Jules stomped her foot, appearing to a have regressed back to a toddler state. I wanted so bad to interject and give her a way out, but Cole seemed to have Jules figured out.
“I don’t want to order an Uber. I’d like you to take me home as we originally planned.”
I sucked in a breath.
Holy shit, Cole does know what he’s doing.
“Why?” he asked her calmly.
Jules let her head tip back as she stared at the ceiling. Cole waited patiently.
“Because I’m not ready for this to be over.”
“Not good enough,” Cole replied.
“Because I think I might have some miniscule feelings for you, okay?”
“Nope, still not good enough. I’m done hiding my feelings for you. I’m in love with you and you’re in love with me, just admit it. I know I told you I’m not going anywhere and I’ll give you all the time you need to come to terms with us, but I lied.”
“You lied?” Jules asked incredulously.
“Yes. Admit you’re in love with me, or I will call you an Uber and pay for it like the gentleman I am. But that is the only thing I’m calling.”
Jules’ head dropped down in a dramatic fashion, her eyes locked on Cole’s. Cole didn’t move a muscle, he just watched her, waiting.
My heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t know if it was the right move pushing Jules the way he was, but I also didn’t expect her to come back to the restaurant. Cole had changed Jules. He’d altered her, and I wanted so badly for him to win. For them both to win.
As they stared at each other, the people in the restaurant lost interest and went back to their food. My hand was sweaty on Easton’s thigh, but he continued to hold it to him.
Jules sat down next to Cole, tears pooled in her eyes. “Fine, I fucking love you. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Tears burned up my throat. Cole had broken through my best friend’s walls, and I was so fucking happy for her. I refused to think of Easton and our fucked-up rebound agreement, this was Jules’ moment.
Cole kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I’m sorry I pushed you,” he said, his lips plastered to hers.
I looked away, giving them some modicum of privacy.
“No, you’re not,” she replied.
He laughed. “No, I’m not.”
“If you break my heart, Cole Fox, I can’t promise you will continue breathing on this Earth,” Jules threatened.
“I would sharpen the knife and hand it to you,” Cole answered with another kiss. This one was not PG.
Cole pulled out his wallet, but Easton stopped him with the hand that wasn’t still plastered to mine on his thigh.
“It’s my treat.”
Easton and Cole looked at each other and had a silent conversation.
I looked at Jules, who was crying and smiling. I kicked her under the table. “I’m proud of you,” I mouthed.
“I’m scared,” she mouthed back.
“That means it’s worth it.”
She blew me a kiss as Cole guided her out of the restaurant.