Chapter 5 Morning aftermath

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Summer’s POV

“Who could it be?” I mumbled, my heart in my throat.

“Did you make an appointment with someone?” I asked Cole, my voice barely steady.

Cole glanced at the door, then back at me and shook his head.

“I didn’t.”

The doorbell rang again, more insistent. My heart slammed against my ribs.

Panic flooded through me so fast it made me dizzy.

“No, no, no…” I mumbled under my breath.

I scrambled out of bed, wrapping the sheet around my chest like armor. My clothes were scattered across the floor.

I snatched my top and trousers up with shaking hands, ignoring the underwear and yanked it over my head while my mind ran in a thousand directions.

How did I let myself get carried away and sleep with Cole Matthew?

I wished the ground could open and swallow me right now.

Cole was already pulling on his jeans in one smooth motion.

“I will go check,” he said, catching my wrist.

His thumb brushed over my pulse like he could feel it racing.

My heart tumbled, with butterflies dancing in my stomach.

“Come on, Summer. This is not the time,” I cautioned myself.

I watched as Cole walked out, while I continued to feel like my heart is about to burst.

Either from excitement or fear.

I paced for maybe three seconds before the muffled sounds of a male voice drifted through the door.

I froze, somewhat relieved.

It’s not Mia, or his parents, and definitely not Regina.

Please don’t be anyone I know or who knows me.

I grabbed my phone from under the bed to silence the alarm as soon as it starts to blare but it was too late.

Whoever it was must have heard it.

I stepped out slowly, clutching my phone like a shield.

The living room came into view and so did him.

He was also on the soccer team like Cole.

He had broad shoulders and wore a varsity jacket, holding a takeout coffee and a folder.

I remembered him.

He is one of the guys Cole hangs out with at school.

Also from the engineering department. Everyone calls him Drew.

Short for Andrew.

His eyes landed on me and widened.

“Uh…hey?” Drew said, confused.

“Cole, you didn’t tell me you had company.”

Cole stepped out from the kitchen behind me, his shirt half-buttoned and hair still damp from last night.

I looked at myself and him and saw that anyone could figure out what happened between us last night.

We probably still smelled like it and definitely looked it.

Cole walked forward and used his body to block my view from Drew’s.

He looked completely unbothered.

“Bro, did you…” Drew said with a smile tugging on his lips.

“Cut that nonsense out,” Cole told him.

“Sorry, I’m just surprised to see you with another girl that isn’t Regina.”

“This is Summer,” Cole said casually.

Drew blinked.

“Your sister?”

Cole nodded.

“Yeah. My sister.”

I blinked, totally confused by this introduction.

The way Drew’s expression shifted from surprise to something that looked like understanding meant that Cole had mentioned something about me to him.

But to call me his sister? Not even Mia’s best friend but his sister.

Has he lost his mind?

I wanted to burst out but then kept my cool and smiled at Drew.

“Yeah. Nice to meet you,” I forced the words out.

“I’m Andrew. Cole’s friend,” he said and took my hand.

Cole cleared his throat noisily and motioned towards the kitchen.

“Come in. You said you needed help with the graduation project outline?”

Drew nodded, already heading for the kitchen table.

“Yeah. Professor Hayes wants the draft by this afternoon and I am stuck on the data analysis section.”

Graduation project. Right. Cole is in his final year.

Everyone on campus knew he was top of his class.

I stood there like an idiot with the sheet still wrapped around me, while they talked like I wasn’t there.

“Coffee?” Drew suddenly turned to me and asked.

Cole also lifted his eyes without looking at me.

“Focus,” he said to Drew who shrugged.

“Fine. You got any toast? I’m starving.”

Cole nodded, walking past me to the fridge and brought out the bread.

They settled at the table. Drew opened his laptop while Cole started making toast.

I slowly lowered myself to a seat, realization hitting me hard.

Last night probably meant nothing to him.

After all, I was the one who agreed to a ridiculous favor and gave my first time to him so cheaply.

I felt so stupid as I let go of the sheet on me.

Cole glanced over and caught me staring. His smile faded slightly.

“You okay?”

I nodded quickly.

“Yeah. Fine.”

“Give me a minute. I will drive you,” Cole said, but I wasn’t sure who he was speaking to.

As soon as he disappeared into the room, I walked over to the table.

“Can you please tell him I left, okay?”

“Huh?” Drew paused.

“What about breakfast?” he asked.

I stared at the toaster and shook my head.

“I have an early class,” I said, although that wasn’t a lie.

“Okay…”

I didn’t allow him finish before hurrying to the door and grabbing my shoes and bolted out without looking back.

The elevator doors slid shut behind me and I slid down to the floor the second they closed.

My back hit the cold metal and I buried my face in my hands.

What have I done?

I kept asking myself the same question over and over until the elevator reached the first floor.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out with shaking fingers.

Mia: where are you? Your boss said you left in the middle of your shift last night.

I stared at the message and more implications of my actions flashed in my mind.

I hadn't even thought about work. I had been so caught up in Cole and my stupid feelings last night.

All my resolve and restraint for all these years, I threw them away in just one night.

Not only am I going to lose my job now but I'm also going to be late for my classes.

I hurried out of the building, flagged down a taxi and prayed I am still able to make it.

I reached the campus ten minutes late and head to the restroom to clean my face and arrange my hair properly before running to my 8 AM lecture hall.

“Summer?”

Mia’s voice cut through the hallway.

She was standing by the door with her arms crossed and eyes full of worry.

My heart pounded as another consequence of my action hit me.

How do I face Mia?