Page 77 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

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“Cole Kandon,why are you sitting in my kitchen eating pancakes?” Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes at me, and Sofia groaned.

“Dad, don’t act like you didn’t know he spent the night. I know Mom told you.”

“She may have mentioned something. Doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to grill him about it though. In fact, maybe we should go outside and have a little chat, man to man. What do you sa—”

“No,” Sofia snapped. “Absolutely not. Besides, you can’t hurt him, Dad. Coach Ford will kick your ass if you hurt his star quarterback.”

“Hmm, this is true.” He rubbed his jaw, studying me. “Okay, let’s get straight to it then. What are your intentions with my daughter?”

“Oh my God.” Sofia dropped her forehead into her arm, and I chuckled.

“He’s only joking, babe.”

“Says who?” Mr. Bennet glowered. “Do I look like I’m joking, son? I want to know exactly what—”

“Ash, behave.” Mrs. B wandered into the kitchen. “Good morning, Cole. Please ignore Ash, he’s grouchy before he has at least two strong coffees.”

She grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him deeply. Enough to make me look away. Sofia caught my eye and mouthed, ‘Sorry.’

“It’s okay.” I smiled back.

I just wasn’t used to seeing such displays of emotion in the kitchen.

“All jokes aside,” Mr. Bennet said. “Do we need to talk about this? You have a right to privacy, sweetheart, but this could hurt Aaron if he finds out before you talk to him. And with the…”

“It’s okay, Dad. Cole respects my wish to hold off telling Aaron.”

“Loyalty and respect are an important foundation of any relationship. And you were Aaron’s best friend before you were Sofia’s boy—”

“We get it, Dad,” Sofia blurted out. “We’ll talk to Aaron, I promise. But not about the cancer; not yet.”

His lips thinned with disapproval. “Fine. I can’t make you tell him. But he deserves to know. Imagine if your roles were reversed and something was wrong with Aaron, and he told Poppy and not you.”

“Ash,” Mrs. B said right as Sofia gasped.

“Shit, sweetheart. I didn’t mean—”

But Sofia was gone, running out of the kitchen and down the hall.

“Dammit, Asher. I should go check—”

“I’ll go.” I stood.

Mrs. Bennet hesitated, but then let out a soft sigh. “Maybe that’s for the best. Take care of our girl, Cole.” She gave me a sad smile.

“I will.” I nodded.

I headed straight for Sofia’s bedroom but didn’t expect to find her in floods of tears. “Sofe.” I slipped into her bedroom and closed the door, going to her. “Come here.”

“I’m okay. I’m fine… I…”

Wrapping her into my arms, I held her close and ran my hands up and down her spine. “It’s okay to not be fine too, you know.”

She peeked up at me, sniffling. “I can’t believe he said that.”

“You know he didn’t mean it the way he sounded. There’s no manual here. You’ve all got to find your way. A new normal.”

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