Page 41 of Echoes of Us

A shley woke to a familiar weight across her waist and warm breath against her neck. Sunlight was just beginning to creep through her childhood curtains, painting strips of gold across rumpled sheets and discarded clothes. Cole's arm tightened around her as she stirred, pulling her closer.

"What time is it?" he mumbled into her hair, voice rough with sleep.

She squinted at her bedside clock. "Six-thirty." Then, as reality hit: "Oh no, my parents-"

"Are probably already awake." His lips found that sensitive spot behind her ear, making her shiver. "Your mom's been in the kitchen for at least twenty minutes. I smell coffee."

Heat flooded her cheeks. "You've been awake?"

"Mmm." His hand slid lower, tracing patterns on her hip. "Watching you sleep. Counting these." His fingers brushed one of the marks he'd left on her collarbone, sending sparks through her even as embarrassment colored her cheeks darker.

"Cole!" She twisted in his arms, meaning to scold him, but the sight of him in her childhood bed made the words die in her throat. His dark hair was a mess from her fingers, stubble shadowing his jaw. He looked impossibly right here among her old stuffed animals and academic trophies.

His eyes darkened as they traced her body. "You know," he said conversationally, "we should probably shower before-"

"Absolutely not." But she was fighting a smile now. "My parents' bathroom is right next door."

"Then we'll have to be very, very quiet." His hand slid up her thigh.

"Cole Westwood!" She caught his wrist, trying to look stern despite the laugh bubbling up. "We are not having shower sex in my parents' house."

He grinned that wild, uninhibited smile that made her heart flip. "Fine. But I'm going to need you to wear something with a high collar today." His thumb brushed another mark on her neck.

Reality started creeping back in as they dressed, stealing glances at each other like teenagers. Ashley's heart felt too full watching Cole button his shirt from last night, straightening his collar in her mirror.

"I should head back," he said softly, catching her eye in the reflection. "Before your father decides to show me his gun collection."

"He doesn't have a gun collection."

"No?" Cole turned, pulling her close. "Then I definitely got lucky."

She pressed her face into his chest, breathing him in. "I'll come back today," she whispered. "I just need to talk to my parents first. Make sure they understand..."

"That you're not running away anymore?"

She nodded against his shirt.

His fingers tilted her chin up, and the love in his eyes made her chest ache. "I'll be waiting." He kissed her softly, then deeper, until she was clutching his shoulders to stay upright.

A floorboard creaked in the hallway.

They broke apart, both fighting grins now. "Go," she whispered, pushing him toward her window. "Before my mom 'accidentally' walks in."

"Your window? Really?"

"Unless you want to explain to my father why you're sneaking out of my room at dawn?"

Cole glanced at the door, then back at the window. "Point taken." He swung one leg over the sill, then paused. "Ashley?"

"Hmm?"

"Last night..." His expression turned serious. "I meant everything I said. About us figuring this out together."

Her heart squeezed. "I know." She kissed him once more, quick and sweet. "Now go before you break your neck on my mother's rosebushes."

His laugh followed her as she closed the window behind him. She stayed there watching until he disappeared around the corner, her fingers pressed to lips that still tingled from his kiss.

When she finally turned around, her mother was standing in the doorway with two cups of coffee and a knowing smile.

"So," her mother said, offering her a mug. "I take it Harvard's off the table?"

* * *

The familiar gates of Yale looked different somehow as Ashley pulled into campus that evening. Snow still dusted the gothic spires, but they didn't loom quite so ominously now. Everything felt... lighter, like she was finally choosing this place rather than being trapped by it.

Sarah was waiting on the steps of their dorm, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "So," she drawled as Ashley climbed out of the car. "Cole Westwood climbing out your bedroom window at dawn. Not exactly how I expected this to play out."

Heat flooded Ashley's cheeks. "Me neither."

“Happy now?”

Ashley thought about last night - about Cole in her childhood bed, about her mother's knowing smile over coffee, about the marks still hidden beneath her sweater. "Yeah," she said, surprised to find she meant it. "I really am."

"Good." Sarah linked their arms as they headed inside. "Because Marie's been asking about you."

Reality crashed back like a wave. Marie. How could she face her after everything?

"She's not angry," Sarah said quietly, reading her expression. "I mean, she was at first. But..." She hesitated. "Look, you should talk to her yourself. She's in our room."

Ashley's steps faltered. "Here?! Now?"

"No time like the present." Sarah squeezed her arm. "Besides, she's been waiting for hours. Probably better to handle this before Cole shows up looking for you."

The walk up the dorm stairs felt both too long and too short. Ashley's heart hammered against her ribs as they approached their room. She'd spent so long running from these conversations, these confrontations. Time to face them head-on.

Marie sat cross-legged on Sarah's bed, her dark curls pulled back in a messy bun, looking so achingly familiar it hurt. She looked up as they entered, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

"Hi," Ashley managed finally.

Marie straightened, something unreadable crossing her face. "You came back."

"Yeah." Ashley's fingers twisted in the hem of her sweater. "Marie, I-"

"Don't." Marie held up a hand. "Let me go first." She took a deep breath. "I knew, Ashley. About you and Cole. I think I knew before either of you did."

Ashley's throat tightened. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because he needed to figure it out himself." A sad smile touched Marie's lips. "And because you were my friend. Are my friend. Even if you're also an idiot who runs away instead of talking to people."

A laugh that was almost a sob escaped Ashley. "I'm so sorry."

"I know." Marie's eyes softened. "Just... be good to him, okay? He pretends nothing touches him, but..."

"But everything does," Ashley finished quietly. "I know."

They looked at each other for a long moment, their friendship hanging in the balance. Then Marie stood, closing the distance between them. Her hug was fierce, almost painful.

"Don't you dare run away again," she whispered. "Not from him, not from me, not from any of it."

Ashley hugged her back just as tightly, tears spilling freely now. "I won't. I promise."

Sarah cleared her throat from the doorway. "Not to interrupt this beautiful moment, but..." She gestured toward the window, where Cole's familiar figure could be seen crossing the quad, headed straight for their building.

Marie pulled back with a watery laugh. "That's my cue to leave. We'll talk more later?"

Ashley nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. As Marie reached the door, she turned back with a hint of her old mischief. "Oh, and Ashley? Nice turtleneck. Very... seasonal."

Heat flooded Ashley's cheeks as her hand flew to her neck. But Marie was already gone, her laughter echoing down the hallway.

"Well," Sarah said, grinning. "That went better than expected."

A knock at the door made them both jump. Cole's voice carried through, low and amused: "Are you going to let me in, or should I try the window again?"

Sarah opened the door with an exaggerated flourish. "Well, if it isn't the human ladder himself."

Cole leaned against the doorframe, all casual grace in his dark sweater and jeans, but his eyes fixed on Ashley immediately. The intensity of his gaze made her breath catch - how did he manage to look at her like that, like they were alone, even with Sarah right there?

"I'm going to... not be here," Sarah announced, grabbing her bag. She paused beside Cole. "Just remember - thin walls. Very thin walls."

Heat flooded Ashley's cheeks as Sarah disappeared down the hall, closing the door behind her with a meaningful click. For a moment, she and Cole just looked at each other, the air charged between them.

"Hi," she managed finally.

Cole's smile turned predatory as he moved toward her. "Nice turtleneck."

"Shut up." But she was already reaching for him, fingers curling into his sweater as he backed her against her desk. "It's your fault."

"Mmm." His hands found her hips, lifting her onto the desk. Papers scattered, but neither of them cared. "I seem to remember you not complaining at the time." His thumb brushed the edge of her collar, making her shiver. "In fact-"

She cut him off with a kiss, partly to shut him up and partly because she couldn't help herself. He responded immediately, one hand tangling in her hair while the other pulled her closer. The kiss deepened, turning hungry as his tongue traced her bottom lip-

"Thin walls!" Sarah's voice carried through the door, making them jump apart. "Very, very thin!"

Cole dropped his forehead to Ashley's shoulder, his laugh rumbling through her. "Your roommate has terrible timing."

"My roommate has saved us from scandal." But her fingers were still twisted in his sweater, her heart racing. "We should probably..."

"Probably," he agreed but made no move to step back. Instead, his lips found that spot beneath her ear that made her gasp. "Or we could-"

"Cole!" But she was laughing now, pushing at his chest. "We are not christening my dorm room five minutes after I made up with Marie."

He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his expression softening. "How did that go? Really?"

"Better than I deserved." She traced his jaw with gentle fingers. "You were right, Cole."

"She's smarter than both of us put together." He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.

Ashley's heart squeezed at the simple gesture. This was her Cole - capable of shifting from playful to tender in heartbeats, burning bright enough to blind her while still holding her so carefully.

"Come on," he said, finally stepping back, though his hands lingered on her waist. "Let me take you to dinner. Somewhere off campus where your roommate can't provide running commentary."

"Heard that!" Sarah called through the door.

They both laughed, the sound mingling in the small space between them. As Ashley gathered her coat, Cole's hands settled on her shoulders, warm and steady.

"I missed you," he said quietly. "Even though you were only gone a few days. Is that crazy?"

She turned in his arms, stretching up to kiss him softly. "No. Not crazy at all."