“You’re worried about me?” Bri couldn’t contain her scoff. Lynette was not worried about her, at least not in that way. No, Lynette’s worry revolved around the fact that Cole listened to Bri and respected her opinions, that they were both on the same page when it came to their future plans. And those plans differed vastly from what Lynette had planned for Cole.
“Yes,” Lynette replied stiffly, not missing Bri’s disbelief. “I’m worried that you won’t be able to handle it. I’m worried that you’ll lose control one day and maybe even hurt someone. If you do, where will that leave Cole? All over the news, surrounded in scandal, and his career will suffer for it.”
“I’m not going to lose it and punch someone,” she replied indignantly. “I know that Cole loves me, and he’s not interested in anyone else. It’s not something I’m worried about.”
“That is a very naive and dangerous attitude to take.” Lynette gave her a pitying smile.
Yep, the woman had the gall to pity her. Bri couldn’t believe it. She wanted nothing more than to wipe that condescending look right off Lynette’s face. But of course, she couldn’t do that, so she held her outrage in check.
“When Cole gets drafted, he’ll be traveling, a lot. And you won’t be there to make sure he’s behaving, to make sure his needs are taken care of. What happens when the pressure and loneliness become too much for him? You can’t expect him to resist all that temptation for long.”
Lynette smiled smugly, and Bri’s hands clenched. She knew Lynette was trying to rattle her, make her doubt herself, and Cole. But that didn’t stop her anger and insecurity from answering Lynette’s call. They flooded through her, filling her with doubt and dread. Taking a deep breath and forcing those ugly emotions back down where they came from, she glared at the manipulative woman in front of her.
“I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work,” she seethed. “What Cole and I have is special and unbreakable, and I won’t let you, or anyone else, come between us.”
“Well, if you won’t accept reality, at least listen to reason. Tell me, how many high school relationships actually end up working out in the long run?” Lynette crossed her arms challengingly. “Really Bri, think about it. The truth is not many, and let’s face it, you and Cole fall right into that category. Look, you two have had a good run, you’ve made it longer than most high school romances. But the reality is that you two are not going to last. The odds just aren’t on your side, not matter how much you “love” each other.”
Lynette actually did air quotes around the word love, and Bri had never wanted to hit someone as much as she did this woman. The fact that Lynette was belittling and downplaying what she and Cole had together had Bri fuming. She was so infuriated, she didn’t trust herself to speak.
“Really, Bri. You’re a smart girl, this can’t be news to you. You and Cole would be much better off if you both just accepted the fact that this little fling of yours isn’t going to last. You should both move on now, before you end up resenting each other for holding each other back. There are many more guys out there; guys that would be a much better fit for you, and make you much happier than Cole ever could. And he shouldn’t feel so tied down at his age. He should be out there living and experiencing life. He can’t do that with this obligation he feels to you. If you want him to be happy, you need to let him go. Think about it, Bri.”
Bri didn’t even have time to respond, because Cole bounded over and Lynette pulled him in for a hug. Bri took those few moments to try to smooth her features and calm her racing heart, but inside she was a writhing, seething mass of rage. She now realized that Lynette didn’t just disapprove of her and Cole’s relationship, but was actively trying to destroy it. She shuddered to think about what poison Lynette was spewing to Cole on a daily basis. It made her sick to her stomach to think about it.
She desperately hoped that Cole would keep his promise not to let his mom come between them.
But as she followed a cluelessly happy Cole and a victoriously smug Lynette out of the stadium, she couldn’t squash the large seed of doubt that sprouted in her heart.
Chapter 19
The end of the semester was a week away, finals were just around the corner, and Cole was stressed beyond anything he’d ever experienced before.
After his first televised interview went so well, he’d become the go-to guy on the team. There were always at least two or three reporters that wanted to talk to him after each game, and not just local reporters. The ESPN and network guys always caught him, and they were even calling to set up phone and TV interviews. Fortunately for Cole, Coach had a very strict media policy, and while quick post-game interviews were tolerated, he didn’t allow any formal TV interviews. It was too distracting for the team, and took their focus away from where it should be. So Cole turned down all of the interview requests he got each week, but that didn’t stop the reporters from calling. He still wasn’t sure how they had found his cell number, but he was seriously considering changing it.
His mom had been calling a lot, too. She had tried to get him to come up to Jersey for Christmas, and had been a little pushy about it. She didn’t seem to understand that no one on the team got to go home for Christmas, and she had been upset and disappointed when he turned her down. He felt bad, and a little guilty, for hurting his mom’s feelings, even though it really wasn’t his fault. There just wasn’t any possible way he could’ve gone. Not that he’d wanted to spend Christmas in New Jersey anyway.
But ever since then, Lynette had been a little brusque on the phone. She’d promised she would come down for another game, but was dragging her feet on giving him a date. She also didn’t understand that the games all sold out, fast, and he needed as much advanced notice as possible if she wanted to get a seat. She just kept pushing it out, saying she was still trying to find a date that worked. She kept dropping subtle, and not so subtle, hints about the NBA, and when he would brush her off, or couldn’t give her a direct answer, she’d get frustrated. And for some reason, he also felt bad about that, too. But he couldn’t give her answers when he didn’t know what it was he wanted to do yet. As Jordan kept reminding him, he needed to enter the draft in the best position possible. Jordan saw, as the whole team did, that they had a really good, legitimate chance to win it all this year, so it was something Cole needed to think about.
He’d tried to talk to Bri about it, but she’d made her opinion very clear. She wanted him to finish school. End of story. She understood what Jordan was saying, but she thought a degree should be the priority, not getting a bigger signing bonus. And she had a point. Cole’s goal had always been to finish school before thinking about going pro. The problem was, he’d never really thought that all of this would be a possibility. He hadn’t thought he’d ever be starting at Duke, and never dreamed he’d be an NBA prospect. He was now, and a serious one at that, which threw all of his original plans out the window. But, regular season hadn’t even started yet. He didn’t need to figure out his whole future before things really got serious. He still had some time to think it through, just not a lot.
Of course, he didn’t have a lot of time for anything anymore, especially Bri. He’d had to cancel more dates in the past month than he could count. The dance team had their Christmas dinner the past weekend, and Bri had wanted him to come so badly. But, he had a team function that night that he couldn’t get out of, so she’d had to go alone.
Yep, he was officially the worst boyfriend ever, and a jackass on top of it.
Usually Bri was pretty understanding about these kinds of things. She knew what a commitment the team was, and she didn’t get too upset when he had to put basketball first. But she had been upset he’d missed her dinner. Apparently she didn’t consider the team deciding to all go to dinner last minute an adequate reason to miss her team’s Christmas dinner, which had been planned for weeks. And Cole did feel bad about it, really bad. But what could he do? If he hadn’t gone, his team would’ve felt like he wasn’t supporting them,
or that he didn’t have his priorities in order. But Bri didn’t see it that way. She just saw that she had been to all of his basketball functions, even having to cancel her own plans to be there, and he had failed to make it to almost any of hers. She hadn’t brought up all of the times he’d cancelled their plans, but the implication was definitely there. He hadn’t even pushed back, because she was right. He definitely wasn’t putting her first, and he felt guilty as hell about it. She didn’t talk to him for two days after that, she was that angry.
But honestly, he didn’t have the time, or energy, or room in his over-packed schedule to deal with her anger. In fact, those two days she avoided him had almost been a blessing. He at least got a little reprieve from having to face the fact that he was failing her in almost every way possible. He wanted to make her a priority, she deserved to be his only priority, but he didn’t know if he could.
The problem was that everyone around him had different opinions on what his priorities should be. He felt like he was being pulled in fifteen different directions by fifteen different people, and he wasn’t even sure which way was up anymore. Nothing he did was right. No matter what he chose, he let someone down, or pissed someone off.
And he didn’t have anyone he could talk to about it. No one to give him advise or unload his guilt on. All of the people he could normally talk to were the people who were most disappointed in him. He was slowly coming unraveled, and he didn’t know how much longer he could hold it together.
And now, on top everything else, finals were here and he didn’t have time to breathe, let alone study. He didn’t know if he’d be able to pull it all off, and he almost didn’t care if he didn’t.
It was Thursday night, he’d just gotten home from practice and was changing when there was a knock at his door. Seeing how late it was, he knew it had to be Bri, so he didn’t bother throwing on a shirt before answering.
He opened the door, and froze.
“Hello,” Jillian smiled as her eyes took in his bare chest.
“Jillian? What are you doing here?” Cole had the urge to go put on a shirt, but he didn’t want to let Jillian in the door.
“Well, I heard Bri say that you’ve been super busy lately, and haven’t had a lot of time for things like… studying.” She gave him a sultry smile. “We don’t want you failing your finals, so I’m here to offer my services. I’m an excellent tutor.” Innuendo dripped off every word, as her eyes roamed over his body.
Frustration bubbled up and he made an extreme effort to control his temper. Being propositioned by Jillian was not what he needed right now.
“Well, thanks for stopping by, but I’m good. I’ve managed to make it through just fine. I don’t need any tutoring.”
“Are you sure?” She raised an eyebrow. “Bri’s been complaining that you haven’t had much time to spend with her lately. I can help take care of any other needs…”
“No,” he interrupted forcefully. “I’m not interested in anything you have to offer.”
He saw anger flash in her eyes, but Jillian covered it with a smile.
“Fine. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” She turned to leave, but looked back at him. “You know, we could be great together. I know you’re stuck with Bri right now, but when that goes south, just know that I’m here, if you ever do become interested.” She smiled knowingly, then walked away.
Cole stood in his doorway, watching her go. As Jillian descended the stairs, he saw Bri standing down at the landing, watching Jillian angrily. He felt his stomach drop as Bri turned her glare up to him. He didn’t know if she’d heard anything, but Bri knew Jillian had been up to his room.
The girls exchanged vicious smiles as they passed, and after making sure that Jillian was long gone, Bri climbed the stairs to his door. He let her in, and closed the door behind him, before he dared utter a word.
“Bri,” he began, but she cut him off.
“What was Jillian doing here?” She tried to sound calm and controlled, but he could see her anger simmering right below the surface. For whatever reason, her anger pushed him over the edge. The thin hold he’d had on his patience and his temper snapped, and his frustration boiled over.
How dare she imply that something would ever happen between him and Jillian. Did she really not trust him at all? He was insulted that she would even think he’d be interested in someone as depraved and opportunistic as Jillian. He could feel all his frustration building, but he was beyond the point of being able to temper it. So when he replied, it came out harsh.
“Nothing, Bri. Nothing happened. But obviously you think something happened, so let me have it. What do you think was going on up here?”
“I don’t know,” her eyes flashed angrily, but she kept her tone calm. “I’m not sure what to think when I see the world’s biggest skank at my boyfriend’s door late at night.”
He let out a annoyed sigh. “How many times do we have to go through this? I am not interested in Jillian. I will never be interested in Jillian. Just because she offers, doesn’t mean I’m going to accept, and I’m tired of you assuming that I’m going to jump into bed with every girl who shows up at my door.”
“Well, forgive me for assuming,” she snipped. “It’s not like that wasn't your MO not too long ago.”
“Seriously?” Wow. That one hurt. “How many times am I going to have to defend myself? How many times will I have to tell you I’ve changed before you start believing it? I don’t hold your insecurities against you, Bri. But damn, it’s getting really hard having to deal with them.”
Bri’s mouth dropped. He waited for her cutting retort, but, to his shock, she took a deep breath and relented.
“Okay, you’re right. Let’s not do this right now. I had a really crappy day, and you don’t seem to be in a great mood either, and this will get us nowhere good. If you say nothing happened with Jillian, then I believe you.”
Cole could tell it took a lot for her to say that, and he backed down. “Thank you.”
“Even though you were standing there half naked with her,” she muttered.
“Bri!” he exclaimed, exasperated. Reminded of his shirtless status, he snagged a shirt off the floor and put it on.
“Fine.” She held up her hands in surrender. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. I’m sorry.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “So, why are you here?”
Her eyes flashed up to his, and he could see hurt and anger flaring again.
“Sorry,” he sighed. He pulled her into his arms, hoping to ease some of the tension between them. “I didn’t mean to sound rude. I’m glad you’re here. I’m always glad when you come over. It’s just late.”
Bri nodded against his shoulder, taking a breath to calm herself.
“I came by to help you study for your math final tomorrow. We didn’t get a chance all week, and you’d said you could use some help.” She pulled back and sat down on the couch.
“That’s really nice of you, but to be honest, I don’t think I have the energy to study tonight.” In fact, studying was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d resigned himself to the fact that he was probably going to fail his math final. He’d done well enough in his other classes to keep his GPA high enough for basketball, and he really didn’t care if he failed math or not.
“But, if you don’t study, you’ll fail. You can’t fail your math final. You might not pass the class if you do.” She looked shocked that he’d even consider it.
“I might still pass the class. I did well enough on the other tests and assignments that I might squeak by. If not, well, I fail. Oh well. It’s just not that big a deal.” He rubbed his face wearily. He was too tired to be having this conversation right now. He was too tired to be having any conversations right now.
“Cole,” she pressed. “That isn’t acceptable. Go grab your book, and we’ll spend two hours going over the things you need help with most. It’ll be better than nothing.”
“Bri, it’s nice of you to want to help, but reall
y, I’m good. I don’t have the energy to do anything but sleep right now. And if I don’t get to sleep, I’ll definitely fail my final tomorrow.”
“But this is important! You’ll have to retake your class, and your GPA will be all screwed up. It’ll be that much longer until you graduate. You can’t just give up like this.”
“Yes, I can!” he yelled. His anger was bubbling over again, and he was unable to control his voice. “I can do whatever I want. This is my life, Bri, and you don’t get to tell me what is and isn’t important. If I say it’s not a big deal, then it’s not a big deal. So what if I have to retake the class? So what if graduation gets pushed out a little? I’m probably not going to graduate anyway, so why worry about it?”
Bri didn’t flinch as he yelled at her, but her eyes hardened.
“You don’t mean that,” she shook her head angrily. “This isn’t you talking. This is your mom and Jordan, telling you that graduating isn’t as important as making a lot of money.”
“Don’t bring them into this. This has nothing to do with them. It’s my choice, not theirs.”
“Don’t think for a minute that this hasn’t been their plan all along, that this hasn’t been your mom’s play from day one. She looks at you and all she sees are dollar signs. She’s hoping that when you make it to the NBA, and start making all that money, that she’ll get some. She’s been pushing you to go pro ever since she first called you, and she’s recruited Jordan to help push you over the edge. She’s spent the past couple months manipulating you into doing what she wants, and you don’t even see it. You’re too busy trying to gain her approval to realize that she’s using you.” Bri’s chest was heaving, and he saw tears glimmer in her eyes, but it did nothing to dampen his anger.
Certified Disaster (Beautiful Mess Book 2) Page 19