Chapter 9 Theories and apologies

"So Cole is not really your BROTHER brother?" Amy asks around a mouthful of fries.

We're sitting in a diner eating burgers and drinking milkshakes instead of partying it up like the rest of the student body.

I told her how it came about that Cole came to live with us.

"Not by blood, no, but in every other sense that makes up a family." I take a sip of my caramel milkshake.

"So it's obvious!" Her brown eyes widen, and I smile, realising it's something she does often.

"What?"

"He wants to fuck you."

I nearly choke on the fries I just put in my mouth, and I cough until the fried vegetable lands back into my mouth.

"Geez, don't say things like that!" I gulp the glass of water on the counter. "I'm his sister."

"You said it yourself, he's not biologically related to you." She shrugs her slim shoulder. "I'd fuck him if I were you."

"No, Amy." I shake my head, trying to get rid of the image she just placed in it. "Just no."

"He's acting all territorial over you, it makes all the sense!" She takes a big bite of her burger, and I wonder how she's able to keep her body so slim with all the calories she's piling into it.

"He's just being overprotective." I argue. "He's always looked out for me, it's just the way we are."

I think back on how he said he didn't want me there, like I'm intruding on the life that he has built here. Maybe he doesn't want to be associated with me and Mom anymore now that he's receiving all this new attention.

"He's being a douchebag is what he is." Amy chews the last of her burger like she's in a Mukbang competition before she slurps her milkshake. "Anyway, ask him for some money because we need to go shopping tomorrow."

"I'm not gonna ask him for money!" This girl is unbelievable.

"You do know that he gets a stipend right? He doesn't pay for food, his truck, or even gas. He's the fucking number one college quarterback in the country right now, he has money and we need clothes." She says simply like it's no big deal. "We're going to need a whole new haul before the season starts."

"We need clothes for the season?" I ask, confused. "Why?"

"Game days!" She looks at me like I'm stupid. "Game day is a religion around here. I'm the coach's daughter, and you're the quarterback's fake sister, we need to look like the spirit itself, and you my dear girl, need a pair of cowboy boots."

"I'm not his fake sister." I shake my head. "And why do I need cowboy boots?"

"How are you even at this school! " She exclaims with a shake of her head.

So she drops me off with the promise that I somehow have to get money out of Cole.

Like he was summoned, he calls me right after I get home from a run around a quiet campus that is most likely hungover.

"What do you want." I answer our of breath.

There is silence on the other side for a beat before he clears his throat.

"Good morning. What are you doing right now?" He asks in that lazy drawl he usually speaks in when he's not demanding things from me.

"I just got back from a run, why?"

"I'm outside your dorm, could you come back out?"

My heart skips a beat. Why is he outside my dorm right now? To tell me I shouldn't be here again?

I throw on a light athletic top to keep my body warm and jog back downstairs. He's leaning in his fancy truck right in the front in what I'm pretty sure is a no parking zone.

It looks like he too just came from a workout, his dark curls slightly wet.

"What do you want." I repeat, folding my arms.

Cole looks down at me with hooded eyes. "Have you had breakfast?"

"I told you I just got back from a run." He straightens and opens the passenger door for me.

"Get in." Another fucking order, but it seems like he's going to throw my ass in the truck if I don't obey, so I get inside the sleek black exterior, reminding me of his motorcycle.

I watch him walk around the truck to the driver's side, his muscles bunching in the sleeves of his T-shirt. It's so unfair that he gets to look this good.

"Where are you taking me?" I want to know. "I'd like to let you know my location is on and Mom tracks me in case you get some kidnap and murder ideas."

I see him looking at me from the corner of his eye as he starts the truck with a deep vibration underneath my legs.

"You have a very weird imagination." He shakes his head. "I'm about to show you my life here, okay?"

That shuts me up. That's what he was supposed to do when I just got here. Instead, he almost acted like I didn't exist apart from the times he was scolding me for what I was wearing.

"Dude, I just ran like miles, I probably smell." I pull a face at him.

"You don't smell." He drawls. "And we're going to the athletic centre, you'll fit right in."

The place is really cool, and the football team has their own dining hall on the second floor.

We receive curious glances from the few players that are there.

"There's usually not a lot of players around on a Sunday morning." Cole gives me one of his rare smiles as he piles my plate with protein pancakes.

"Are they also hung over?" I wonder if James drank last night. "What about you?"

"I don't drink during the season. Only one beer if we win." He dishes turkey bacon next to my pancakes and fluffy scrambled eggs.

I'm sort of surprised, because him and Luke used to party all the time in high school, but I guess this is not all games anymore.

By the look of this dining room alone, this school means business.

He leads me to a table, and takes the seat opposite mine, his eyes on his own plate.k also as if he's hiding something. "Some guys wanted to ask you out and I freaked out. I just wanted to protect you."

"I'm a big girl, Cole, I appreciate it, but it's not necessary. " I drop the fork on my plate. "I just want my Cole back, I feel like he's been missing for a while now."

He closes his eyes, nodding. "I'm sorry."

"Also, I'm gonna need some money for some cowboy boots."