He Said I Was Cruel To Her But His Mind Cried For My Attention Chapter 01
I’d just gotten out of the hospital after my miscarriage when my fiancé Cole Harrison came to pick me up.
I reached for the passenger door—but someone was already sitting there.
My father’s daughter with the other woman, Sierra Morgan.
She was hugging the throw pillow I’d given Cole, leaning against the heated back cushion I’d bought him, and looking at me with this fake apologetic face.
“I’m so sorry, Tessa. My cramps are killing me today. I really can’t sit in the back.”
Cole shot me a cold look. “Sierra’s having really bad cramps. You’re a woman too. Show some understanding.”
My hand froze on the door handle.
I was about to say something—
Then I heard his thoughts.
[We’ve been fighting for three days. Why won’t she talk to me yet?]
[Sierra’s mother slept with her dad and drove her mom to suicide. I literally put that woman’s daughter in the passenger seat. She has to say something now, right?]
[I’d take her yelling at me at this point. Please. Just two words.]
[Three days without her voice. I’m losing my goddamn mind!]
I pulled my hand back.
Turned around.
And got in the back seat.
The second the rear door clicked shut, the car went dead silent.
Only Cole’s white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel gave him away.
His thoughts came through again:
[She actually sat in the back?]
[No argument? Nothing?]
[What the hell is happening?]
[Is she really that done with me?]
Sierra shot me a weird look, then glanced at Cole’s hands strangling the wheel.
Her eyes got all watery. “Never mind, Cole. I’ll sit in the back.”
She actually opened the door and started getting out.
Cole caught her wrist fast. “Who told you to move to the back?”
Sierra looked at me with those wet eyes, bit her lip, and started struggling. “Let go, Cole. I’ll sit in the back. Look—Tessa’s upset.”
I looked up and frowned. “I’m not upset. You stay up front.”
Both of them froze.
[Not upset? She has to be angry at me, right?]
[There’s no way she’s not angry after what I did.]
[Babe, say you’ve had enough. Tell me to kick her out.]
[Tell me you need me…]
So this was what went through Cole’s head every time we fought?
But he didn’t know that three days ago, during our last fight over the phone, I’d missed a step on the stairs and fallen.
I pressed a hand to my stomach and looked at Sierra. “Just sit.”
Cole stared at me in disbelief. His hand trembled slightly around her wrist.
Sierra felt it.
She bit her lip again, pushed his hand away, and said, “It’s okay, Cole. I’ll call a cab. Don’t want to be a bother.”
Then she turned to me all apologetic. “Sorry, Tessa. I shouldn’t have gotten in his car when I wasn’t feeling well. I’ll go.”
But her fingers fumbled with the seatbelt like she couldn’t get it unbuckled.
Cole easily grabbed her arm and yanked her back. He scowled at me. “Does everyone have to cater to you, Tessa?”
“I said she can sit up front!”
“You’re just pretending to be the bigger person. You know Sierra’s sensitive, and you’re doing this to guilt-trip her.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You—”
“Stop, both of you, please!” Sierra waved her hands frantically. “This is all my fault. I never should’ve gotten in the car. If you two break up over me, I’ll never forgive myself. Cole, I’m calling a cab.”
This time she actually got the belt off. One foot hit the ground.
“Stop right there.”
Cole grabbed her wrist again. His eyes were bloodshot when he looked at me. “Tessa. She’s cramping bad.”
He said it through clenched teeth, like I’d just committed a crime.
I held his gaze. “So I didn’t make her move to the back. What’s your point?”
“You—”
He choked on his words.
Then he laughed bitterly, looking at my cold expression. “No wonder your dad likes Sierra better.”
I couldn’t breathe for a second.