Out of the Shadow (49 page)

He grinned impishly. “He’ll love you.”

She rolled her eyes and it instantly reminded him of Ally. “So you’ve said, but, well, we haven’t been dating long at all and it will be weird meeting him.”

“
I’ll pop in there around lunch time, how’s that?” he offered. “If I show up too early, my dad is liable to run me off and accuse me of distracting you.”

She laughed, the sound like a gentle breeze. She kissed him again. “I need to get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know about the lunchtime thing.”

“
Okay,” he said, pecking her lips. “Sleep well.”

He left and hurried down the hall to catch the elevator, his mind already on checking out Jamie’s new place. He only hoped Ally would be there.

***

Ally stood in front of the mirror and glared at her reflection. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before after her evening with Robby as she’d had a lot to think about.

“
I love Cole and I was an idiot to ever let him get away from me,” she whispered to the sad, tired girl in the mirror. “But what if I’m too late? What if he doesn’t want to hear it?”

The words stomped on her already fragile heart so she yanked the door open and raced to Jamie’s room. It was dark and she could barely make out his sleeping form under the blankets. She shook his shoulders until his eyes fluttered open.

“
Wha…?” he asked.

“
What if Cole doesn’t believe that I still love him?” she asked, desperation in her voice.

“
What are you going on about?” he asked as he sat up in his bed.

“
What if I tell Cole I love him and he doesn’t believe me?” she repeated.

Jamie sighed. “Do you, Ally? Do you really love him or do you just not want him to be with someone else?”

“
I love him, James,” she declared earnestly, almost desperately. “I thought the same thing you do but I know deep in my heart that I love him.”

“
Then just tell him,” Jamie said and flopped down in his bed.

“
But what if he doesn’t believe me?” she persisted. She pulled his pillow out from under his head and hit him with it. “What then?”

He yanked the pillow out of her hands. “He will if you’re honest with him,” he said.

“
You’re right,” she said quietly, nibbling on her lip in thought. “But what if he decides to move to L.A. to be with this girl?”

Jamie groaned in irritation and covered his head with his pillow. “He won’t,” he insisted, his voice muffled.

She wrestled the pillow away from him. “How do you know?”

“
Because,” he said yanking the pillow back once more. “He’s home. He came over here last night while you were out with Robby.”

She gasped and clutched her chest. “I’ve got to go over there,” she whispered to herself. “Now.”

“
Good,” Jamie said as he rolled over and closed his eyes. “Close the door on your way out.”

Chapter Thirty

Ally didn’t consider the time as she hopped in her car and sped down the quiet streets, straight to Cole’s house. She removed one trembling hand from the wheel to flick on the radio but the music didn’t calm her in the least – it just irritated her more. She left the radio on but turned the volume down low as her near hysterical mood increased the closer she got to the boys’ house.

When she finally pulled into the drive, she didn’t pause, fearing she would chicken out. She raced to the door and, using the key they’d given her when they’d first moved in, she let herself inside.

The house was very dark as the sun wasn’t totally awake yet and limited light filtered through the blinds on the living room windows. She tiptoed through the room, mindful of the furniture, and kept a hand on the wall as she made her way to his room. Taking a deep breath, she opened his door and stepped through it, shutting it behind her.

His room was even darker than the rest of the house and it took her a couple minutes to allow her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. Once they accomplished that task, she could make out his sleeping form, the blankets tangled around his legs. Her heart left her in a rush and she had to restrain her feet from walking to the bed and her body from curling up next to his. She leaned against the door, hand over her heart, and waited for the urges to pass.

When she felt like she had control over her body, she slowly walked across the room and perched on his bed. She smiled at his sleeping face, so boyish and charming, and touched his shoulder. She shook it gently as his lips opened and a sleepy sound emitted.

“
Cole,” she whispered, shaking him again. “Wake up.”

“
Hmm?” he muttered, his eyes still firmly shut.

She sighed and tried again. “Cole, please. I need to talk to you.” She shook his shoulder until his eyes cracked and his face scrunched up in confusion.

“
Al?” he whispered hoarsely.

“
Yes, Cole,” she said. “Please, can you wake up for a minute?”

He blinked several times, trying to get his weary eyes to focus. His hand shot out and touched her arm, as if trying to discern whether she was real or a dream. “Al? What’s the matter?”

“
I just want to talk to you,” she said.

He blinked a few more times then nodded as he slid up the headboard and scrubbed his face. “Okay, Al. What’s the matter?”

She waited as he yawned before she dissolved into tears.

“
Hey, stop,” he said as he drew her to his chest, encircling her in his arms. “Shh, Al. It’s okay. Don’t cry. Tell me what’s the matter – what’s the deal with the tears?”

She let the tears flow, knowing she’d be helpless to stop them, and when she deemed that she was able to talk, she snuggled into his chest, too embarrassed to show her face. “I don’t want you to date that girl anymore.”

“
What?” he asked as he rubbed her back. “Princess, I can hardly hear you.”

She edged back and ran a finger under each eye. “I said, I don’t want you to date that girl anymore.”

He blanched as his eyes grew wider. “Um, I see.” He brushed the hair off her face. “Al, you said you didn’t want to date me anymore, remember?”

Her bottom lip trembled as she met his eyes. “I said that I didn’t want to date you right now.”

He cracked a tiny smile. “Yeah, that’s it. And I honestly didn’t intend to date anyone but I also didn’t intend to wait for you forever.”

“
I didn’t expect you to,” she said with a loud sigh. Her forehead fell to his chest. “I’m so sorry, Cole.”

“
You were supposed to be taking some time for yourself,” he reminded her. “You were supposed to get your life in order and you’ve been doing a great job. I was at your new place last night but you were out with Robby Redden.”

“
Robby is just my friend,” she said, easing back to look him in the eye. “I think he’s seeing someone else now.”

“
And, that doesn’t bother you?” he asked, skeptical.

“
No, because I don’t love him.”

His lips pursed as he nodded. “So, you love me again, huh?”

“
I’ve always loved you, Cole. I’ve never stopped,” she said. “Yeah, I was an idiot for awhile but I know now what I want.”

“
Damn, Al,” he said, pushing the hair off his forehead. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “What am I supposed to do, huh?”

“
I don’t know,” she said, her emotions rolling downhill and gathering strength. “But Jamie and Robby both told me that I needed to tell you the truth so here I am being totally honest with you. I love you, Cole. I’ve never stopped loving you. Even though I was with Robby for awhile, my heart was always with you.”

His eyes dilated as he listened but his jaw tightened. “So, what you’re saying is that you don’t want me to see Selina anymore – that you want us to get back together?”

“
Yes,” she said quietly. “That’s what I want.”

“
Oh, hell, Al,” he said as he rubbed his forehead. “Did you know that Selina is here – er, in Chicago? Did you know she’s touring the studio tomorrow with my dad?”

She bolted from the bed, shock in her eyes. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here.”

He kicked the blankets off his legs and stumbled after her, grabbing her shoulders. “No, you did the right thing. I’m glad you told me this. Ball’s in my court now, huh?”

“
I’m sorry I keep doing this to you,” she said feebly.

He brushed his lips lightly over hers. “Maybe someday we’ll get it right.”

Her heart soared but she dared not to hope too much. “Maybe.

“
Go home and get some sleep, huh?” he said, stroking her cheek. “Let me figure this out, okay? We’ll talk in a few days.”

She trailed her hands up his chest and toyed with the collar of his t-shirt. She agreed she needed to give him some space but she didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to stay right there, with his arms around her, in the coziness of his bedroom. She didn’t want him spending more time with that other girl and perhaps getting to know her better – falling in love with her.

She gave him a teary smile as she smoothed the bangs off his forehead. She pushed to her toes and pressed a brief kiss to his lips. “Okay, Cole.”

His hold tightened. “Go home and get some sleep, okay?”

She nodded and he reluctantly released her. She padded to the door and paused, her hand on the knob. “Thanks.”

“
Sure,” he said as she slipped through the door.

***

As soon as she was out of the room, he fell to the edge of his bed and cradled his head in his hands. He groaned as he replayed the entire scene through his mind again.

He didn’t doubt her sincerity in the least but it still worried him. Did she really want him or was this entire confession just a reaction to the news that he was seeing someone else? Did he want her back or did he want to stick with Selina to see how things would go?

He blanched at the early hour on the clock but knew he’d never be able to go back to sleep – his mind was too full. He decided to shower and hit the studio early. He’d surprise Selina and maybe have a second to talk to his dad.

He stopped at a local bakery and loaded up on coffee, bagels, and pastries, killing a little time in the process. By the time he reached the studio, it was already buzzing with action.

He unloaded the food in the lounge and snagged a bagel. He leaned against the counter, munching on it and pondering his next move, when Robby Redden entered, total astonishment washing over his face.

“
Hey, Cole,” Robby said. “What are you doing here this early?”

Cole shrugged and tossed the half-eaten bagel on the counter. He snatched a coffee and nearly drained it in one gulp. “Just wanted to check on Selina and maybe talk to my dad if he’s got a second.”

Robby nodded and inspected the pastries. “What’s all this?”