Chapter 1 A four year crush

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Summer’s POV

I shouldn’t be here.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I stood in Mia’s kitchen with a wooden spoon in my hand, pretending to focus on stirring the apple pie filling while my heart beat a little too fast for no good reason.

Okay maybe there was a reason.

“Cole will be back in any minute,” Mia said on the phone and nodded once more before ending the call.

She leaned against the counter, licking sugar off her finger.

“Hey, girl, guess what?”

“What?” I replied without looking at her.

Mia grinned.

“I think Cole might be proposing soon.”

The spoon in my hand paused mid-stir.

“What?”

“To Regina, silly.” she added, rolling her eyes like it was obvious.

“They had been together forever, Summer. Mom and Dad were already talking about weddings and grand kids. Like, can you imagine? I might become an aunt before I even graduated.”

My chest tightened as I listened and I forced a laugh.

“That’s… fast.”

But really, it was jealousy speaking.

“Not really,” Mia shrugged.

“They were perfect together. Regina was basically already part of the family.”

Of course.

I looked down at the pie filling, watching the apples swirl slowly like they were mocking me and my feelings of four years now.

At fifteen, I realized that every time Cole smiled at me, my stomach flipped in a way that wasn’t normal and when he ruffled my hair or called me ‘kid’ something inside me melted.

I was in love with my best friend’s brother but I dared not say it out.

I had kept those feelings buried inside me for so long that lately, they seemed to be eating me up.

“Hey, are you even listening?” Mia nudged me.

“Yeah,” I lied.

“Of course.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, but before she could press further, the front door opened.

And just like that, everything inside me stilled.

As Cole’s footsteps approached us, I lowered my head and didn’t turn immediately.

I needed a moment to compose myself and remind my stupid heart how to act normal around him.

Like a younger sister I had trained myself to over the years.

“Smelled good in here,” Cole’s voice came from behind us.

I turned slowly after repeating the words I wanted to say to him in my head.

And there he was.

Cole Matthew.

Six feet of effortless confidence, dark hair slightly messy like he had run his hands through it too many times and that stupid, unfairly perfect smile that had ruined my life since I was fifteen.

And his lips… the amount of times I had imagined them on mine was way too unhealthy.

He looked good. So good.

Like he had just stepped out of one of those moments girls wrote about in their dairies.

He must have been returning from another date with Regina.

My stomach twisted.

“Hey kid,” he turned to me after exchanging greetings with Mia.

I swallowed hard.

“Hi.”

Cole walked past us to the counter, reaching for one of the cooling pies.

“These for me?”

“Don’t you dare,” Mia snapped, slapping his hand away.

“They were for the fundraiser tomorrow.”

Cole grinned, unfazed.

“You always made extra.”

“That’s not the point.”

He chuckled then turned slightly toward me and then his hand was in my hair.

He gave me a casual ruffle but my entire body reacted in every way but casual.

Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t do that to anyone, even Mia, except me that made my heart flutter so much.

Heat flooded my face and my breath stuttered.

I just hoped he never noticed or saw that.

“Still hanging around my sister, huh?” he said lightly.

“I thought you two might grow apart after getting into different colleges.”

“Someone had to keep her in check.” I said, forcing a smile.

“Yeah?” his eyes flickered with amusement.

“Looks like you were doing a terrible job.”

Mia scoffed.

I tried to laugh but it came out a little breathless, praying he would go away but he didn’t.

Instead, he waited to finish the pie and reached out to grab another one.

“Speaking of,” he said.

His hand brushed mine and I shifted quickly.

“Hm mm?”

“That guy I saw you with at your birthday party… what was his name?”

My brain blanked.

“Uh?”

He noticed?

“Ryan,” Mia cut in smoothly, completely oblivious to the fact that I was internally malfunctioning right now.

“But that was like, three months ago. They already broke up.”

I shot her a look and she shrugged.

Cole raised an eyebrow.

“Already?”

His gaze shifted back to me, sharper now.

“Why?”

I hesitated for two seconds, feeling quite embarrassed.

“He cheated over the spring break,” I said, clearing my throat.

The words felt heavier than they should.

Cole’s expression slowly darkened and he seemed upset.

“You okay?” he asked, stepping closer.

I held my breath, gazing up at him.

“I was fine,” I said quickly.

“Really. I was over it.”

Of course, I was.

I dated him because I wanted to get over my crush anyways but that didn’t work out.

I kind of cheated first.

Cole studied me for a moment then his hand was back in my hair again.

Gentler this time.

“Be careful,” he said quietly.

“And stay out of trouble, kid.”

I nodded, even though my chest ached.

He gave my hair one last ruffle before turning and heading toward the stairs.

My eyes locked on him as he went away.

“Summer!”

I blinked.

Mia was staring at me expectantly, her hand out.

“The spoon?”

“Oh right.” I handed it to her, my fingers still tingling.

“I guessed he was really cool with us dating now.” Mia commented.

“Hmm.” I nodded.

She went back to talking, rambling about wedding plans and Regina and how cute their babies would be.

“I should go.” I said, cutting Mia off suddenly.

She frowned.

“Already? We hadn’t even finished…”

“I have work,” I cut in quickly.

“Plus I need to stop by somewhere first.”

Mia sighed but nodded.

“Fine. Text me when you get back home.”

“I will.”

I grabbed my bag and practically rushed out before I lose my mind.