Read Online That Summer (Part Two) by Lauren Crossley - Free Book Online Page A

forever?” I
joke, smiling up at him in a playful manner.
    “I
guess so.” He responds evasively, still distracted by the sundress I’m wearing.
“I really don’t want to let you out of my sight if you’re going to be wearing
this.”
    “Come
on.” I urge him, pulling on his hand as I attempt to leave. “I’m far too hungry
to be having this conversation and we can discuss the dress later.”
    Cole
chuckles before he groans, allowing me to drag him out of the room and down the
hallway.
    The
restaurant is lovely and the food is delicious. It’s like nothing I’ve ever
tasted and I can now see how it’s possible to become accustomed to such fine
things. I’ve never lived my life like this and I’m not sure if Cole has either.
    It’s
almost like we’re playing a game, pretending to participate in something which
neither one of us can explain. Here we are sitting in this fine restaurant,
eating exquisite food and staying in a luxurious hotel but none of it is real.
The reality of the situation is that we’re hiding from the truth, we’re on the
run and no amount of splendour is going to change that.
    “What’s
wrong?” Cole asks, forcing me out of my deep contemplation.
    “Nothing.”
I lie. “I guess I’m just thinking about things.”
    “Like
what?”
    “What
you told me about earlier on today.” I reveal, glancing at him warily.
    “Would
you care to elaborate?” He enquires politely, raising his eyebrow at me across
the table.
    “I
need to know if you hurt Jonathan because it reminded you of what nearly
happened with your mum.”
    I
exhale slowly and await his reply, trying to block out the intrusive memory of
that day. It only happened a weeks ago but in some bizarre and complex way, it
feels like a lifetime has passed since that time.
    “You
could say that.” He retorts curtly, clenching one of his fists which rests on
the table. “It took me right back to that day when I caught that sick son of a
bitch all over my mum and I just flipped. I couldn’t control my anger and
that’s why I hurt Jonathan so badly.”
    Hearing
Cole admit this is enough to consume me with guilt. I almost feel responsible
for the downward spiral he’s embarked on since he transferred to my school and
none of this might have happened if it weren’t for me.
    “What
happened to the man your mum was dating after the hospital?” I ask him, leaning
forward in my seat.
    “He
was in there for a while, slowly recovering from his injuries and the police
came to interview him. They would have charged him if my mum had been willing
to go through with it but she changed her mind at the last second when it came
to pressing charges against him.”
    “She
didn’t want to press charges?” I gasp, sounding incredulous.
    “She
said she couldn’t do it to him.”
    “So
she stayed?”
    “For
a little while but she soon moved onto someone else and forgot all about him.”
    “Oh,
I see.” I murmur softly, sympathising with Cole. “I don’t know what to say…”
    “You’re
worth ten of her, Serena. You don’t have to say anything.” He retorts sharply,
closing the conversation altogether.
    We
take a stroll along the river once we’ve had our meal, gazing at the moonlight which
dances off the surface of the water. A part of me still yearns for a time when
it can be like this forever, when we can be free from persecution, condemnation
and guilt for our feelings for one another.
    I
know it’s not possible for us to be together how we want to be. There’s not one
person who would condone the type of relationship we long to have and I don’t
know how two single people are expected to take on the world or why we should
have to in the first place.
    “Tell
me what you’re thinking.” Cole whispers, coming to a standstill as he implores
me to open up to him.
    “I
have so many thoughts inside my head right now, I wouldn’t know where to
start.” I admit, smiling at him weakly.
    “I
know the feeling.”
    There’s
a