Back To You

Chapter 7

Cole knew she was holding something back ever since the night in Atlanta. Ever since then she had been avoiding being alone with him like the plague. He wanted her. He wanted her to want him. He wanted answers. The more he thought about it the madder he got. He knew he needed to talk to her. He stepped off his bus and ran into Michael. "Have you seen Lila?"

"I think she was backstage with Luke." Michael answered.

"Thanks." Cole headed for the building.

"Good luck." Luke's band leader called after him.

He found her backstage talking to one of Luke's crew. "Lila!" He called out.

"Hey, Cole." She didn't meet his eyes.

"We need to talk."

"About?"

"You know about what."

"This really isn't a good time...." She turned to walk away.

"Damn it, Lila..." He grabbed her arm. "I just want to talk to you. Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not." She said quietly.

"Yes you are." His voice was full of frustration.

"Cole, please. Don't do this... not here."

"Then where?" He released her.

She headed for one of the dressing rooms she knew was empty. He followed her inside as she shut the door. She leaned against it and looked at the man in front of her. For weeks she had been avoiding him. She knew it was only a matter of time before he had enough.

"Cole...."

"No, Lila... I want an answer. Why are you avoidin me?"

"I'm not."

"Yes you are. Ever since that night in Atlanta. You won't be alone with me. Is it something I did?"

"It's not you, Cole..." She hesitated.

"Then what?" He ran his hand over his face. "Why don't we hang out anymore? Why won't you come to the bus like you use too? Was kissing me that horrible?"

"What do you want me to say, Cole?" Tears filled her eyes.

"I want you to trust me enough to tell me what's goin on... You kiss me one minute and then the next you avoid me. I wish you trusted me enough to tell me the truth."

"Cole...." She swallowed hard. She knew she was pushing him away but she was scared of his reaction when he found out the truth. "I can't...." she whispered.

She joined Luke on a trip back home to gain some space from the tour and Cole.

Luke spotted his sister sitting on the pier out the back of the house. He grabbed a couple of beers and headed for backyard.

Delilah felt his footsteps and he sat down beside her. "What's on your mind?"

"What makes you think somethin's on my mind?"

"You only come out here when somethin's botherin you. You came out here when I left for college, when Chris died, when I left for Nashville and when Kelly died." He handed her a beer. "Talk to me, Liley. What's goin on?"

She took a long pull. "I kissed Cole."

Luke hid his smile. "You did what?"

"I kissed Cole. I have feelins for him, Luke."

"And does he feel the same?"

"I think so."

"About damn time." Luke sipped his beer.

"What?" She looked at him shocked.

"Look, Lils, I've known for a while that you have a thing for Cole and vice versa. I was just wonderin when the two of you would act on it."

"What?" She said again.

"If you want to be with Cole then be with him. You have my blessin. All I want is for both of you to be happy."

"There's something else...." She hesitated.

"What?" Luke took a pull from his bottle.

"He doesn't know about..." She closed her eyes. "He doesn't know about Ryan."

Luke raised his eyebrows. "You haven't told him?"

"No." She shook her head. "I wanted to so many times but...."

"But what?"

"What if it's too much to handle?"

Her brother put his beer down. "What if he accepts all of it? What if he accepts you for who you are? For what you've been through? Oh Lila," Luke wrapped his arm around her. "Cole might just surprise you. Someday, baby sister you're gonna have to let down those walls and think maybe you might let them down for Cole."

"I'm scared, Luke."

"Don't be scared." He hugged her. "It's up to you if you tell him or not. I'm just sayin that you might wanna think about it. But your secret is always safe with me."