Cole: The Wounded Sons, Leah Sharelle [the reading list .TXT] 📗

issues that we can’t seem to get past completely. I want a wedding where my dad gives me away and all that, but with the tension between us, I don’t want to have a wedding where everyone is at each other’s throats.”

Nodding in understanding, I got where Devon was coming from, though. Every one of my birthdays was fraught with tension and conflict between my parents and grandparents. My grandparents raised me more than my mum and dad and had every right to help me celebrate. On the other hand, my parents saw it as a day of judgement and ridicule, just another opportunity to hear how they failed at raising me.

I truly hated it when the five of us got in the same room together. Normally, it was me deflecting the disapproval my grandparents had for their son and their hatred for his baby mamma. I did not enjoy my birthday, and another one was looming fast.

Damn year goes too fast.

“I understand that having families in the same room can be dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a grand wedding, Devon. You don’t have to give up your dream for a big wedding with all the trimmings, and you can still make it memorable without having your dad and brothers there.” My suggestion bringing a look of interest across Devon’s face.

“But how? Won’t it be obvious that my family isn’t there when my father isn’t there to walk me down the aisle?”

“Nope, not at all,” I replied quickly. “You can make it so you don’t walk down the aisle in the traditional sense. Maybe, you can have the wedding guests arrive instead of you. Have you and Gabe waiting at the altar for them, that way, anyone who doesn’t know the circumstances won’t know that there are issues.” Shrugging, I snapped off another small piece of chip and sucked it into my mouth. Aware that Wren was watching me intently.

“That’s not a bad idea, Gabriel and I can be there to welcome our guests, making it about them and not just us.” Devon sat up straight, a smile replacing her frown.

“Exactly! That way, it has a more relaxed feel rather than you being the centre of attention; instead, it will be the guests. And unless they know you, no one will notice your father and brothers are missing. Especially if you don’t have a bride and groom seating style.”

I knew a few things about how to get attention off you and onto other people, and usually, I did it pretty well, but my spidey senses were kicking in, feeling that familiar uncomfortable tingle that I was being watched too closely.

No bones are sticking out; your face is not gaunt, your skin is not sagging. You ate breakfast today and did not throw it up.

Repeating my mantra silently in my head, I covertly slipped my hands from the table to my lap and laid them on my belly, feeling the healthier slope of my stomach instead of the concave I’d had for so many years. Schooling my expression, I tried to concentrate on Devon’s happy reaction to my suggestions rather than Wren staring at me.

“I am happy to help if you want some ideas, Devon. I have experience with my job as a PA; I regularly organise signings for Memphis. And with her being blind and needing special requirements at events, I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Oh, Oaklee, could you? Do you have enough time with your job and seeing Cole? I don’t want to take too much of your time with him while he is on leave.”

Waving off Devon’s concerns, I smiled happily at her. “Not at all. I am at the compound most days anyway, plus Cole and I can’t be seen together there, at least not for the immediate future, so there won’t be a problem,” I assured her, then froze when I realised what I had revealed.

You idiot of epic proportions, Oaklee.

Opening my mouth to backtrack my comment, I noticed that there was no hope of doing that. All four women were wide-eyed and all were shouting at me at the same time.

“What?

“You can’t what?”

“Explain now!”

But it was Wren’s indignant shout that came through louder than anyone’s.

“Hold on, back up and rewind. What the fuck did you just say?”

There wasn’t time to repeat my mantra, and I couldn’t have even if I wanted to. The familiar words suddenly forgotten under the angry glares and outraged stares from the women in front of me.

“You and Cole are seeing each other in secret? Oaklee, what exactly is going on?” Devon asked gently, smacking Wren on the shoulder and glaring at her.

“Not completely, obviously you all know because I’m here with him and whatnot, but yeah, as far as anyone outside of here and the guys outside, oh and my bestie Thayer, no one knows about Cole and me.”

“And may we ask why this is so?” Peyton enquired, lifting her eyebrows at me.

“Several reasons, the main one being that a year ago when I started working for Memphis, Creed apparently warned Cole to stay away from me. That I was not to be pursued by him,” I explained calmly and as rationally as I could manage with the sudden cluster of butterflies taking up residence in my stomach. I knew my explanation was going to be pounced on by the women, and I was more than happy to discuss the why’s and how’s, I just wasn’t looking forward to one or all of them asking for any other reasons for Cole’s and my insanity.

Telling people that you suffer from bulimia and anorexia tended to be a conversation and mood killer from past experience.

“Creed did that?” Wren replied, shocked. “Why on earth did he do that?”

“No idea,” I shrugged just as perplexed as she was, “Cole has no idea either. When Creed first asked Cole didn’t question the request, but now we have … been … intimate and he is reluctant to