“Finn, I’m hanging up now,” I repeated, firmer this time. “Go home. Sleep it off.” Before he could protest further, I ended the call, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. I stared at my phone, half-expecting it to buzz again, but thankfully, it stayed silent. Shaking my head, I placed the phone b
Nicola Taylor As I stood in line at my favorite café, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries enveloped me, providing me with comfort. I was there to pick up my usual—an indulgent caramel macchiato—and the drinks for my family: Cole’s strong, black coffee and Arabella’s sweet straw
Cole’s frown deepened as he glanced at me, his eyes searching mine for an explanation. I could see the hurt and confusion swirling in his gaze, and it only made the knot in my stomach tighten. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I had hoped we could avoid it, at least for today. We walked
Cole Harrington I entered the bedroom quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet. Nicola was sitting on the bed facing me but she didn’t notice me. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, typing something furiously on her laptop. The rhythmic clacking of the keys filled the room, an
God, I just wanted to kiss her. The thought came unbidden, a sudden, overwhelming urge to close the distance between us and capture those lips with mine. But I forced myself to stay still, to keep my composure. "What do you want to do?" I asked, my voice coming out more stoic than I intended. "I w
Nicola Taylor As the clock inched closer to 6 PM, I found myself feeling both excited and a little guilty about meeting Stephanie, one of my closest friends who still taught at Arabella’s school and my old workplace. It had been so long since we’d caught up, and I could already hear her playful sco
Nicola Taylor As I brushed my hair, following my familiar bedtime routine, I caught a glimpse of Cole watching me out of the corner of my eye. He seemed almost intrigued, his gaze fixed on my every move as I finished my skincare ritual. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed him doing this, he had a
Just as I was about to give up, there was a knock on the door. Cole stepped in, holding a sleek black Chanel bag, a small smile playing on his lips. “I got you something to wear,” he said, handing me the bag. My eyes widened in surprise. “Chanel? Is this a joke?” I gasped as I pulled out a stunnin