Page 76 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Mrs. Bennet left, but the awkward tension remained.

“That was so embarrassing.” Sofia was still perched on the edge of the bed, hovering as if she didn’t know where to put herself.

“Come here.” I reached over and grabbed her arm, yanking her down beside me.

“Cole, we can’t—”

“You really think she’s going to come back in here after catching us once?”

“Why are you being so calm about all of this?”

“Because getting worked up won’t change anything. And if I’m being honest, I’m kind of glad she knows.”

“You are?” Sofia’s face scrunched up.

“Yeah. Now when you try to push me away again”—because I didn’t doubt it would happen—“I’ll have someone in my corner.”

“Sneaky.”

“I’m not against playing unfair if it gets me what I want.”

“And what do you want, Cole Kandon?”

I gazed down at her; her words wrapped my heart like a fist. If she’d have asked me this a few months ago, I might have said music, to play with the guys again, to get accepted to University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. But now there was only one answer on the tip of my tongue.

“You.”

“Cole…”

“What? You asked.” I shrugged, smiling.

“I know, but want to know a secret?” She beckoned me closer, our mouths so close I could almost taste her. “You scare me.”

“I scare you?” My brow arched.

“This, us… I think it could mean something.” Hesitation sparked in her eyes. “And that terrifies me. Because what happens when I—”

“Shh, Sofe. Let’s make a promise to each other. We live in the moment. For the here and now. We take each and every day as it comes and leave tomorrow’s problems where they belong.”

“Live for the moment.” Her lips curved. “I think I can do that.”

“Good.” I kissed the end of her nose, reveling in how right she felt in my arms.

“Cole,” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to hurt Aaron.”

“He’ll come around,” I said, a sinking feeling going through me. Because I knew she didn’t only mean him finding out about us.

“And if he doesn’t?”

“He will.”

He had to.

Because this girl meant something to me, and I didn’t plan on letting her go.

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