Eli: They’re releasing Chloe and baby at 1
Cole: I’ll be there to pick you up, bro
So much has changed over the last four months. The club successfully opened and brought in record revenues, Kam checked himself into rehab, Dax spent a month in county jail for his assault charges, and Chloe gave birth to a little girl.
Cole has done nothing but hold everything together for the brothers. He was there for Birdy when Dax was handcuffed and locked away. He held her for nights, calmed her through panic attacks, and even took her to the hospital for new medications. They became best friends over that month, and he even found himself divulging all of his worries, from business life to losing Jax.
Jax hasn’t contacted Cole since that fateful night, and each day with no contact kills a piece of his soul. The parties in the penthouse have ceased with two of the brothers locked away and one focusing on his pregnant girlfriend. The only one left to party resides with a broken heart. Cole had no idea how much he’d fallen for Jax until she was gone.
His fingers grip the steering wheel as he drives to the hospital. He hasn’t been back since he lost her, but now he has no choice. Someone has to pick up Chloe and Eli.
“What are you thinking about?”
He almost forgot about the passenger seated next to him. Birdy. She goes everywhere with him and has actually become an asset helping him at the club. It was on their shoulders to put the finishing touches on the first Made To Sin on the West Coast.
“Nothing.”
“Liar. I can tell when you’re thinking about her.”
Cole gently pushes the brakes and brings the large SUV to a stop at a red light. “You’re so full of shit.”
“Cole, your jaw locks up and you drift away to another place, even when you’re right in front of me. I know. I’ve had to deal with you day after day.”
“Jesus, I now know what it feels like to have an annoying little sister.”
Birdy slaps his shoulder. “You know you love me.”
“Like a burning hemorrhoid.”
“What’s a hemorrhoid?”
Cole chuckles at Birdy’s innocence. She still surprises him with the things she doesn’t know.
“You can ask Dax when we pick him up in a couple days.”
“I love your brother so much.”
“I know you do, Birdy.” He pats her leg as she mindlessly stares out the window.
“You know, at first I thought it was just his looks and his protective manner around me, but I really love him.”
“He loves you, too.”
“Why haven’t you gone after Jax? I know you love her.”
“You don’t know shit, Birdy.”
“You love her and should fight for her.”
He brings the SUV to a halt in a parking spot near the entrance. “She could never forgive me. I don’t deserve her.”
“The way I look at it, Cole, she doesn’t deserve a life without you in it. We all fuck up and make mistakes, but I feel bad for her not having the opportunity to live the rest of her life with the love of a Sterling.”
Cole slams his fists on the steering wheel. “I don’t see her beating down my door.”
“She’s not going to come to you. I’m sure Jax is waiting on you.”
Cole shuts the door and meets Birdy in the front of the SUV, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “You’re a real pain in the ass. And when in the hell did you become a love expert?”
“I started watching soap operas during the day while you’re at the gym.” Birdy shrugs and pats Cole’s abs.
They walk the remaining way in the same position, and Cole listens to Birdy reciting love quotes and different icebreakers he could use to open a conversation with Jax. Birdy is innocent enough, but just doesn’t understand the whole picture.
Cole freezes when he rounds the corner. Chloe is up and walking around the room, checking the drawers for any loose items. Eli’s half asleep, sprawled out in the hospital bed, and Jax sits rocking the baby. She doesn’t see Cole for a long time, and he takes the opportunity to study her
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