Jade softened a bit with that memory. Her throat felt thick with emotion. She was still hesitant. “I don’t know. I’m still not sure what I’m feeling right now, but anger is mixed in with it.”
He understood, but he also hoped there had to be a small part of her that missed him too and wanted to re-build their relationship. “I get it, Jade. But, if you move in with me you’ll find out I’m not a serial killer.”
Jade thought, Before or after he’d killed me?
She let him continue talking. “It’ll also give us a chance to reconnect and get to know each other again. My house is huge so on those days you don’t want to be bothered you don’t even have to run into me.” Quietly, almost inaudibly, he said, “I really want you back in my life.”
The sincerity in his voice was almost her undoing because deep down, if Jade were honest, she wanted it too. “I’m still pissed at you, and I’m not sure if I can ever forgive you.” She threw her head back and closed her eyes. “But, if I’m honest, I’m also somewhat homeless.” Jade sighed. “We can’t go back in time and erase everything, Cole. Some hurts are impossible to recover from.”
“No, we can’t. But, we can start from now maybe even build something stronger.”
Jade pressed her lips together while deep in thought. Both of them sat quietly until she spoke. She looked him in the eyes. “Okay, let’s say I take you up on your offer, it doesn’t mean I forgive you. It just means I’m not stupid, and I need a place to stay.”
“I don’t care about your reasons for agreeing just that you agree.”
“You used to be really moody and bossy. I’m telling you now; I won’t do what you say just because you said it. I’ve been on my own too long, doing things my way to start bowing down to you. I’m sure you have enough yes men surrounding you anyway.”
“That’s fair. You’re an adult, and I respect that.”
“The minute you or anybody makes me feel as if I’m indebted to you…I’m out.” Who was Jade kidding, she didn’t have anywhere else to go. Staying with Cole until she could get her own apartment might not be such a bad idea. She did wonder what his girlfriend was going to say. Jade wasn’t up for any drama. “The lady at the restaurant seems pretty protective of you. Will this arrangement be a problem for her?”
Cole could feel the ice melting just a bit as he laughed. “She can be a little prickly, but she’s not as bad as she comes across. Her name is Elise McGee. We’ve been dating for about a year. Once she gets to know you, I’m sure you two will hit it off.”
She was skeptical. “I can’t imagine having a strange woman living with your boyfriend is going to endear her to me.”
“It’s my home. I live there alone for the most part. Elise may stay over a couple nights a week, but I’ve made it clear to her that she has no reason to be jealous of you.”
Jade still wasn’t convinced.
Cole continued. “Just because I want you back in my life doesn’t mean things between Elise and I will change. Anyway, if that is your only issue, don’t worry about Elise. I’ll handle her.”
“That’s not my only issue. Believe me, I have many of them, but I’ll take your word for it on that one.” Jade wasn’t really too worried about Elise. If she were honest, her more immediate concern was that even as angry as she was with Cole, given how badly he’d hurt her, though he might think of her as his little sister, she had never ever thought of him as a brother. Never.
Chapter 6
The car ride from the hospital to Jade’s apartment was made mostly in silence because she had fallen asleep. Cole tried to remember that she was still recovering from pneumonia, and that wasn’t something that went away overnight. Even though her smooth, cinnamon colored skin wasn’t back to its healthy hue, Cole still couldn’t help but notice how peaceful Jade looked while asleep. All the worry lines and creases on her forehead disappeared from her face. Their relationship, or lack thereof, was a mess, but he was going to make it right.
He pulled his car up next to the address Jade had given him and put it in park. She jerked awake the moment the car stopped moving, and immediately smoothed down her hair. Jade was sure she must look a mess and was also a little embarrassed that she had fallen asleep.
Cole took a quick look around the neighborhood. It was a typical working class place. The lawns were kept neat, and economy cars lined both sides of the street where a group of young kids were playing basketball. The children had parted like the red sea when he drove his expensive luxury sedan through their make-shift court to park. No, this area wasn’t in the more affluent part of the city, but it wasn’t on the impoverished side either. There were lots of low to middle-class family homes mixed in with apartment complexes. If he were honest, it felt more authentic than his gated community.
Jade watched him critique where she lived. It made her angry. “If you were expecting the hood, this isn’t it. Please don’t judge me.”
Now it was Cole’s turn to be a little embarrassed. “No, that’s not it. I just….”
Jade didn’t give him a chance to explain. She opened her door and got out of the
