Page 127 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

I was so screwed.

Only, I couldn’t find it in myself to care.

* * *

“You okay?”I asked Sofia as we entered the elevator at the hotel.

The ride back here had been quiet, Sofia lost to her own thoughts. No doubt with the reality of everything.

“Yeah.” She barely looked at me and I wanted to give her space, I did.

But I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t bear that she felt the need to turn away from me.

“Sofe.” I moved closer to her, and her eyes snapped to mine as she stepped back. “Don’t do that,” I implored. “Don’t run from me.”

“I’m not. But I… I embarrassed you. Your dad—”

“Is not important. You are.” I cupped her face, brushing my thumb down her cheek. “I only care about you.”

“He hates me. Now, he’ll probably—”

“Stop.” I crowded her against the chrome rail, pressing my other hand against the glass mirror beside her head. “The only thing I care about right now, is you.”

“Cole.” Her eyes fluttered as she inhaled a thin, shaky breath.

“Sofia, I—”

The elevator came to a stop, the doors whooshing open behind me. I let out a heavy sigh, the words on the tip of my tongue gone.

“We should get inside,” she said, slipping out from between me and the wall.

“Yeah.” My jaw clenched. She was running. And I got it, I did. But didn’t she understand that she didn’t have to run from me?

I was in—all in.

Only, she still didn’t believe me.

Or she was still trying to protect me.

Well, fuck that.

When you cared about somebody—when youlovedsomeone—you stood at their side. Strong and steady, you were their shoulder to cry on. The constant little voice of encouragement. You were the pillar of unwavering support at their back.

Sofia waited at the door since I had the keycard. I pulled it out of my wallet, and leaned into her, slipping my arm around her waist to get to the magnetic pad.

“I’m here, Sofe. And I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered, feeling a shudder roll through her.

The door clicked open, the tension between us snapping as she stepped inside. I followed, emptying my pockets of my wallet and cell phone and dropping them on the sideboard.

“Do you need anything?”

It was a simple question, but when she turned and looked at me, it became loaded.

Sofia’s eyes flashed with unexpected heat. “I…”

“What?” I stepped closer. “Tell me what you want?” I’ll give you anything. My hand curved around the side of her throat.

“I’m trying so hard not to listen to the little voice in my head that keeps whispering this is a bad idea. That I’m being selfish. That you deserve—”

---