Page 59 of Flashback for the Forward

Chapter 17

Bridget

Stunned, I stared at Cole, who was giving me serious whiplash.

How the hell did we go from him telling me he was sending me away to a shelter in Bakersfield to shouting that he regretted our breakup from nearly a decade ago?

It didn’t make any sense.

Uncomfortable laughter rolled up my throat, and I shifted on my seat. “Um, then why did you?”

Cole scoffed, shaking his head. “I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I know better.”

My brows drew down. “What are you talking about?”

A heavy sigh lifted his chest. “Crew told me everyone knew that we were sneaking around. Even Russ.”

Excuse me, what?

“Bennett knew we were together?”

He ducked his head. “Mm-hmm. According to Crew, he was thrilled about it.”

I lifted a trembling hand to my lips. “Why didn’t he say anything?”

“Apparently, he was waiting for us to come clean.” A shadow passed over his eyes. “Then he got sick.”

Swallowing, I nodded. “Right.”

Cole raked a hand through his hair, and his voice came out wrecked. “I’m so sorry. If only I’d been a better man, you would have never ended up with him.” It hadn’t escaped my notice that he refused to say Aiden’s name. “It’s my fault you got hurt.”

“Were you the one who put those marks on my body?” I fingered the column of my throat where the bruises had once been.

“Bridget, that’s—”

“Were you?” I pressed.

“No,” he grudgingly admitted.

“That’s right. You weren’t. The only person I blame is Aiden.”

Fiddling with the basket of cat toys on the counter, Cole said, “So, Bakersfield?”

Windpipe closing up, I croaked, “Is that my only option?”

He released a shuddering breath, and when he lifted his head, the tortured look in his eyes was enough to break my heart all over again. “What do you want to do, Bridget? Tell me, and I’ll support you in any way that I can.”

Shyly, I peeked at him through my lashes. “I’d like to stay, if that’s okay.”

Rearing back, he blinked at me. “Really?”

“Yeah. I think I’d rather be surrounded by friends instead of strangers while I figure out my shit. Arizona’s been a great support, and she even gave me the contact for her therapist, who offers sessions over video. Plus, Maisie’s put me to work on the back end of Thorne Tough, and I promised Austin I’d go over film with him. Kid’s got big dreams of going pro, and that means he’s got a mountain to climb after getting such a late start.”

A glimmer of a smile touched Cole’s lips as he teased, “Want me to help you move into the Cleary-Nixon household?”

“Nah. I’d miss Cinder too much.” I bent down to scoop up the cat who’d become something of an emotional support animal to me.

Laughter filled the air. “How can I argue with that? He is one lovable lug.”