by M. A. Foster
Willow’s face scrunches up. “You stop, Co,” she sasses, and I can tell by her tone that I hurt her feelings.
“All right,” Jays says with a laugh. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Jay.”
I hang up and look over at Willow. Her bottom lip is pushed out and I know she’s about to cry. She brings her tiny hands to her face and bursts into tears, breaking my heart.
“Hey,” I coo, scooping her up and hugging her to my chest. “Come here.” I carry her out to the living room where Aiden is playing his Xbox.
“What’d you do?” he asks, not looking away from his game.
“I hurt her feelings,” I tell him as I squat on the sofa beside him.
Aiden pauses his game and holds out his arms. “Come here, Willow.” She quickly pulls away from me and goes to him. “Is Cole being a meanie-face?”
I frown.
“Mmm-hmm.” She nods, resting her head on his shoulder, facing me.
I hate that I hurt her feelings. She doesn’t get reprimanded very often, but it’s not like I yelled at her. Truthfully, I shouldn’t have reacted at all. It was my fault. I need to watch what I say around her.
Leaning over, I place a kiss on her wet cheek. “I’m sorry, baby. I love you.”
“Lub you.” She exhales a shuddered breath.
I BARELY MAKE it on time to pick up Harper for our date because, of course, Jay decided to tell me as I was walking out the door that today is Harper’s birthday.
Her eighteenth birthday.
Not only do I have to give her the perfect first date, but I have to make her eighteenth birthday a memorable one, too.
No pressure.
Harper greets me in the foyer wearing a flowy summer dress and sandals. Her long red hair is parted on the side and hanging loosely over her shoulders. And those lips I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for three days are painted a pale pink.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She brushes her hands over her dress. “I hope this is okay.”
“It’s perfect.” I press a chaste kiss to her cheek, then hold out the small gift bag. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.” She smiles, taking the bag.
“You could’ve told me the other night that today was your birthday.”
“You didn’t give me a chance to say anything before you slammed the door in my face.” She laughs.
“Sorry.” I smirk. “I didn’t want to give you a chance to say no.”
Tilting her head, a teasing smile tugs at her lip. “You didn’t give me a chance to say yes, either.”
Touché.
Nodding to the bag, I ask, “Are you gonna open your present?”
“Oh, yes.” She moves over to the table to set down her purse, then removes the tissue from the bag before fishing out the box stamped with the name of the boutique. “Wow,” she breathes as she inspects the two Alex and Ani bracelets. The first one says ‘Everything Happens For A Reason.’ I bought it because it reminded me of something Uncle Marcus would say. The second one is her birthstone.
Harper lifts her head and smiles. “You didn’t have to do this, Cole, but thank you.” She lifts on her tippy-toes and kisses me on the cheek.
I shrug. “Since we’re still getting to know each other, I thought those would be the safest choice.”
“I love them,” she says, sliding them onto her wrist. “Are we ready?”
“Yep. Just one thing before we go.” Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tug her to my chest and drop my lips to hers. The kiss is soft and sweet, just like Harper. “Just thought we could get that awkward first-date kiss out of the way,” I tell her with one last peck.
Harper licks her lips. “There was nothing awkward about that kiss,” she purrs before she smacks me on the ass and turns for the door. “Let’s go, Mackenzie, I’m starving.”
I knew there was a reason I liked her.
I NERVOUSLY RUB my hands over the front of my dress. I decided on a floral wrap maxi dress. Jay dug through my closet for five minutes and insisted it was “the perfect first date dress.” I wouldn’t know about first dates because this isn’t just my first date with Cole, it’s my first date ever.
Josh and I didn’t do dates. That should’ve been my first clue that he was a shady asshole. Maybe it was because I was too busy keeping my own secrets to notice, or care.
Cole pulls into the parking garage at Pelican Cove and steers his Tahoe into a reserved parking spot for Mac’s.
“You’re taking me to Mac’s?”
“Yeah.” He smirks as he pushes open his door. “The food is great, and I get the family discount. Wait there.”
He can’t be serious.
He slides out and shuts the door before making his way around to my side and opens my door.
“You’re kidding, right?”
He chuckles. “Yes, I’m kidding. Come on.” He holds out his hand and I take it.
“Then where are we going?” I ask as he leads me down to the Bay Walk, which is a sidewalk that runs along the edge of the water overlooking downtown Heritage.
“We’re going to Oceanside Grill.” He looks over at me. “Have you been there before?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“It’s nice. I went once with Jay.” Cole opens the door for me, then he takes my hand and leads me up to the hostess stand. “I have a seven o’clock reservation for Mackenzie,” he says with a flirty smile, and I fight back an eye roll.
The hostess returns his smile before she checks the reservation log. “Mackenzie. Yes. Your table is ready.” Grabbing two leather-bound menus, she moves from behind the counter. “Follow me.”
Cole gives my hand a gentle squeeze as she leads us to our table.
“Harper?” a female voice calls out. Smiling, I look over to see Dr. Graham at a nearby table and my steps falter.
Shit.
Cole jerks to a stop to wait for me to catch up, and that’s when she notices him. Her eyes drop to our hands and a confused expression passes over her face. With my free hand, I wave before continuing to our table.
“Was that Dr. Graham?” he asks, gesturing for me to slide into our booth, shaped like a half-circle facing the water, before he slides in beside me.
“Yeah,” I say with a nervous laugh. “She’s my doctor.”
Cole smiles. “She’s mine, too. And Aiden’s and Willow’s,” he adds.
A moment later, our waiter comes over with two glasses of water. We decide to forgo appetizers and order our meals.
“So, you and Derek,” Cole starts.
“Really?” I laugh softly. “You’re starting with that?”
“Might as well get it out of the way.”
“Fine.” I straighten my shoulders. “Derek was my lab partner. He was nice, and I thought he liked me. I didn’t know he had a reputation. Now it’s my turn,” I say, and Cole rolls his eyes. “What?”
“I already know what you’re going to ask.” He thinks I’m going to ask about Ashton. And I was. But instead I throw him a curveball.
“Tell me about Willow.”
Cole’s brows pinch together. “What about her?” His playful demeanor turns defensive.
“You seem to be her favorite person,” I hedge.
“I am. My turn.” Apparently Willow is off-limits.
Cole’s defensive walls are twice as thick as mine.
I decide it’s best not to push.
We spend the remainder of dinner talking about school, college, our likes and dislikes. Cole has always wanted to play football. He has three college offers: University of Florida, South Carolina and Gulf Coast University. He loves food but hates Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. I hate fish.
I don’t ask about Ashton, and he doesn’t ask about Josh.
So far, it’s a perfect first date.
I think I kind of like Cole Mackenzie.
AFTER DINNER, COLE and I walk down to the water. The night air is warm and h
umid, but there’s a slight breeze coming off the water, making the weather bearable. Between the starry sky and the sound of the water crashing against the seawall, it’s kind of romantic.
Cole moves to stand behind me, his hands gripping the rail on either side of me. “Do you feel that, Harper?” He leans so his chest is pressed against my back. His lips graze the shell of my ear.
“Feel what?” I ask, expecting some sort of perverted comeback about him being hard.
“That feeling in the pit of your stomach, like someone just unleashed a thousand butterflies.” He wraps his arms around my waist and presses his lips below my ear, and I shudder.
“Yes,” I breathe, feeling his heartbeat thumping against my back.
“I hate it,” he admits.
I suck in a breath. What?
“I’ve never felt like this before. I don’t want to feel this way about you, but I don’t know how to make it stop.”
I turn away from the water to face him. “Do you want it to stop?”
His eyes lock on mine, taking me in as if he’s searching for an answer.
“We can still be friends,” I offer stupidly, wishing I could take it back.
He smirks. “I’m not friends with girls, Harper. Jay and Lexi are the only exceptions.”
“Then what do you want?”
He steps back and clasps his hands behind his neck. “I don’t know. You, I guess.”
“You guess.” I snort in disbelief.
“I don’t chase, Harper. I haven’t had a girlfriend since sophomore year, and that lasted all of two months. I don’t do relationships. Not because I’m opposed to them, but I don’t have time. But… fuck!” He drops his head back to stare up at the sky.
“What about Ashton?”
He lifts his head to look at me with furrowed brows. “What about her?”
I smirk. He knows what I’m asking.
He narrows his eyes. “I wasn’t in a relationship with Ashton.”
I purse my lips.
“I wasn’t.” He throws his hands in the air. “We—you know what? My ‘relationship’ is over. So drop it.”
“I wasn’t asking about your relationship with Ashton. I was simply making a point. Forget it.” This date is going downhill fast. “Are you ready to go?” I turn on my heels and start in the direction of the parking garage.
Cole hooks an arm around my waist, pulling me to a stop. “Wait. I’m sorry. We’re having a good time, and it’s your birthday.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Cole.” I look up at him and smile.
“A relationship with Ashton would require feelings I didn’t have for her. I wasn’t using her… or maybe I was. But she was using me, too. Despite what people say about me, I’m not a slut. Yeah, I’m a flirt. And I can be an asshole at times, but that’s just who I am. It doesn’t make me a bad guy.”
“Believe it or not, that’s what I like about you. Your honesty.”
“You do?”
I nod. “Yeah. You’re blunt and sometimes a little harsh, but that’s just who you are.”
He blows out a breath. “Cool.” He smiles. “Will you let me take you out again?”
“Maybe,” I say with a grin.
“Oh, now you want to be a tease.” He tugs me to his side and kisses my temple before releasing me to take my hand in his. It’s such a sweet gesture. Everything he’s done tonight has been sweet. Something I didn’t expect from Cole Mackenzie.
“Setting the World on Fire” drifts from one of the bars on the boardwalk. The doors are propped open, and a DJ is setting up as the staff prepares for a busy Saturday night.
Cole stops and turns to face me. “Dance with me.” He tugs me to his chest and circles his free arm around my waist.
“You dance?”
“I’ll do anything if it means I get to put my arms around you.” He leans in and kisses my neck, just below my ear. “Let’s take it slow, Harper. Just like this dance.”
Leaning my head back, I look up at him. “Don’t break my heart, Cole Mackenzie,” I whisper.
That signature smirk pulls up on one side of his mouth. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Harper Murphy.”
I CAN’T WAIT to dance with you again is the text I wake up to this morning from Cole.
Swoon.
I reply with a winking emoji.
What are you doing today? he asks.
Working. You?
I’m hanging with Willow at the park. Maybe we’ll come see you after.
I’d like that. Willow is my new favorite person.
I thought I was.
She’s cuter.
Can’t argue with that.
My first date with Cole was perfect, and it was the best birthday I’ve had since before my mom passed. We danced, we kissed, and then he drove me home.
When he walked me to the door, he kissed me, then asked me to be his homecoming date.
Of course I said yes.
Funnily enough, neither of us has been to homecoming.
“YOU NEED TO tell him,” Mia suggests from behind me as I arrange the bouquet of fresh flowers in the vase beside Jade’s headstone.
Mia and I met for breakfast this morning before coming to the cemetery. We used to come here more often, but then I started seeing Josh and everything changed.
“I can’t. Not yet.” I stand and brush off my hands. “His family knows.”
Mia’s eyes go wide. “They know?”
I nod. “Not the whole family, just his parents, Dylan, and Jay’s mom, Emerson.”
“How?” Mia asks, and I fill her in on how Emerson found Cole’s patient information sheet, how the family confronted me, and that we all agreed to leave it alone for now.
“I want to pretend that journal doesn’t exist, Mia. Even though I know if it didn’t, things might have turned out differently—”
A car door shuts in the distance, followed by the squealing of a toddler. Mia and I both turn at the same time.
“Oh shit,” I whisper.
“Is that—”
“Oh my God, Mia. What do I do?”
“Go.” She grabs my shoulders and steers me toward another headstone. “Get down behind there.”
“Are you serious?”
Mia quirks a brow. “Do you really want this to be the way he finds out?”
“Crap.” I duck down behind a stranger’s headstone. “This is so wrong,” I whisper, and Mia shushes me.
“Right there,” I hear Cole say.
“Das my angel is?” Willow asks, and tears immediately pool in my eyes. I tilt my head up to see tears running down Mia’s face. She gives a slight shake of her head.
“Look. Someone brought her flowers, too.” There’s a pause before Cole says, “It’s okay. We can put yours in there, too.”
It feels like hours but it’s only a few minutes before Cole says, “Say bye to your angel, Willow, and then I’ll take you to the park.”
“Bye, angel,” Willow says softly in her sweet voice, and that’s all it takes for me to lose it.
“GOOD AFTERNOON, MAX,” I greet as I pass by his office.
“Harper,” he calls out.
I stop and take a few steps back until I’m standing in his doorway. “Yes?”
“He likes you,” Max tells me. He leans forward, resting his forearms on his desk. “When Willow was born, Cole told his mother and me that he wouldn’t date until he was serious about someone.”
“I like him, too.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I didn’t plan this.”
He nods and blows out a breath. “I know.”
“If it’s okay with you,” I continue, “I’d like to let things play out and pretend the journal doesn’t exist. I don’t want him to feel manipulated.”
He nods again in agreement. “I think it’s probably best for now.”
“Thanks.” I continue down the hall to the employee breakroom.
I quickly stuff my things into my locker before I head to the hostess stand. The strumming of
an electric guitar and the tapping of the drums tell me Alex and Dylan are in the bar messing around.
I push through the heavy wood doors just as the music picks up and Jay’s voice purrs over the sound system.
She’s standing in front of the microphone, strumming an electric guitar. Alex is perched on a stool beside her with his own electric guitar. Eric, Jay’s Project Mayhem classmate, is behind them also holding a guitar, and another guy, I think his name is Jones, is seated behind the drums.
Zach is sitting at a table close to the stage with his arms crossed and one leg propped up on an empty chair. Cherry and Olivia take up the two remaining seats, both of them waving at me.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Practice,” Cherry tells me.
I nod. “I love this song.” I turn my attention back to the stage, where Jay belts out the lyrics to Heart’s “All I Wanna Do.” “She’s amazing.”
“She’s perfect,” Zach replies, not taking his eyes off her. Cherry and Olivia look over at him, smiling.
The guy has it bad.
“You guys want something to drink?”
“Sure.” Zach nods, eyes still locked on Jay. “You know what I like.”
Cherry and Olivia order water, and I head off to grab their drinks.
“Ahpee!” Willow cheers as she runs toward me with Cole chasing after her, and I can’t help but think about her and Cole at the cemetery this morning.
“Willow!” I mimic. “You look like you’ve had a good day.” She’s sweaty and dirty.
“Co take me da park and flowlers to my angel.”
I suck in a deep breath and smile. “He did?” My eyes dart to Cole and he winks.
Willow nods. “Mmm-hmm. I go see Poss.” And she’s off again.
“I’ll be back,” Cole calls over his shoulder as he jogs after her.
MONDAY MORNING, I head to the media room on the second floor of the performing arts building. School doesn’t start for another half hour, so only a few students and teachers linger in the halls. As I reach the landing, I come face-to-face with Hannah Scott and Ashton Grant. Both are wearing equally fake smiles.
