Page 132 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

A loud knock on the door cut through the air and Cole cussed under his breath. “It’s my dad.”

“How do you know?”

The muscle in his jaw pulsed. “Trust me.” Cole dropped a kiss on my head before shoving back the covers and climbing out of bed.

I lay back against the plush pillows and drank in my fill of his body. All that muscle and smooth skin still sun-kissed from the summer, the ink trailing up and over his arm.

God, I could look at him all day and never grow bored.

Heat trickled through me, and he flashed me a knowing look as he pulled on his jeans.

“I’ll buy us some time, but you should probably clean up and get dressed.”

I let out a heavy sigh, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to my chest.

I guess our romantic getaway was well and truly over. But what did I really expect?

All good things had to come to an end, and for as much as I didn’t want to, it was time to go back to the real world.

* * *

After draggingmyself out of bed and cleaning up in the bathroom, I pulled on some fresh clothes and went in search of Cole who had yet to return.

My head was still foggy, but a glass of water had lifted some of the haze. At least, I was standing on two feet this morning. Unlike last night.

A wave of embarrassment went through me. I’d fainted in front of all those people. In front of Mr. and Mrs. Kandon, and then he’d made those cruel, offhanded comments.

My chest tightened. The studious, well-rounded girl with hopes of going off to Columbia wanted them to like me. It was only natural to seek your boyfriend’s parents’ approval, wasn’t it?

But I knew I’d never get it from Mr. Kandon, and once he found out the truth about my situation, I could only imagine what he might say.

Voices beyond the door caught my attention and I crept toward it, Cole and his father’s voice barely audible.

They were arguing, that much was apparent, and given how my stomach plummeted into my toes, I had a good idea about what—or who—it most likely was about.

“Whatever, I’m out.” Cole stormed into the room and slammed the door behind him. “Sofe.” His eyes locked on me standing there, listening. “What are you doing?”

“I heard voices.”

“He’s an asshole.”

“Cole, he’s your father.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes I wish he wasn’t.” He stalked over to the bed and sat on the edge.

“What did he say?”

“Gave me a lecture about embarrassing him at the mixer. Said… it doesn’t matter.”

“He’s annoyed at me.” I approached him and his hand shot out, curving around my hip and drawing me between his legs.

“He can get fucked.”

“What did he say?”

“It doesn’t matter, Sofe. I don’t care about what he thinks.”

“Did you tell him you’re not going to Drexel?”

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