Rookie's Regret by Gina Azzi

Author:Gina Azzi [Azzi, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781954470248
Publisher: Three Cities Publishing LLC

Cole: Miss you, B. Can I see you?

Me: Just leaving studio.

Cole: Now? It’s almost midnight.

Me: Got news!

Cole: Come over and tell me?

I grin. More than anything, I want to head to Cole’s. I want to climb into bed next to him, fall asleep in his arms, and wake up to his kiss.

Me: Yes! Let me go home and check on Gran.

Cole: I’ll meet you there. Drive back together.

Me: You sure?

Cole: 100%

Me: See you in 15.

It’s after midnight when I pull into Gran’s driveway. Cole’s car idles in front of the curb. I race to his window.

“There she is,” he says, grabbing the back of my head and pulling my face through the window to kiss me hard. “Miss you so damn much.”

A flicker of guilt flares in my chest. But Cole doesn’t look upset, the way Jay used to, when I’d spend hours in the studio, thinking, experimenting, losing myself in the high that only sculpting provides. He just looks happy to see me. “Me too. Let me grab some things and check on Gran. I’ll be out in a few.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“‘Kay.” I kiss him again before scurrying up the front porch and into Gran’s house.

I tiptoe inside, skipping the creaky floorboard.

“Your father was better at this than you are,” Gran’s voice rings out.

I squeal, clenching my chest. “God, Gran, you scared the hell out of me.”

“Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.”

I mush my lips together. Gran’s a professional swearer but she never ventures into religion or anything that a believer would take offense to. I bow my head in apology.

“Is that your beau,” she cackles, “in front of the house?”

“Yes. I just finished at the studio.” I move closer to her rocking chair. “I wanted to check on you; I thought you’d be sleeping.”

“I’m not an invalid, Beatrice.”

“I know. I just, I wanted to kiss you good night.” I kiss her temple.

Gran rolls her eyes. “Your father was a better liar too.”

I laugh, knowing from countless stories, that my dad’s courtship with my mom turned Gran prematurely grey. “I’m going to grab some things. If I sleep at Cole’s, will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine knowing my granddaughter is out, a woman of the night, committing a series of sins.”

I snort. “Hardly a woman of the night.”

Gran grins, standing slowly from the rocker. “Have fun, Beatrice. You’re only young once. Just, be careful.” She turns a serious, solemn gaze on me.

“I am, Gran.”

“Hope so, my girl. It’s hard to mend a broken heart.” With that, she hobbles slowly to her bedroom.

I watch her disappear around the corner. Does she think Cole and I don’t stand a chance? Or was she hinting at Jay and his not coming around anymore? There’s no love lost there; Gran and my brothers tolerated Jay, but they never liked him. I rub my wrists absentmindedly, wondering if they sensed the anger that simmered in his veins, concealed just below the surface. I hope Jay doesn’t come around anymore.

I glance out the window, take in Cole’s outline through the window of his car.

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