried giving you space, but it’s been over a week, and you won’t even look at me. You know that makes me feel like shit, right? I get that you’re not used to being reprimanded, and that freaked you out, but come on, Jackie. My mom won’t send me away if we spend time together.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, wincing at his pinched expression. “You’re probably right, but…I don’t think we should risk it.”
The notch between his brows deepened, and he straightened up. “Risk what?”
Your family.
When I didn’t answer, Cole added, “Is this an excuse because you’re still mad about O’Brady’s? Or is it because I walked out on our conversation in the barn? I know I shouldn’t have done that, but I was ticked off and didn’t want to snap at you.”
“I’m not making excuses, I just”—I took a deep breath—“I don’t think this is working.”
A taut silence stretched between us as Cole stared at me, his eyes narrowing.