After he leaves, I head upstairs, crawl into bed, and close my eyes. And for once, I don’t fall asleep feeling empty.
For once, I feel hope.
And maybe tomorrow…I’ll finally tell him the truth.
Chapter Fourteen
SUNSHINE SERVED WARM
KENNA-PAST
The school bell rings,signaling the end of another long day, and my stomach flips in anticipation. It’s Friday, and that means Cole is coming over after school. I try to keep my cool as I grab my bag and head toward the exit, but inside, there’s a fluttering excitement I’ve felt all day.
When I step outside, Cole is waiting for me by his car, leaning against the side with that easy, relaxed smile I love so much. My heart skips a little skip, and I wave as I walk toward him. His eyes light up when he sees me, and in that moment, it feels like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
“Hey Sunshine,” he says, kissing me before opening the passenger door.
The nickname always makes me smile, especially when it’s just him and me.
“Hey, yourself,” I tease back, reaching back to put my bag in the backseat. “Ready to hang out.”
“Always,” he replies, and I can’t help but notice the warmth in his voice, the way he looks at me, like nothing else matters. Maybe it’s the way he says my name, or maybe it’s just him being him, but every part of me wants to stay in this moment.
I climb into the passenger side as Cole walks around the car tothe driver’s side. He slides into the seat, and without a word, he starts the engine.
I glance at him, and he’s already looking at me with that soft, almost secretive smile that always makes my cheeks turn the brightest shade of pink. We don’t have to say much. I invited him over because the need to just be close, to have him around, is all-consuming, and I can feel it in the way my heart pounds a little faster just being in the car with him.
His hand rests casually on the console between us, but as we drive through the familiar streets of Cherry Falls, Cole slowly reaches for my hand.
His fingers slide between mine, warm and steady, and my chest fills with a soft, fluttering sensation. I squeeze his hand, letting him know I’m here with him, just as he’s here with me.
He doesn’t let go, and neither do I. His grip is strong, but gentle, grounding me as we head towards my house.
The trees pass by in a blur of gold and green, the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the windshield.
I study the way the light catches in Cole’s eyes. The way the corner of his mouth lifts slightly even when he’s focused on the road. I wonder if he knows what he does to me? How my world quiets down around him and everything feels right.
I want to say something, but I don’t want to ruin the peace that’s wrapped around us like a blanket. My mind drifts, imagining us like this years from now. Different car, maybe. But the same him. The same me. Still reaching for each other in the quiet moments.
For the entire drive, he holds my hand in silence, and it’s the most comforting thing in the world. There’s no rush. No need to fill the air with words. His presence, his touch, says everything I need to hear. The rest of the world melts away when I’m with him. It’s just us. It always has been, always will be.
When we pull into my driveway, I don’t want the moment to end. The car slows to a stop, and Cole reluctantly pulls his handaway from mine, though his fingers brush mine one last time. My heart physically aches at the loss of his touch.
We both get out and head into the house. There’s a quiet sense of familiarity between us, like everything is perfectly in place, even without saying anything. It’s the small moments that matter. Like holding hands in the car and feeling that connection grow stronger every time.
Once we’re inside, I lead him upstairs to my room. I don’t know why I feel like I need to do this, but I invite him to sit on my bed, like we’ve done a million times before.
I kick off my shoes and pull the blanket back, sitting down next to him. He does the same, and for a while, neither of us says anything. It’s as if just being near each other is enough. His hand finds mine again, and I lean my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin through his shirt.
There’s something peaceful about this. The way we fit together without trying, the way his presence calms me. His hand moves to my hair, brushing it back gently, and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future,” Cole murmurs, his voice a soft rumble in my ear. I feel the vibration of his words more than I hear them.
“Yeah? Like what?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my fingers tracing patterns on his shirt as I settle deeper into his chest. The smell of him—of soap and something earthy—settles around me, and it’s the most comforting thing in the world.
“I’ve been talking to Old Man Harris about taking over the hardware store,” he says, his fingers grazing my arm. “He’s getting up there, and I think it’s time for someone else to take the reins. Maybe I’ll make it a bigger deal, expand it. It could be good. You know?”
I smile, feeling the warmth of pride swelling in my chest. “That’s awesome, Cole. You’d be great at that. You’ve always had a good head for that kind of thing.”
