After the Raft Capsized, the Ice Cold Campus Heartthrob Came Knocking Chapter 07
I stopped in my tracks, barely holding back a laugh.
How ridiculous. The old days were long gone.
We were both adults. Even if Cole and I actually had done something, it would’ve been consensual.
What was wrong with that?
As for my parents-they’d always been open-minded. They wouldn’t care at all.
Cole, who was always cool and collected, actually got angry. His face went dark, and he took a step
toward Derek.
I pulled him back and casually linked my arm through his, looking at Derek with a challenge. “Yeah, I like him. Got a problem with that?”
“As for my parents-if I bring home a boyfriend this good-looking, they’d be thrilled. They’d probably throw a barbecue party and invite you too.”
Cole’s eyes lit up. He looked down at my arm linked through his, and his smile grew wider and
wider.
[OH MY GOD! She said she likes me! I’m going to lose my mind!]
Calm down first. Just play along.
I pinched his arm to remind him.
Cole got the message instantly. He let out a low chuckle. “Then I’ll have my mom start prepping. Can’t leave your parents with a bad impression.”
Derek’s face turned darker than the bottom of a pot. He pointed at me, sputtering “you” over and
over without managing a single word.
His friends, who’d just been force-fed a mouthful of our romance, didn’t look happy either.
Especially Sabrina-her face was twisted not only with discomfort but also with pure jealousy.
Watching their awful expressions, I felt amazing inside.
Nothing beat someone trying to shame you, and you turning it around and shoving a lovey-dovey
moment right back in their faces.
We found a table and sat down.
Cole was unusually proactive at breakfast. First he peeled a hard-boiled egg for me, then he kept
piling food onto my plate.
Looking at the mountain of food, I was speechless. I hinted politely, “That’s enough. Too much. I
can’t finish it.”
He didn’t stop. “It’s fine. I’ll eat whatever you leave.”
I was sipping my orange juice and nearly choked.
Coughing, I said, “No, no. We can just pack it up.”
Cole immediately handed me a napkin and patted my back gently.
From behind, it probably looked like he was hugging me.
[She’s coughing so hard. It’s all my fault. Why did I talk while she was drinking?]
I recovered quickly and waved him off. “I’m okay-”
Then a loud crash came from not far away.
I looked over. Derek had slammed his dishes on the table and stormed off. The others followed.
With them gone, I felt instantly lighter and ended up eating a bit more.
But there was still too much food left, so I asked for a to-go box.
We reached the rest stop again soon after.
“Cole! I bought you a new phone. Here.”
Patricia appeared out of nowhere and shoved a brand-new phone and a few waterproof pouches
into his hands.
Then she pressed the latest model smartphone into mine.
I tried to refuse, but she insisted. “Take it. Just a thank-you for looking after my son.”
Uh, actually, your son was the one looking after me.
She kept pushing, so I didn’t have the heart to refuse again. I thanked her and accepted it.
Patricia kept chattering. “So, where did you two stay last night? I looked everywhere and couldn’t find you.”
I answered honestly. “Whispering Pines.”
She clapped excitedly. “Oh, I know that place! I booked two Ridgeview Suites there.”
I blinked.
Cole blinked.
Seeing our confusion, Patricia explained, “I couldn’t find you last night, so I just went ahead and booked two rooms at every place nearby. All under Cole’s name. All he had to do was show up and
check in.”
I was speechless.
So we didn’t have to squeeze into one room at all.
But honestly? The view had been worth it.
Cole rubbed his temples. “Mom. Don’t you have a conference call?”
Patricia froze for a second, then looked like she suddenly remembered something, and dashed off
again just as fast as before.
