Joie

 

My cheeks still burned from the effect of Cole’s kiss. What happened to me anyway? Why did I let him kiss me like that? Why did I kiss him back? It was bad enough, the anxiety I was feeling about Davis being a newly permanent fixture at my house, I didn’t need to lose focus when it came to Cole. I needed to remember my goals. USC. No Cole. Get away from Indiana. No Cole. Direct the best play the people from USC had ever seen. NO COLE!

It was like he set out to undermine all my resolve on a daily basis. Not that he was always trying to kiss me, but he was always there. Always reminding me of how things used to be. Making me miss him. Miss us. It sucked, and I couldn’t wait for rehearsals to be over. For the play to be done. To never see Cole Parker ever again.

Then why did just the thought of it make my heart ache and my stomach want to lose all its contents?

Letting the door to the auditorium slam shut behind me, I made my way to the bike rack, thankful for the warmer weather and Daylight Savings. I hated riding my bike home in the dark and now there was just a peek of sun left by the time I pulled into the driveway and stowed my bike next to the trash bins.

“You kissed her, Cole!”

I winced at the sound of Brianna’s pissed off voice reaching me from all the way across the parking lot. Cole leaned casually against the door of his car, his arms hanging loosely at his side. He didn’t seem like he had a care in the world. Brianna, on the other hand, looked ready to pounce and relieve him of his manhood.

The old Joie, the one that was Cole’s best friend, wanted to race over to stand between him and anyone or anything that threatened him, but I couldn’t do that. Wouldn’t. Besides, Cole looked like he could take care of himself. I did feel somewhat bad for Brianna. I didn’t feel guilty though. Cole had kissed me. I didn’t initiate anything beyond the scripted peck on the lips. Cole had been the one to deepen the kiss. Cole had been the one to pull me in close to his chest. Man, what a kiss it had been, too.

If there was one thing I’d come to realize over the last couple of months, it was that Cole and I had an unmistakable connection. It was as though my soul was attached to his soul. If Cole was anywhere near, I knew it even if I couldn’t see him. His voice rumbling when he spoke nearby seemed to settle me. When our eyes met, it was like something out of a rom-com. Time stood still. The world slipped away. And when Cole kissed me, I swear, I heard angels sing. It was almost enough to make me abandon my resolve to keep Cole out of my life. At least, until I got home and was reminded of my mom. That was all it took to shore up my defenses. I never wanted to be like her. Ever.

Pedaling out of the school parking lot, I hazarded a glance over my shoulder to look at Cole. Brianna paced in front of him, her hands waving around angrily. Cole wasn’t even paying attention. In fact, his gaze followed my progress, a small smirk curling his lips.

Oh my.

 

Cole

 

I had a moment, leaning against my car door, watching as Brianna paced in front of me, angry words and accusations filling the air between us- As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t convince myself to care. I thought about the things my dad had taught me. About girls, not puberty. I wasn’t being fair to Brianna, even if I knew she only wanted to be with me because I was the top dog right now. Just because she didn’t know she deserved better than that- I did.

“Brianna.” She kept going, ranting about Joie and that kiss.

Wow. That kiss. At that moment, all I wanted to do was go to Joie’s house and talk to her about that kiss. And about the possibility of more kisses. We needed to have more kisses and I wasn’t going to let her get out of talking to me about it this time. She was going to tell me why or- or- I didn’t know what. She was just going to.

“Brianna!”

“What?” She finally stopped, facing me with tear-streaked cheeks.

Was I really going to do this? I realized I couldn’t avoid it. I saw the future of my relationship with Brianna playing out before me and there was no way. I wasn’t going to keep hurting her. I had to end it now. With my conflicted feelings about Joie and our past…

“I think we should break up.” Just rip off the Band-Aid.

Her face crumpled. “What?”

I was such a jerk. But I never anticipated this situation. Joie hadn’t spoken to me in forever. Briana and I were happy as we were. Then Joie opened that door and my heart couldn’t shake the idea that I might have another chance with her.

Gently grasping her arms, I pulled her close. I didn’t want to hurt her any more than I had. Although, I knew mostly she was just going to be mad.

“I’m sorry. It’s been great. I’ve had a lot of fun dating you. But I think we need to break up.”

Brianna jerked out of my arms, her body roiling with anger and frustration. “Are you kidding me? You’re breaking up with me?” She sounded so astounded.

I nodded. There was really nothing else to say. “You have your car, right?” I began walking toward it. I would make sure she got on the road safely and then I was going to go talk to Joie.

I opened her car door and turned to see her standing open-mouthed where I’d left her. I gestured to the car, anxious to leave now that I’d done the right thing breaking up with her.

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Brianna stomped over, sliding into the driver’s seat without a word. I closed the door for her and stood back. She jammed her key into the ignition before peeling out of the parking lot.

Sighing with both regret and relief, I got into my car and headed home.