Cole quickly got over his shock and it was immediately replaced with disgust. “What are you doing here? The last time I checked, you were in New Orleans,” he said.
“Can’t I come say hello to my love anymore?” She asked, smiling.
“How did you know I was here?” He inquired.
“Come on now, Cole. We’ve known each other for how many years now? Ten?” She asked and he stared at her as she continued. “I know you too well. Besides, I’ve been in this house too, remember? All those memories we made here. The lovemaking…”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” he cut her short.
She sighed a smile. “I’m sorry I can’t reveal my source. May I come in?”
“I’m sorry I can’t let you in,” he replied as he retreated into the house.
“Please, Cole, just hear me out,” she said as he was about to slam the door in her face.
“Hear you out for what exactly, Shantel?” He asked.
“I just want to talk. Catch up for old time sake, nothing much,”
He closed his eyes briefly and opened them. “I have nothing to say,”
“Do you hate me that much?” She asked him, her eyes mirrored her pain.
He looked at her. “I don’t hate you,”
“Then, where did it all go wrong? You didn’t consider the fact that I had suffered a great miscarriage and you jilted me for another at the quickest opportunity you got,”
He flared up by her careless words as he walked closer to her. “That’s the point, Shantel. I stayed with you because of your pregnancy. I still stayed by your side after the miscarriage. These two things were the only reasons I was with you. We were done as soon as we finished high school, but you didn’t want to let go. You had me hooked in with a baby. Manipulated me to stay for seven years because of a miscarriage. I didn’t jilt you. I found my mate. You do know what happens when one finds their mates, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I want to congratulate you on your engagement. It has finally dawned on me that you never wanted me from the beginning,”
He sighed. “Don’t put it that way, it makes me feel..”
“Terrible?” She asked, completing his words.
He stared at her. “Yeah,”
She chuckled a bit bitter as she looked away. “It’s fine,”
“I hope you do find your mate. Someone’s who’s going to love you for who you are,” he said.
I don’t want nobody else. I don’t even want a mate! I want you, Cole. You alone. She thought to herself.
“Yeah,” she heaved. “Let’s go out one more time. Get some drinks and celebrate your engagement,” she said with a smile.
“I’ll have to decline, Shantel. I’ve got some investors to meet tomorrow morning,” he said apologetically.
“Come on, Cole. It won’t take long. It’s just Eight PM. I promise I’ll have you home before Ten PM,” she insisted in a pleading voice.
“Shantel,” he wasn’t too sure about him leaving to have drinks when he had a lot ahead of him tomorrow.
“Please, for old time sake,” she pleaded as she held his arm and placed her head on it childishly.
He sighed. “Fine,” he said in resignation.
“Thank you, thank you,” she said in excitement.
“Let me grab my car keys,” he replied and she nodded, her face full of smiles.
He went back into the apartment and a few minutes later, he returned with his car keys.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“Hm,” she nodded as she led the way.
They arrived at a bar they often attended together when they were still in New York as a couple. It was Shantel’s suggestion and though he was against it, he said nothing. It’s just one drink, he said to himself.
‘I don’t think we’re doing the right thing,’ his wolf said to him.
‘Don’t think about it much. We’ll be out of here before you know it,’ he assured his wolf.
They walked into the bar and unconsciously, it reminded Cole of their time together. Was this her plan to remind him of their moment, so they could get back together? He wondered. It was impossible and she knew it. He pushed aside the thoughts and images of Amy conjured in his eyes and he smiled.
They got seated on the high stools and ordered their favorite drinks. Cole refused whiskey because of his presentation tomorrow. He took a cocktail instead.
“This place has our memories you know,” she said.
He looked at her and looked around. “Yeah and it’s in the past,” he said. He was yet to take a sip from his drink.
She sighed. “I still feel like you used me in high school,”
He swallowed back a frustrating groan. “Are we going to talk about that now? Thought we’re here to have some congratulation drinks,”
She shrugged. “It’s not my fault that I’m feeling used when you know it’s true,” she replied.
Cole finally groaned as he picked up his cocktail and downed half of the glass.
He turned to her. “I did not use you, Shan. We had our fun in high school. You wanted me and I wanted you then. We were just engaging in what everyone was doing then. You had a couple of guys back then too, remember?” He reminded her.
She narrowed her eyes. “I cheated with just two guys then. Don’t say couple like they were much,”
He went back to his drink and gulped it all. At this point, he needed something strong to be able to bear all of her talks, but he refrained.
“A refill,” he said to the bartender who nodded and took his glass.
“We were the power couple back then,” she said.
“Yeah,” he replied. His drink was brought back and he gulped it all again. “That done, I think it’s time to head back,”
“Oh, okay,” she replied without arguing. “I’m glad you came out with me,” she added.
“Yeah,” he said and stood up. She did same and they walked out of the bar. Immediately, he felt dizzy and a migraine hit him. He placed his hand on the side of head in discomfort.
“Are you okay?” Shantel asked him as she placed her hand on his arm.
“Yeah. I just feel a bit dizzy,”
“You took two cocktails in one go. It’s enough to make you dizzy. Where are your keys? I’ll drive you home,” she said.
“No, it’s fine. I..” he began to say as he walked towards the car, only to collapse by the side of the car. He groaned. His vision was becoming more blurry.
She rushed over to him. “See, I told you. Give me your keys. I’m not about to die because of your drunkenness,” she said as she reached for his pocket and took out his keys.
She held him up and guided him into the car. She got into the car too and drove away. Cole tried to stay awake, but couldn’t and he finally gave way to the alcohol to take its course as his eyes closed.
Shantel smiled triumphantly as she saw him close his eyes. She turned away from the direction of his house and took another road that led somewhere else.
•
Amy tucked Tris in bed and left for her room. She sighed tiredly as she fell on the bed. She picked up her phone and opening it, she saw Cole’s call.
“Oh no, I missed his call,” she sighed. She had left her phone in the bedroom and had been busy with Tris.
She called him back, but his phone was off. She saw his text message and smiled as she responded that she couldn’t wait to see him. She stood up and called again, and his phone was still off. She wondered why.
•
Shantel arrived at the hotel she had booked. She had Cole placed on the bed and he fell with a thud . She smiled at the success of her plan. She had earlier paid the bartender to lace Cole’s drink with drugs. Her intuition had told her he would have a cocktail and she was right. Perks of knowing someone for so long.
She went down to business as she begin to undress him. She laid on top of him and reached to kiss his lips.
“Amy,” he called out subconsciously and she paused.
She stared at him, seething in rage.