Page 56 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Ashleigh disappeared down the hall, leaving me alone with Sofia who was clearly not happy about the situation.

“Can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to say.”

The hurt in her eyes suggested otherwise but I didn’t know how to do this without causing a scene.

“Sofe, please…”

“Fine. But not here.” She glanced around the hall and then took off toward the doors leading to the athletic field. I followed, keeping a safe distance because it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with me.

What did you really expect, asshole?

I needed to explain things to her. To explain that the shock of hearing her say those words, the images they’d conjured up, had thrown me for a loop.

I cared about her. Both as my best friend’s sister and as the girl I’d secretly crushed on since I was just a boy. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. I didn’t want—

Fuck.

The overpowering dread I’d felt yesterday was slithering through me again.

Sofia stopped along the path to the bleachers, a hidden little spot that would give us some degree of privacy.

“So I…” I hesitated, trying to find the right words, the apology that teetered on the tip of my tongue.

“Cole, wait. Let me go first.”

“Okay.” I ran my fingers through my hair and down the back of my neck. It was almost winter, the air turning colder every day. But when Sofia looked at me with those big blue eyes, heat licked my spine.

Jesus, she was beautiful.

“I think you should go on the date thing with Kacie.”

“Wait, what?” I blinked, my ears surely deceiving me.

She shrugged, a dismissive lift of her shoulders as if it didn’t matter.

It fucking mattered.

“This, us, it was a mistake. It’s senior year, you have a lot on your mind, and I’ll be… you know.”

She dropped her gaze and my stomach churned.

This wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to apologize, to tell her that I’d be there for her, whatever she needed.

“Sofe, I don’t want—”

“It’s not going to happen,” she said, taking a step back. “Just… go on the date, Cole. Live your life. This, us, it has disaster written all over it.”

“You don’t mean that.” I stepped forward, reaching for her. My palm glided against her cheek as I gazed down at her, trying to convey everything I couldn’t find the words to say.

She was on the defensive. Building her walls so high I couldn’t find a way in. But I was a patient guy, I’d find a workaround. I’d figure out—

“Don’t look at me like that.” Her eyes shuttered. “Please, I can’t stand it.”

My brows pinched. “How am I looking at you?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She went to turn away, but I wouldn’t let her.

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