The Space Between Heartbeats

The Truth Between Us

Chapter Six

The Truth Between Us

COLE'S POV

Danni’s hand brushed against mine—warm, soft, grounding. Her blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, I was completely lost in them. But I knew what was coming. I was about to tell her everything. She pulled her hand away and steadied herself. My heart thudded.

How do I even begin to explain this? She deserved the truth, but I didn’t know if I could handle seeing her break again.

I took a deep breath. “Okay... here goes nothing. Just promise me one thing—don’t hate me when it’s over.”

“I could never hate you, Cole. Please, just—” Her voice cracked, the sentence unfinished.

Yesterday, I was home, mindlessly playing Call of Duty instead of studying. I should’ve been prepping for my chemistry test, but my thoughts were a warzone of their own. Danni had taken up so much space in my head lately. She wasn’t just the girl my best friend dumped and left behind—she had become someone I truly cared about.

No—scratch that. I was falling for her.

Then came the knock.

“Visitor for you,” Mum called, peeking into my room.

I looked up. My heart stopped.

Behind her stood the one person I hadn’t seen in months.

“Rix,” I said, stunned.

“Hey,” he replied.

Mum stepped away, leaving us alone. I gestured toward the beanbag, tossing him a spare controller. Just then, my phone buzzed. Danni. I quickly sent her a coded reply, making sure she didn’t think I was ignoring her. Because I never could.

Rix cleared his throat. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“You kinda ghosted everyone after the breakup,” I said, not hiding the edge in my voice.

“That’s why I’m here, man. I need to make things right. With you. With her. Everyone.”

“Are you sure I’m the one who needs your apologies?” I asked.

He looked at the floor. “You're not wrong. But I can’t face her yet. I need to know you’ve got my back first.”

I stared at him. “After everything? After how badly she got hurt?”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” Rix said, his voice finally cracking. “I messed up. I had to leave. I’ll explain it all—but I need your help getting Danni to sit down with me. If you’re there, maybe Em won’t have to be. She terrifies me, bro.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “She should terrify you.”

“Please, Cole. I know you've gotten close to her. I’m not trying to mess that up. I just... I need to talk to her.”

I paused, my thumb running over the buttons on the controller. This guy—my best friend—was asking me to help him win back the girl he left... the girl I was starting to fall for.

But Danni deserved answers.

“Alright,” I said finally. “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. But if you screw this up, I'm done. I forgive you—but it’s going to take time.”

Rix pulled me into a quick hug, thanking me over and over. He even took a photo of us, calling it a ‘new beginning.’ Before he left, we agreed to catch up again during the week.

Once he was gone, I went back to my game. I needed to shoot something just to think straight. Fate really had it in for me. I like a girl, and the universe hands her ex back with a redemption arc. FML.

Back in the present, I’d just finished telling Danni and Em everything.

Danni didn’t move. Silent tears traced down her cheeks. She didn’t look at me, but I saw her flinch when I moved closer. Em wrapped her arm around her, offering silent comfort.

Then I reached out and gently wiped the tears from her face. She looked up, surprised. My hands weren’t soft like hers, but she didn’t pull away.

She sniffled and gave a small smile. “So... what do we do now?”

Her voice was flat—tired.

“We do it together,” I said, kneeling before her. “The three of us.”

Em narrowed her eyes. “Okay, what is going on between you two? Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

I froze.

What was going on between us?

Before I could answer, I deflected. “We’ve got bigger things to handle. That conversation can wait.”

I stood up and turned away, not letting them see the flicker of emotion in my eyes.

We fell silent.

Then Em, in typical Em fashion, broke the tension.

“Cole, you know where Rix lives?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Her eyes were blazing, fists clenched. Just minutes ago, she was cradling Danni like she might fall apart. Now she was ready to go to war. The shift was jarring.

“What? Em, slow down. What’s the plan here?” I said.

“He wants to talk? Fine. No time like the present. You’ll take us to his house. I’ll say hi. And then I’ll punch him in the face.”

Danni collapsed to the ground, sobbing. “I can’t... I can’t do this.”

Em crouched down. “I know. But we have to do something.”

Danni nodded, tears still falling. “We need to plan it. I want the truth, but we have to be smart.”

I offered her my hand. “I’ve been thinking about it all night,” I said gently. “I have a plan.”

“And you’re only mentioning this now?” Em snapped.

I shrugged. “Didn’t know how you’d take it.”

“How I’d take it?” She huffed. “Oh hell no. I am not sitting this out.”

“Ems,” Danni said softly, reaching for her. “I need you. But let’s hear him out.”

Em looked at me and sighed. “Fine. Talk, Bucko.”

I chuckled. Danni smiled at the sound. And for just a moment, things didn’t feel quite so heavy.

Later, we walked home, Danni quiet and in her head, Em muttering her thoughts aloud like she always did when overwhelmed. She didn’t like every part of the plan, but at least we had one.

When we got back to our houses, Danni texted me to say they were safe. I replied, telling her I’d see her at school. I was worried about her. About all of us.

DANNI”S POV

Back in her room, Danni sat with Em until Em’s mum arrived. Em hugged her tight and whispered, “I’ll be back tomorrow. It’s okay.”

“Love you!” Em yelled out the car window.

Danni laughed. She needed that.

That night, Danni had dinner, soaked in a bubble bath with music on, and tried to unwind. But her brain wouldn’t shut off. After getting ready for school, she crawled into bed and texted Em. Then she wrote a message to me—just a thank you—but paused before replying to Rix.

She stared at his message. Fingers hovered.

She typed.

Then deleted.

And scrolled.

Eventually, sleep pulled her under.

But tomorrow was coming.

And with it... answers.