Cole & Jamie

Chapter 14

Cole and I left the boutique later than expected, the two of us getting distracted by the girls every time we tried to make our exit. The three of them haven't admitted it, but I know they miss being together every day. It makes me happy to see them enjoy each other's company even if it leads to less work being done.

The plan was to pick up Julian and head straight to the bingo hall. Only when we finally made it to pick up Julian he requested, begged actually, for Cole to stop at McDonald's. He's lucky I was there. If I hadn't been in the car, I think Cole would have kicked him out.

"Jesus," Cole muttered, rolling to a stop in the drive-thru line. Cars were wrapped around the building with individuals and families trying to pick up an easy dinner. "Is the whole town here?"

Julian leaned forward from the backseat. "Hm, looks like it."

"What do you want to eat, Julian?" I asked. As a single woman with very limited cooking abilities, I was very familiar with the Mcdonald's drive-thru. I was more of a breakfast-for-dinner type of girl myself, but everyone is different.

Cole chuckled, "Oh, a happy meal should do it for him. He likes the toys."

Julian smacked the back of Cole's headrest. "Jokes on you, they haven't had good toys in years." He turned to me, smiling, "But thank you for asking Jamie. I will have a Big Mac meal with a large diet coke."

"What's a diet coke supposed to do against a Big Mac and large fry?" Cole wondered, "Is it supposed to make the calories disappear?"

I smacked his hand, chastising him, "Stop picking on him."

Julian turned to Cole, saying, "Hopefully some of Jamie's manners will rub off on you maybe you'll stop being such an asshole."

He replied, "Not likely."

Listening to the two of them bicker made me feel like I was in high school again. The only thing missing was Trish with her feet propped up on the back of my seat. So much time has passed between now and then but we still feel the same. At least I still feel the same, sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm thirty and an adult with bills and responsibilities.

Eventually, we made it through the line, securing Julian's meal and Diet Coke, and headed over to the bingo hall in time to get our cards.

Cole pulled into the parking spot between Mom and Harriet's cars. And as silly as it may seem, my stomach dipped with anxiety. Mom already knows and loves Cole, it's not like my past relationship where it was a fresh start, the first impression has already been made, but I was still terrified that this wouldn't go over well.

Julian got out of the car with his food tucked under his arm, leaving Cole and I behind. I tried to steady my breathing and count to ten before we made our way inside but they were not working. Sensing my distress, Cole ran his thumb over the back of our joined hands. "Jamie..."

"Yes?" My heart hammered against my chest as worst-case scenarios played in my mind.

"You're nervous," he observed, giving my hand an assuring squeeze.

"Tell me I'm being dumb," I pleaded, looking into his blue eyes. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?"

"You're not being dumb," he replied. "It's okay to be nervous."

"But you're not." I envied his calmness. He didn't seem to have a worry in the world if anything he was excited to announce our relationship to our friends and family. Not to say that I'm not excited, I am, but my excitement seems to come with a side of panic, unfortunately.

"No, I'm not. I've waited a long time for this, any nerves I had flew out the window the minute you told me you loved me. Even if your mom and Harriet react poorly, which they won't, I wouldn't care."