Page 23 of No Going Back

I nod against his forehead.

“But not right now,” he adds gently. “Give it a few days, okay? Maybe things will feel different now she’s back.”

I roll my eyes. I get his point, he’s trying to protect me, protect her… but I already know. Nothing’s going to change.

I grab the front of his letterman, fingers curling into the fabric. Unable to look him in the eye when I ask. “What about you?”

He grins. “What about me, pretty boy?”

I huff a laugh, blushing hard at the nickname.

Cole’s voice drops, open and vulnerable. “I think we should avoid having sex again.”

My stomach drops. I deflate instantly, afraid that’s exactly what he was going to say.

He grabs my face in both hands, gentle but firm, and makes me meet his gaze. “Hey… just a few days, okay? I think it’s best for everyone.”

I nod slowly. “Alright.”

He keeps holding my face, thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I don’t know what this is. I don’t know what you want from me. But… I think I know what I want. So, I’m here when you’ve made a decision, okay?”

My heart slams… I hope he wants me, permanently, that hope blooms hot in my chest.

I stroke his jaw. “Okay.”

Cole smiles, real. “So, you gotta bring back the Remy everyone knows. Stop being so clingy in public.”

I laugh. “Okay.”

“Kiss?”

I nod eagerly. He leans in… and devours me. Not a peck, not sweet. Full-on mouth crash, tongue sweeping in, teeth grazing my lip, one hand sliding to the back of my neck to hold me exactly where he wants me. It steals my breath. My hands fist in his jacket, pulling him closer, kissing him back like I’m drowning and he’s air.

The bathroom door opens. Cole breaks away instantly, smooth, casual, and sits back on the couch a full cushion away from me, pulling his phone out like nothing happened. The picture of innocence.

Hannah steps out in a towel, hair dripping, smiling. “Miss me?”

I force a laugh. “Always.”

Cole doesn’t look up from his phone. But his foot nudges mine once, reassuring.

8

Cole

I’m sat in the middle of the chaos, at the biggest table in the back corner of the campus café. The aircon blasting cold enough to raise goosebumps on my arms, even though the July heat is trying to cook us alive. Thank fuck for indoor seating today, nobody’s dumb enough to eat on the quad when it feels like breathing soup. The whole team’s here, crammed around the long table like a pack of overgrown kids: shorts, vests, thin tees clinging to sweaty skin, hair damp at the temples, trays loaded with burgers, fries, and milkshakes, whatever the line had that looked edible. Plates clatter, guys shout over each other, and laughter bounces off the walls.

Remy’s right beside me, like always, dead centre of the mess. His arm’s slung casually over the back of my chair, fingers brushing my shoulder every time he reaches for the ketchup or steals a fry off my tray. He’s been his usual cocky, idiot self these past couple days: loud on the field, throwing trash talk, laughing too big at Tyler’s dumb jokes, owning every room he walks into. But when it’s just us… when the dorm door closes and it’s only him and me… he turns into this blushing, quiet mess. Eyes dropping, cheeks pink, voice soft. It’s adorable, and every time he goes shy, I have to fight the urge to kiss the look right off his face.

Hannah’s still sleeping in our dorm every night. It’s driving me fucking insane. I haven’t heard sex noises, thank Christ for small mercies, but I’ve had to watch her kiss him good morning, watch her curl into his side on the couch, watch them disappear into his room at night, while I shove earplugs in and pretend I don’t care. I don’t hate her, none of this is her fault. She’s innocent, she’s sweet, she’s kind… but I don’t want her touching him anymore. In my head he’s mine now. And I know he feels the same because every time she gets too close, he tenses and glances at me like he’s apologising without words.

Right now, he’s turned slightly away, playing some dumb thumb-wrestling game with Tyler, laughing loud and bright. The sound hits me square in the chest.

Jeb, across the table, leans forward, grinning wide. “Dude, I am so hyped for tomorrow. This party’s gonna be sick.”

I laugh, leaning back. “Should be good, bro. Hope you’ve got plenty of alcohol ’cause I, for one, need to get pissed.”

Jeb hollers. “That’s the spirit!”