Page 33 of Don’t Leave (Stay #2)

Confusion flickers across her face. “Is he still in the picture?”

The laughter of moments ago is totally forgotten as sadness fills me. “I don’t think so.”

She searches my eyes carefully before asking, “You like Cole a lot?”

It’s not really a question I have to think about. “Yeah, I do.”

Understanding seems to dawn across her expression. “So, Luke really is just a friend?”

“I’m not sure what we are anymore,” I admit.

“But he’d like to be more than friends?”

“Yes, I think so. I started something up with Cole in the beginning of the semester and it took a long time for me to lower my guard and trust him. I still have feelings for him.”

Almost absently she runs her fingers through my hair, and it reminds me of when I was a small child and she’d tuck me in at night. She always ran her fingers through my hair before kissing me goodnight. I’m not sure when she stopped doing that but I’m glad she’s here and that we’re talking.

Really talking.

I’ve always had a close relationship with my dad. Only now am I wondering if maybe it came at the expense of the one I could have had with my mom. It’s not something I ever thought about before.

Maybe I should have.

“That’s understandable.”

“Plus,” I add, “I have a lot going on with school. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize my success.”

“You’re right. You do have a lot going on, but you also seem to be handling it well.

The best advice I can is to take things slow and do what feels right.

Maybe that’s being on your own right now.

” She sifts her fingers through my hair again.

“You know, I never worried about you when it came to boys because you were always so focused on hockey to the exclusion of everything else. Most of the time, it was a relief. Even though your life took a slight detour last year, you’re back on track again.

Whatever decision you make will be the right decision. I believe in you, Cassidy.”

This time, I take the initiative by leaning forward and wrapping my arms around her. “Thanks, Mom.” I close my eyes and inhale the sweet scent of her rosemary mint shampoo. It catapults me back to a time when life felt simpler.

“Anytime, sweetie.”

As we break apart, my phone chimes with an incoming message. I glance down at it in surprise when Cole’s name pops up.

Mom peeks at the screen. “Cole, huh?”

My wide gaze dart to hers and I drop my voice as if it’s possible for him to hear us discussing him. “We haven’t talked in a while.”

“Then it sounds like you two might have a lot to say to one another.” She smiles before rising to her feet and walking to the door. “Oh,” she adds, swinging around to face me, “the minivan pulls out at four.”

I wince at the idea of hauling my ass out of bed at three thirty in the morning just to go shopping. I can’t help but wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.

“Having second thoughts?”

I meet her questioning gaze and realize that I’d get up at any ungodly hour in the morning if it meant spending more time with my family.

“Nope.”

“Good. If you make it to noon, I’ll treat you to lunch.”

My eyes widen. “We’re planning to shop for eight hours?”

“At least. We have to find all the deals.”

My brows knit together as I stare in shock. “You’re kidding, right?”

She points to the solemn expression she’s wearing. “Does this look like the face of someone who isn’t a serious Black Friday shopper? My advice is to wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers, and pack a few snacks in your bag.”

My mouth drops open as she closes the door behind her with a wide smile. I stare for a few seconds before remembering the message from Cole.

Hope you had a good turkey day with your family.

Something in my heart warms as I read over the text half a dozen times. It only reminds me how much I miss him. It takes at least ten minutes and roughly thirty drafts before I get my message just right and hit the send button.

Had a great turkey day with the fam—thanks to you. Hope yours was just as good.

As soon as the message is rocketed into space, I wonder if I should have written something else. Maybe I should have played it a little cooler.

Ugh. I really hate this kind of stuff.

I’m not good at it.

When fifteen minutes drag by, I consider chucking my phone across the room. Just when I figure he won’t respond, the cell chimes with another incoming message.

Glad everything went well. Mine was good too. Playing hockey tomorrow. How about you?

A smile tips the corners of my lips as I flop onto my bed. Again, I compose about twenty different responses before I actually hit send. It’s tortuous.

Shopping with my mom and sisters. Not sure what I just got myself into :0

I release a pent-up breath when he responds within a few minutes.

It’s kind of unbelievable that after a full week of silence, Cole and I are conversing through text messages.

What I don’t know is if it means anything.

Cole is such a nice guy. I could see him wondering if everything’s going all right for me after not speaking to my family for almost a year.

When I think about it like that, it makes perfect sense that he would reach out.

Which probably means I shouldn’t read too much into this gesture.

It’s Cole just being…well… Cole .

I’m glad the break is going well. Have fun tomorrow.

I nibble at my lower lip and debate what to write. It’s completely obvious that he was just concerned how I was faring.

Have fun playing hockey. See you when ? —

I’m about to finish the sentence with— I get back but I have no clue if I’ll see him. Are we going to start talking again?

I don’t know and I really don’t want to put myself out there by implying it.

Instead, I end up composing a friendly—yet not too friendly—message in return.

Have fun playing hockey and enjoy the rest of your break.

My thumb hovers over the send button for a moment as I read the message at least a dozen times before firing it off into the atmosphere.

With a huff, I collapse onto the mattress and wish everything could be different between us.