5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Noelle

I'm unpacking (throwing) my clothes in some dresser drawers, mumbling to myself about Melanie and her stupid logic, when I hear the front door close.

I hold my breath and listen to hear if it opens again.

The walls in the cabin aren't exactly thin, but you can hear if someone's talking. There's been a lot of talking going on since I've been in this room. And I'm not talking about the conversations I've been having with myself.

Before the door closed, I heard Cole say "Be safe". My throat constricts at the thought that something might be wrong.

"Stop it, girl! That man and his problems are not your concern."

I plop down on the edge of my bed, cover my eyes and let my body fall back. A huge groan escapes me.

Cole. Stinking. Nichols.

It's none of my business whether everything is okay or not. Nothing about him is my business.

He made that more than evident at Mel and Mike's wedding.

I roll over on my stomach and bury my head. Trying to stop the flow of memories assaulting me. But I can't.

"Cole Nichols. I'm tutoring Cole Nichols," I screech, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.

"I think I'm deaf!" Mel says, her voice muffled. "Could you stop yelling in my ear whenever you tell me about him?"

"I'll try, but Mel! It's Cole. So hot. Nichols."

"I know. You haven't stopped talking about him since you found out." Mel laughs.

"Hi." A deep voice interrupts my conversation. I look up only to slam into the gaze of the man I'm talking about. He's wearing an amused smile, and his green eyes are twinkling at me. Yes, actually twinkling.

Heat creeps up my neck, and I'm sure my eyes are as round as saucers. "I gotta go." I don't wait for a goodbye before hanging up on Mel.

"Hi. Cole, right?" I stick my hand out to shake his. "I'm helping you with chemistry, right?"

The crinkles at the corner of his eyes deepen and my face gets hotter.

Smooth, Noelle, smooth.

"Yes, that's me. Cole," he takes my hand, pauses, and a tight close lipped smile is on his face as if he's trying not to laugh, "Nichols."

Please ground, open up and swallow me now!

"Great." I smile overly bright, praying that my face will return to a normal shade of red. I pull my hand from his. "Want to take a seat, and we can get started?"

A warmth fills my chest , and I chuckle. That day was something he would tease me mercilessly about. Had he not told me he was just as excited to meet me, I might have been completely humiliated. Turns out, he didn't know my name, but he knew who I was.

It wasn't until I met Mike that I found out just how excited he was to meet me. Seeing his cheeks turn red was one of the most adorable things I've ever witnessed.

My stomach flutters as every particle of me remembers how utterly in love I was with him. Then my body gets heavy, and tears sting the back of my eyes.

This is the reason I never wanted to talk about him to Mel after the wedding. He told me to move on and I did everything in my power to do exactly that.

I even got married to the worst human ever.

The spark we had once may still linger, but that ship had sailed.

Or so I thought.

Now he's here, and all I can think about is how easily I fell in love with him. How easy it was to be with him.

The first time I met him, something in me came alive that has never truly gone away. No matter how much I tried to push it from my heart and mind.

It doesn't help that my best friend is married to his best friend or that his name would occasionally come up in conversation. I did my best to shut down any feelings I had where he was concerned, and there is no way I'm traveling that road again.

Pressure builds in my chest and my heart starts to race. I raise my hand to my chest and take a slow, deep breath. I slowly breathe out and repeat the process .

When I start to feel my body relax and my heart rate slow, I push myself up from the bed, walk over to the mirror, and take a hard, long look in my eyes.

"You can do this Noelle. Just breathe."

I feel a different kind of pressure fill my chest and my mask falls back in place. My reflection gives me a tight smile.

The fact that my eyes seem lifeless means nothing. The emotions that were racing through me have been stuffed back in their rightful place where they can't take over. No one can touch me—especially Cole Nichols.

As determined as I am to stay in this room, my grumbling stomach won't let me. I haven't heard the front door open or close since Cole went outside. If I go now I can run out, grab something real quick and get myself back behind this door without ever laying a single eye on him.

I slowly open the door and stick my head out. I pause for a moment to listen. The only sound I hear is the crackling of wood. I squeeze my eyes tight as an intense longing overcomes me.

I was supposed to be wrapped in a blanket, legs tucked underneath me holding a warm hot chocolate while the heat from the flames soothed my soul.

I've been dreaming about sitting in front of that fire from the moment Mel and I planned this when I told her I was getting divorced and coming home. My first Christmas home was supposed to be filled with tree trimming, games, and long girl talks.

Now it's ruined.

Stop being dramatic, Noelle.

I sigh. Okay, well not ruined, but severely off track.

I tip-toe out of my room inching my way to the kitchen. With each creak the floor makes, I freeze and hold my breath. When I don't hear anything else I start the entire process over again.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally make it to the kitchen. I stop and listen just to make sure I'm still alone. When I'm positive I don't hear another person in the cabin, I let myself breathe regularly. A chuckle escapes my lips at how ridiculous I'm being.

I mean really, what's the worst that will happen if I run into Cole? I'll just act like he isn' t there. Easy-peasy.

I roll my shoulders back and forth and give my neck a quick roll from left to right. I pull open the refrigerator door just as my stomach decides to protest…loudly.

"I know, I know. Just give me a second to see what we have."

I rest my hand on the top of the door and take in the food in front of me. Mel wasn't kidding when she said she got all my favorites. My mouth starts to water, while my stomach lets it be known that it wants everything.

I need something fast and easy. My eyes are drawn to the Brie wheel sitting on the top shelf. I reach out my hand but stop, knowing that if I take the Brie I won't be able to stop with just one piece.

I look around to see what else there is when my eyes catch a box of popcorn on the table.

"Not exactly what I was hoping for, but it will do," I murmur. "After all, time is of the essence."

I shut the refrigerator door and pick up the popcorn. I'm opening the box when I hear the front door close.

My heart starts to pound and I hold my breath.

Breathe, Noelle !

I take a deep breath and slowly exhale as I hear Cole taking off his outerwear.

Now put the popcorn in the microwave and act natural.

I turn to the microwave and take a step forward when I notice a Dutch oven and stew vegetables on the counter. My stomach roars and my hand covers it, applying pressure as if that will somehow stop the grumbling beast inside.

I love stew.

I shove the popcorn in the microwave and casually lean against the counter. From the corner of my eye, I see Cole walk past the kitchen without turning his head in my direction. My shoulders loosen while my chest simultaneously tightens.

I keep my eyes on the microwave. The popping is happening quickly now. My stomach lets out one final protest as the smell of the popped corn surrounds me. Finally, the microwave lets out its beep. I grab a bowl, dump the popcorn, pick up a bottle of water and head out the kitchen door. My eyes slam into Cole's.

I freeze.

He stops, steps aside and puts himself up against the wall—plenty of room to pass without coming into physical contact with him.

His arm slides up and out, but he doesn't talk to me, smile at me or even look at me. We're like two strangers. It's exactly what I want.

So why does my heart feel like it's breaking…again?