A Way Out

Chapter 27

Cole?

My mind started racing a hundred miles per hour. He was the last person I expected to be in a bridal shop and I hoped he had a good reason to be here.

I observed him from behind a mannequin, scared of being discovered. "She would like the dress to be off white, and she also wanted a veil to go with it," Cole explained to the woman. My jaw dropped. Why the fuck was he talking about dresses and veils? He shouldn't even be here, to begin with. My heart sunk for Raleigh.

"She needs to come in another time then so we can go over it with her," the saleswoman explained.

"Oh, but I have pictures of what she envisioned." Cole took out his phone to show the woman what he meant.

"Okay then give me a minute I'll be right back." The saleswoman disappeared, and Cole took a seat while he waited. He scrolled through his phone and I felt anger flaring up within me. My heart fell as I thought about the way poor Raleigh looked at Cole a few days prior. She had hope in her eyes, a spark that showed that she may have found someone that would fit by her side. Raleigh never looked at a man like that, and it made me hate Cole. If this was what I thought it was, then this asshole had an immense problem.

I could do two things. Not say anything like I usually do or confront him about the truth right away, so I would leave this shop with no doubts. I decided on the latter because I was through with uncertainty in my life. I also needed to be honest with Raleigh. This was for her and me. I didn't want to do to Raleigh what Donovan did to me, which was not being completely honest and leave someone in the dark. So, I stepped away from behind the mannequin.

"Fancy seeing you here," I hissed as I stood in front of Cole with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

He looked up, and I was afraid his eyes were going to fall out of their sockets. Cole glanced at the corner the saleswoman just turned and then back at me. To say he looked surprised was an understatement. Cole looked dumbfounded, and I got the feeling that I was the last person he thought of meeting in this shop.

"I'm here with my sister-in-law," I explained with a fake smile.  "She's marrying my brother. Isn't that wonderful?" I asked, my voice laced with venom. Already my mind was concluding, unfair I know. I just couldn't help myself.

Cole just nodded in response, and because of him toying with his phone, my suspicion grew. "What are you doing here, Cole?"

Cole stood up and grabbed me by the arm, leading me out of the bridal shop onto the street. "It's not what you think, Everly. I promise. I would never hurt Raleigh," he said, desperation clear in his voice. I wanted to believe him because his eyes were genuine, but I still needed to know why he was here.

"Then why are you here?"

Cole breathed a sigh as he rubbed his hand over his face, the green in his eyes drained of any light. A conflict was apparent on the lines that formed on his face. He weighed his words before speaking them to me, and I grew more anxious by the minute. Could it be that bad? If it wasn't what I thought it was, why couldn't he tell me?

"Cole!" I said, aggravated as I put my hands on my hips.

"I can't tell you," Cole hesitated.

"And why the fuck not?" I asked, jutting my finger at him.

"Because I promised."

"Who?"

"I-I can't tell you that either," he stuttered.

I let out an aggravated scream, knowing full well who told him to keep his mouth shut. I was so over the secrets and the lies. Ever since I got involved with Donovan Dane, people left me in the dark and I tended to draw my own conclusions on whatever the hell they were hiding from me. If Cole couldn't be honest, then I had to tell Raleigh what I saw and let her decide what to do with it. Raleigh and I had always been honest with each other and now was no exception.