Page 86 of Don't Leave
Maybe this is what I need to get over Cole.
His lips ghost over mine. He brushes my top lip before giving the same attention my bottom one. Gently, he kisses the corners of my mouth. It’s only when he pulls back that I realize I’m not ready to let him go. His gaze searches mine for a second before he closes the distance between us again. His lips drift over mine with soft seductive strokes.
We kiss for a few more minutes before he ends it.
When I finally open my eyes, he whispers, “I want you to think about that, Cassidy.”
Every thought empties from my head, making speech impossible.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to the door.”
With that, he exits the vehicle, jogging around the front of his truck. Once he reaches the passenger side door, he opens it and helps me out. As we face one another on my front lawn, he pulls me close until I’m wrapped up in his arms. I rest my head against the solid wall of his chest and breathe him in.
“I’m not going to push you into anything, Cassidy. You’re the one who needs to decide what you want.” He pauses before adding, “You need to decidewhoyou want.” He pulls back enough to holds my gaze in the darkness. “I think we could be good together. Give me a chance to prove just how good we could be. If I’m the one you want to be with, then it’s up to you to make the next move.”
My mind whirls with the implication of his words. “Okay.”
Just when I wonder if he’ll lean in for one last kiss, he turns and tows me to the front door. Once we’re standing under the bright porch light, he tugs me into his arms and holds me close.
“I’ll pick you up on Sunday around two so we can head back to school. Let Brooklyn know.”
Still unable to speak, I nod.
His gaze holds mine as he presses a kiss to my mouth. A few heartbeats later, he retreats down the stairs to the driveway. And I’m left standing on the front porch with the cold swirling around me.
As he walks backwards down the brick pathway, his gaze stays pinned to mine. “Go inside, it’s cold.”
I nod, feeling strangely scattered. Once inside, I lean heavily against the front door before releasing a breath.
I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt this conflicted.
CHAPTER 25
COLE
“Someone’s at the door, can you please answer it?” Mom yells from the kitchen where she’s baking Christmas cookies.
Already.
That’s not a complaint.
It means I’ll have more food to take back to school when I leave tomorrow afternoon. I pause, unable to rip my attention away from the big screen TV as the final seconds of the first quarter play out. The bell rings for a second time as the ball is being passed and?—
“Cole?” she shouts again.
Except this time there’s exasperation lacing her voice.
And that’s never good.
“I’m on it!”
But not really.
Fumble.
Damn.
With a shake of my head, I jog to the door and throw it wide open. Almost immediately, I wish I’d ignored it.
