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10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Cole

I walk in, and my face feels like it's stuck with a thousand needles after being whipped by the wind and snow. I stomp my feet and shake the snow off my coat just as my nostrils are assaulted with the smell of eggs and bacon.

I immediately start to drool.

I make my way to the fireplace to try and get rid of the remaining chill that's seeped into my bones. The temperature drops as the wind picks up and will only get worse as the day goes on.

I faintly hear Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song from the kitchen .

A lopsided grin settles on my face. I always knew this was what it would feel like coming home to Noelle during the holidays.

I take a deep breath to ground this overall feeling of weightlessness I'm experiencing, but it doesn't ground anything. I should nip this wild hope spreading through my chest in the bud, but it's impossible.

I've waited for an opportunity to make things right with Noelle, and it's finally here. After a rough start last night, we experienced a shift. It was palpable.

"How is it outside?" I look over to see Noelle leaning out of the kitchen doorway.

"It's coming down pretty good. We have about six or seven inches already." I turn my gaze back to the fire, fearful that the myriad emotions and longing racing through me will be evident in my eyes. The last thing I want to do is scare her off.

You need to take control of yourself. This is not the time to let your feelings out on the table. Pull it together.

"I'm so excited!" Noelle's voice carries from the kitchen. "I haven't had a real white Christmas in forever."

Ten years to be exact.

"Oh? No snow in Utah?" I casually ask, trying to mask the emotions churning inside me. I stop at the threshold and look at the spread before me. "What is this?! Are we expecting an army?"

Noelle made eggs, bacon, and pancakes. I also smell the faint scent of cinnamon, which is a trademark of hers. She loves cinnamon in her coffee.

"I hope you're hungry." Her smile takes my breath away. "As you can see, I got a bit carried away."

"You don't say." I lean against the door and cross my arms, a smirk on my face. "But first I need to ask…"

Her eyebrows shoot up as she glances at me.

"Where is Noelle, and what have you done with her?"

She turns a mock glare at me, and a rabble of butterflies try to escape my stomach all at once.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." She slides a mug over to me. "Here, grab a cup of coffee."

I pick up the mug and smile at the snowman on it. Just before I start pouring coffee into my mug, I stop. I hold the carafe out toward her. "Should I be worried this is poisoned?"

"Guess you'll just have to try it and see." She turns her twinkling gaze into mine and takes a sip. "Milk is in the fridge if you want some."

I swallow hard, then pick up the carafe and pour. I add some milk and teasingly take a cautious sip, making her shake her head and laugh.

Mission accomplished.

I take a full sip and relish in the liquid heat that spreads through my body, finally breaking through the chill from the storm.

"Mmm. This is perfect after being outside. Thank you."

She quietly scrambles the eggs, and I stand quietly admiring her profile for a moment. There's a steady heartbeat pulsing in my throat. My hands are itching to reach out and touch her. I quickly put my mug on the counter, grab plates from the cabinet and set them on the table.

I pull out the drawer with the silverware just as Noelle steps over, and we collide. Every nerve ending in my body fires, triggering my heart to race and my mouth to go dry.

"Sorry," I say just as she says, "Excuse me."

I put the silverware on the table and all but run from the kitchen. I need space. If I stay in the same room as her, I can't guarantee that I won't be able to stop myself from doing something that will damage this newly established truce .

"Breakfast is almost ready," Noelle yells after me.

"I'll be right there! Just want to put a few logs on the fire."

And try to put out the fire that's burning within me, begging to press my lips to yours.

I force my breathing to slow down and work to pull myself together. I rub my palms against my pants, grab two logs and place them on the top of the pile.

I don't get up right away. Instead , I watch the flames as they wrap themselves around the wood.

"Will you go out with me?" I spit out, just as Noelle starts explaining the Lewis Theory.

"What?" The look of surprise in her hazel eyes and the pink tinge in her cheeks have my mouth moving into a lopsided grin.

She's moving her mouth, but no words are coming out.

"Will you go out with me?" I repeat. "Just you know because I'm ‘Cole. So hot. Nichols.'"

I watch her pink turn to a bright red, and a huge grin spreads across my face. She bites her bottom lip and covers her face with her hands.

"Noelle." I put my hand on her wrist and gently pull her hand away from her face. I like the feel of her hand in mine and instead of letting it go, I continue to gently hold on to it. "I like you and would love to take you out. Sooo…will you go out with me?"

Her unsteady gaze holds mine, and for a moment, the world stops as the green in her hazel eyes pops.

"Yes." A lopsided smile crosses her lips. "I would like that. But on one condition."

"Anything." She quirks an eyebrow at me. "Seriously, anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes!" I shout, and everyone turns to look at us.

"Okay, you must stop reminding me that I made a complete fool of myself the first day I met you."

"No, you didn't." I frown.

"I totally did." She looks away from me, and I watch the blush creep back up.

"You were enchanting." She looks at me, eyes wide, and I grin. "Sincerely."

She tilts her head and narrows her eyes at me. Skepticism fills them.

"I'm gonna tell you a little secret, but you have to come closer first." I can see a bit of uncertainty in her eyes and use my finger to indicate she needs to move forward. When she finally does, I look her directly in the eyes and hope that my feelings for her are coming through. "I saw you two months ago in the quad and had been trying to figure out who you were ever since. When I walked in and saw you sitting at the table talking about me, I almost asked you out then and there."

Her expression softens, and I feel myself melting. I am in so much trouble with this woman.

I'm pretty sure that I am already in love with her.

"Cole?" I look to see Noelle leaning against the door frame. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I called you a few times, and you didn't respond."

I feel heat creeping up my neck , and I rub my face with my hand. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. I'm okay, just a bit tired."

"Did you not sleep well?" She asks , concern lacing her expression.

How could I sleep well with you across the hall when all I wanted was to spend the entire night sitting on the couch, snuggling and catching up about the last decade? No, I didn't sleep well.

"I always have a little trouble sleeping in a new bed," I say instead. "Hopefully tonight will be better."

"I totally get that." She smiles at me , and neither one of us mentions her sleeping on the couch. She shrugs. "Hopefully, you're hungry because we need to make a dent in this food."

"Starving." I flash her a grin.

"Perfect. Get up and come on in here then." She waves her hand at me as she disappears into the kitchen. I watch her go and feel my heart ache.

I stand up and put my hand to my chest. This is the second time I've fallen head over heels for Noelle. And I'm not sure I can handle losing her again.

I give myself a mental shake and blow out a deep breath. I put on my game face and make my way to breakfast.

Mel's words pop into my head.

Follow her lead. Don't push; just let her dictate what you do. When she talks , you talk. When she's quiet , you be quiet. Understand?

"Copy that," I whisper.

Jumping in feet first is not the right course of action. I need to let her decide how fast we move. If that means waiting years, I'll wait years.

I just pray I won't have to wait that long.

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