Scarred Hero by Hope Ford

Author:Hope Ford [Ford, Hope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-10T23:00:00+00:00

5

Hope

The closer we get, the more nervous Cole is. We are almost there, and he’s barely said a word, making me wonder if I made the right decision in coming here. But listening to the way he talked about his friend and how he doesn’t think he deserves his wife’s love, well, it makes me see Cole and maybe what he’s feeling. He said himself he hasn’t dated since his accident. He’s self-conscious of his scars. But when he said he knew his friend and wife belonged together, I knew I wanted to be here with him. We’ve known each other less than twenty-four hours, but I can’t stop thinking about our future. I look over at him and his white knuckles clutching the steering wheel. Man, if he knew what I was thinking he’d probably run for the hills. I bet he thought, maybe even hoped he would get lucky tonight. For all I know, that could be all he wants. If he knew I was thinking about a future with him, he’d probably freak out. He definitely wouldn’t have let me come with him.

“If you’d rather I stayed in the car, I will,” I tell him, breaking the silence.

He seems to think about it and finally tells me with a glance in my direction, “No, I think I’d like you to come in. I think you’re right. Peggy was really upset on the phone, and she might need someone to talk to.” He pauses for a second, chancing another glance at me. “That is, if you’re still all right with it.”

Because I can’t go another second without touching him, I reach over and put my hand on top of his on the console between us. “I’m good with it.”

He turns his arm around until his palm is up, and he wraps my hand in his. I smile over at him as he looks at our intertwined hands. His is dark and scarred, with traces of gunpowder embedded in his skin. Mine is innocent and clean in comparison. In so many ways we are so different. But I’ve never felt any safer or more cared for as his thumb strokes across mine soothingly.

He pulls into a cute little subdivision with houses that all look alike. He parks on the street in front of a brick house with flowers on each side of the walkway and an American flag waving on a post. All the potted plants, the beautiful flowers, the welcome sign, all of it, makes you happy just looking at it. But my heart stutters in my chest, knowing what pain is happening inside.

Cole walks around the truck and helps me down. I grab his hand and walk with him to the front door.

Peggy is a pretty woman in her late thirties or early forties. She seems genuinely happy to see Cole and surprised to see me.

“I brought my friend with me. I hope that’s okay. Peggy, this is Hope,” he tells her.

We’re following Peggy through her house and stop in the kitchen.

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