Samantha unlocks the door, and we step into the dimly lit living room.The silence wraps around us like a thick blanket, broken only by the soft hum of the city below.
She pauses on her way to her bedroom, voice barely above a whisper."He's probably on the balcony.It's his favorite spot late at night."A knowing look crosses her face."Thanks for today, Alisha.It was the most fun I've had in forever."
"Back at you, sweetie."I blow her an air kiss, watching until she disappears down the hallway.
My eyes drift to the balcony door, cracked open just enough to let in the night air.I slip off my red pumps by the dining table—the click of heels feels too intrusive for this moment.The cool hardwood grounds me as I pad toward the door.
Through the glass, I can make out his silhouette.Cole sits hunched in a chair, elbows on his knees, looking more vulnerable than I've ever seen him.The sight makes my chest ache.
I push the door wider, shivering as the night air hits my skin.Without a word, I move past him to the baluster where we stood this afternoon.Was it only hours ago?It feels like days have passed.
Silence stretches between us.For once, I resist my natural urge to fill it with chatter.Sometimes, the hardest thing is to just...wait.
The city sprawls below us, a tapestry of lights and shadows.Cars move like fireflies, each one carrying someone home to their own stories, their own secrets.Another cool breeze raises goosebumps on my arms.
Behind me, I hear him shift.Footsteps approach, and his cologne—fresh and masculine—wraps around me like an embrace.My breath catches as he drapes something warm over my shoulders.His jacket, still carrying his body heat.
His hands rest on my shoulders, and I close my eyes, soaking in his presence.His breath fans against my neck as he sighs, "I'm sorry, Alex."
The raw vulnerability in his voice brings tears to my eyes.I lift my right hand to cover his left, electricity sparking where our skin meets.Unable to resist, I lean back against his solid chest.A shaky breath escapes me when his lips brush feather-light kisses across my knuckles.God, the tenderness of this man.
"Can you forgive this hypocrite?"His beard tickles my sensitive skin.
I turn in his arms, needing to see his face.What I find steals my breath.Those blue eyes, usually so guarded, now swim with a sadness so deep it makes my soul ache.It's like watching someone drown in their own memories, and every instinct screams at me to throw him a lifeline.
"There's nothing to forgive, Cole."I touch his cheek, relieved when he leans into it."I pushed when I should have respected your boundaries.We're even."
He closes his eyes, those impossibly long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks.When they open again, the pain there cuts straight to my heart.
"I don't deserve you in my life, Alex."His voice breaks."I deserve to live with my demons."
I press my forehead against his chest, placing my hand next to my face.The steady thump of his heartbeat anchors me as emotions threaten to overwhelm us both.What happened to break this beautiful man so completely?If I could dive into the depths of his personal hell and slay his demons, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
I lift my gaze to his, mimicking his earlier gesture by bringing our joined hands to my lips.His sharp intake of breath when I kiss his knuckles sends shivers down my spine.
"You deserve to be free, Cole."
He shakes his head, pain etching deeper lines around his eyes."If you only knew what I've done."
"Then show me."I hold his gaze, willing him to trust me."Make me understand."
Seconds stretch into eternity as those stormy eyes study me.I can almost see the war raging behind them—trust versus fear, hope versus pain.Finally, he steps back, squeezing my hand before leading me inside.The warmth of the apartment does nothing to dispel the chill of anticipation crawling up my spine.
We move down the hallway to his bedroom, our footsteps echoing in the loaded silence.My heart pounds as Cole approaches the dark wooden cabinet beside his bed.I press my lips together, watching him kneel and open the bottom drawer.What secrets are you finally ready to share?
A clicking sound makes me jump.My sweaty palms smooth over his jacket as I wait, every nerve ending alive with anticipation.Cole stands and walks to that mysterious door—the one that's haunted my thoughts since I first tried to open it.
His hand rests on the handle, and he turns to me.The raw vulnerability in his eyes nearly brings me to my knees."Behind this door is who I used to be."His voice roughens."Go ahead.It's open."
I step forward on trembling legs, my hand reaching for the handle.As I push the door open, the scent of polished wood and memories washes over me.My breath catches as light spills into the room, revealing what Cole's been hiding all this time.
A grand piano dominates the space, its black surface gleaming like obsidian in the dim light.Sheet music yellowed with age sits untouched on the stand.The instrument is immaculate—a stark contrast to the thick layer of dust covering everything else, as if time itself has been locked away in here.
My fingers hover over the pristine surface, not quite touching.Everything about this room feels sacred, like a memorial to something—or someone—lost.The care taken with the piano's maintenance, despite its obvious disuse, speaks volumes about what it represents to Cole.
"This was my father's," Cole's voice is rough, barely above a whisper.
I turn to find him frozen in the doorway, his face a mask of such raw anguish it steals my breath.His shoulders are rigid, hands clenched at his sides, like he's physically stopping himself from fleeing.
