Promises Aren't Kept

CHAPTER 54

Caroline's POV:
"Are you sure we've really thought this through?" Harry helps unfold the blankets and spread them over the guest bed.
"How can you even say that? After everything I've been through to find her how can you ask me to step away?" I️ roughly drop the sheet on the corner of the bed, not bothering to tuck it in the way I️ was always taught to.
"When will what I️ want start to matter, Caroline?"
I️ freeze. What the fuck, "why are you flipping out this is not up for discussion. And how can you say you don't have what you want? What more could you possibly want. Elaborate. Share the wealth because I'm dying to find out what started making you act like a prick." I️ huff. As if I'm not already stressed enough. I️ grab the hem of my sweatshirt and take it off, leaving myself standing in front of him with just a bra. His eyes flicker between mine and my displayed chest. His eyebrows are furrowed and the scowls on our faces are competing for dominance. He takes a step forward and I️ take a step back.
"What more could you want, Harry?" I️ repeat, rolling my eyes and throwing on a loose tee-shirt.
"You are the most frustrating..." I️ put my hands up on my hips and look at his face. Hard to decipher his expression, but now that the bed is made, I️ plop onto my side and give in to my exhaustion. I️ feel the bed dip after a minute or two and I️ feel his cold, rough hands bring goosebumps on the skin of my back, beneath my shirt. He kisses my cheek and lays down, pulling me in.
"...and I can't get enough."

Cole's POV:
The illumination of the sun through the curtains of my windows, brings me back into my reality. The only difference with today is that I️ feel warmth radiating against me in my bed. Familiar body heat that I️ can't help to revel in. Too familiar. Before I️ can even open my eyes, realization sets in. Evelyn's body is curled up against me, her back pressed firmly on my pounding heart. I️ try to remain silent, because despite how I️ don't know who is in this bed with me, I️ don't want to give this up too soon. I️ bring a lock of Evelyn's brown hair up in between my fingers and twist the tendrils.
"You're awake." I️ hear the calm words as beautiful green eyes look up to meet mine. My lavender ones expand and the breath in my throat halts. Her eyelashes brush against my cheek and I can feel her breath on my neck as she rolls over in my arms to face me. No time to waste, I️ brush my lips over hers, and the rhythm of her lips against mine is therapeutic. As quickly as it starts, it stops, and my lips are left cold. I️ get up on my elbows, which leaves Evelyn laying on her back beneath me. All it takes is a blink for her emerald eyes to fade into the lifeless gray ones I️ have been forced to look at for so long.
Almost pitifully Morgan whispers, "I️ thought you deserved one last moment." I️ quickly sit up, so I'm not hovering over her anymore, but I️ don't let her get up.
"What do you mean 'one last moment'?" I'm panicking because for some reason I️ thought I️ would either win this fight, or I️ would at least have years to keep trying.
"I️ mean," she sits up and unruly hair tumbles down over her shoulders, "that today I️ am going to take full control, with or without Ben, and you will never see me again."
She stands up and I️ am too stunned to move.
"I️ am sorry, Cole. I️ mean who do I️ think I️ am to ruin someone else's life. I️ could've never imagined I️ would do something as bad as this. But, I️ also think I️ was given this opportunity for a reason and I️ deserve to take my second chance."
All the words I️ can muster are unconvincing denials.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My daily run throughout the woods is slow. Hopelessly, my paws pounce against the crunching leaves of the cold December. I️ am stuck. I️ am left alone to figure everything out. What did I️ do to deserve this? Punishment I️ deserve, sure, but believe me when I️ say I'm being punished. I️ start running harder than I️ have in a while. Pushing myself to feel the strain. I️ need to feel something new.
~~~~~
"Cole!" I️ hear from back on the other side of the woods. Caroline knows she doesn't have to speak that loud to be heard.
"I️ think I'm gonna get Evelyn, or Morgan, out of this house for a change. We are going shopping!" I️ can hear what sounds like excitement but I️ don't understand why. The way she reacted yesterday was like she was ready to kill. Now she wants a day out?
"No. I️ don't want her out of my sight."
"Maybe that's why she's acting like such a bitch, she needs time away from you. It's final."
I️ start running back towards the house to defy her attempts. What if Morgan ran away? Then she could definitely take over completely and I️ really would never see her again. I'm not willing to take the risk just so that Caroline can go to the mall. No.
By the time I️ get back, I️ can see they still haven't left, which is a surprise but I'm glad. I️ throw on some sweatpants that were in the garage and head up to the main floor. Once I️ reach the kitchen, I️ hear laughter. A sound I️ haven't heard in a while. I️ subconsciously smile. Has Caroline finally sparked something to bring Evelyn back? Useless to be excited because once I️ come around the corner, I️ can see the truth.
"Alright Cole, so here's the deal. Evelyn or not, I️ need to go to the mall and my guy options are not the company I️ want right now."
"Are you serious right now, Caroline? Does Harry need to put some sense into you how the hell are you siding with her right now?"
"I'm not siding with anyone!" Caroline huffs and Morgan smiles at the banter going down on her behalf.
"Come on you guys. No need to fight for my attention. Cole, Caroline is right, I️ need to get out more. And we may not be the best of friends right now but unlike you, she's willing to give me a chance."
"What the fuck?"
"Yeah, it didn't take long convincing. I️ mean, I've been thinking all night. Evelyn was living here with you for so long and was totally safe and never called me to let me know? I️ was looking and stressing everyday and all along she was here living it up. So, at the moment, I️ would like to hang out with Morgan who actually wants to talk to me and wants to hang out."
"What the fuck?" I'm baffled and fucking pissed. How could Caroline come into my house and support Morgan. This cannot be happening.
I️ ball my fists, "I'm going to get Harry and no one is fucking leaving. Got it?" I️ growl and stomp up the stairs.
By the time I️ get back downstairs with an unconcerned Harry, they are gone...