SO COLD (18+) currently editing

Chapter 60

"Opening night is in two weeks–"

"You've completely misjudged my sarcasm as interest."

He acted as if I'd never interrupted. "You're invited. Swing by. Maybe you'll get lucky."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He raked my figure. "You saving yourself for marriage? A bit too late for that, isn't it?"

"I forgot how infuriating you can be," I said sourly. "Thanks for the reminder."

"You're welcome," he gestured. "So, dinner?"

"No, thanks." I reached for my boots.

"I'll leave and you can stay. I know my presence makes you uncomfortable and that would be the last thing I want to do."

I glanced up, almost missing his true nature before he concealed his hardened expression with a smile. His gaze was intense and he rubbed a hand through his beard. I said, lip curled up in distaste. "I don't want to play whatever game you've got running in your head right now. Pick another victim. I'm not in the mood for you, not now, not today and not ever."

"I've changed," he took a step towards me, earnest and deceiving. "There's no need to be wary of me. I have no trick up my sleeve. It's just a dinner. Stay."

"You made it oh-so clear that you wanted nothing more to do with me and now all of a sudden you want to have a dinner?"

"It's not a private dinner between us. It's a dinner between friends? We're friends, right?"

"No,"

"Well, I want to be friends with you."

"I don't,"

"Why?"

"Is it not obvious?"

"Explain it to me."

"You're a Scorpio."

He laughed briefly, lowered his voice and asked. "Do you still have feelings for me?"

"No," that was a miserable lie.

"Then you shouldn't feel so awkward having dinner with your ex. Come."

"Fine."

His lips tightened. It was clear he hoped I did the opposite to what he asked for and with a stormy gaze, he led the way to the kitchen. He pulled out a chair for me and I thanked him, sitting down. He pushed the chair close to the table roughly and strode around and seated opposite. "Wine?" he was struggling with controlling his temper and his gaze flashed over to me, attempting to be courteous.

"Sure,"

He poured halfway, set the bottle down and raised his glass. "I'll make a toast," he raised his voice, "to friends, new and old, and to future gatherings." It was a direct taunt. He clinked glasses with me and swallowed his first mouthful, raised an eyebrow at me challengingly.

"To new friends," I repeated woodenly and took a large mouthful. I didn't want to be here. I really wished I was anywhere but here. I still loved Cole and the way he was acting hurt (I was so pitiful). My gaze dropped to where he placed a hand over the Red-Head (whose name I should probably learn) and he squeezed fondly. My stomach churned and I watched as she smiled an award-winning smile his way. Jealousy reared its ugly head. Sadness pulled up a chair at the table, sighed and set his head in his hands.

Irvin served dinner. I was no longer hungry. I picked up a fork and pushed around the pieces of meat and after a while, set my fork down beside the knife on the napkin. I reached for my wine glass and finished its contents.

Trevor was excitedly yammering about some man he had trapped in his box and how he goes to sleep at night listening to his pleas and cries. Cole cut across sharply. "Not at the dinner table, Trevor."

"Is the food good?" Irvin filled in the silence.

"Yeah. It's nice." I said.

"How do you possibly know that? You haven't actually ate yet," Cole said, he didn't look away even as I threw him an irritable glare. "Eat, Shay."

"You get off on others eating, Cole? No? Then shut the hell up and mind your own goddamn business."

"Uh," Irvin was quick to change the direction of the conversation. "How was work for everyone? Why don't you start, Shay, before Trevor tells us of how he jerked off to a papercut?"

"Work?" Cole repeated, brow furrowed, barking. "You're working now?"

"I, uh, I didn't mean to ask Shay," Irvin tried correcting his mistake, "I was asking–"

"Shut the hell up." Cole growled at him, demanding from me. "Well?"

"Of course not." I said. "I'm out of your world. I spend my days going to the cinema and hanging out at coffee shops. I don't have time to pick up a gun."

"You better not be lying to me," he was furious. "You were just fucking shot. What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Sorry dad. Won't do it again, dad."

Tension flared between the two of us. The Red-Head was deprived of attention and so she began dramatically, "Anyway," she grabbed her glass, tossed her hair behind her shoulders and declared. "I have an announcement."

"What is it, Sylvie?" Cole said irritated, refusing to back down from my glare. His jaw was set in stone and his hand was clenched into a fist.

Her face was glowing. "I'm pregnant!"

Stunned, we twisted our necks and stared at her. "What!?" Cole exclaimed.

"With your baby!" she clapped her hands excitedly and squealed. "Two months! Isn't that amazing?"

Mother of God...

**