Page 75 of Tempted Hearts
“Seems like someone else has developed more of a taste for wine since the trip?”
He took the first glass from his wine stand, and I did the same.
“I never minded it, and there are some I really like. I just prefer whiskey more often. There’s a time and a place for each of them.”
That was such a very Cole thing to say.
We tried the first one, and then the second—drinking, commenting on the taste, circling around whatever was going on between us.
“Care to venture into yesterday’s conversation territory?” I asked.
Cole seemed to know exactly what I meant.
“I would normally evade that question, but I’m trying really hard here. Enough to admit I’ve given it some thought. Well before last night.”
I pushed. “And?”
“And I’m just not sure what to say. Could I be happy teaching at Cedar Falls Community College? Probably. But there’s a good chance my parents—or at least my dad—would never speak to me again. Following in his footsteps was a dream of his, first for my brother and then for me. He’s unfortunately a bit more into intellectual snobbery than I’d like to admit.”
“Do you honestly believe he would disown you for something like that?”
“Disown me?” Cole scoffed. “More like rant and rave, followed by a lot of disappointed looks and a period of freezing me out. It’s just… his way.”
I couldn’t imagine being his mother. His dad sounded like a bit of a narcissist, but I was no expert.
Which was exactly why I shouldn’t be giving advice—especially when he hadn’t asked for it—but I wanted to point one thing out.
“You’re living your life. Not your brother’s. Not your father’s. I know you know that. And you deserve to be happy.” I picked up the third wine. “Enough about that. Let’s pretend we’re in Monterosso and that lake is the Ligurian Sea.”
My deflection worked. Cole’s expression softened, the sternness giving way to the lighter version I’d come to know.
“I know this isn’t quite Cinque Terre, but it has its finer points.”
I couldn’t help one last push.
“You like it back here, don’t you?”
His eyes met mine. It was so much easier to read him without the glasses.
“I never would’ve left. Wasn’t a fan of New Haven. And definitely not a fan of Manhattan.”
“So how long do you intend to live somewhere you don’t like?”
He lifted his glass. “That’s the question of the day, isn’t it?”
I did the same, not wanting to push him any further. He was grappling with big decisions, and answers wouldn’t come overnight.
“That’s not the only question of the day, though.”
“No?”
I rolled my eyes.
Cole’s intelligence was extremely attractive. I could see his mind working even now—that sly smile, almost taunting.
“Permission to be blunt?”
This ought to be good.
