After the Raft Capsized, the Ice Cold Campus Heartthrob Came Knocking Chapter 10
Enough with the questions-just kiss me!
I couldn’t stand it anymore. I grabbed his neck and kissed him hard.
Cole snapped like a switch had been flipped. He cradled the back of my head and kissed me back- deep, urgent, hungry.
Before long, I went weak in the knees and started sliding down the seat.
He pulled me onto his lap, one hand firm on my waist, and pressed me closer as he deepened the
kiss.
The windows fogged up. Heat and passion filled the car.
Even after I’d walked into the neighborhood, my face was still burning red.
“What were you two doing in that car?”
Derek jumped out from somewhere, startling me.
My face dropped instantly. “None of your business.”
I turned and walked away.
He panicked, grabbed my wrist, and said with red-rimmed eyes, “Mia. I was wrong. I used to think we’d always be together, that you’d always understand me. Now I realize I’ve really lost you.”
“Can you forgive me-just because we grew up together? Please don’t be with anyone else. I really
can’t live without you…”
Seriously, where did he get that confidence?
We’d known each other since we were kids, and we’d never gotten together all through college.
That alone proved it-I was never into him.
Whatever tiny bit of fondness I’d felt was just our parents pushing us together when I was too young
to know better.
So even if Cole had never existed, I’d never have chosen Derek.
He just kept going and going. I couldn’t take it anymore. I slapped him across the face.
Hard.
“Derek! I will never forgive you. And we are never going to happen.”
Derek froze. His grip on my wrist loosened, and tears slid silently down his face.
That was the first time I’d seen him cry since we were kids.
Not long after I got home, Cole video-called me.
“Mia. You made it home?”
I smiled. “Yeah. What’s up? Miss me already?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. He didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Do you miss me?” ‘
It’d only been half an hour, but honestly—I kind of did.
We chatted about this and that, and somewhere along the way, I fell asleep.
The next morning, I woke up to find the video call still connected.
I tested the waters. “Cole? You still there?”
To my surprise, his low, warm voice came through right away.
“Yeah, Mia. I’m here.”
Wait. Did he stay on the line all night?
I snapped awake and grabbed the phone.
There he was on the screen, smiling at me. “Good morning, Mia.”
My heart turned to goo. I smiled back. “Good morning, boyfriend.”
Cole’s face and neck turned visibly red.
“Mia. Don’t tease me. I’m outside.”
I blinked. “Huh? Where are you this early?”
He smiled. “Coming to pick you up. You said you wanted to go to Sunnyside Amusement Park last night, right? I got the tickets.”
The next second, the camera turned. He was already at the front gate of my neighborhood.
I hung up, dashed into the bathroom, got myself together in record time, and ran out.
At the entrance, I looked up and saw that tall, clean-cut boy walking toward me in the morning light.
Wow. I was so lucky. I actually landed someone this gorgeous.
I couldn’t stop grinning. I ran a few steps and threw myself into his arms.
Cole caught me around the waist and ruffled my hair affectionately.
I tilted my head up and smiled at him. “Have you been waiting long?”
He cupped my cheek and smiled. “No. Waiting for you-never too long.”
My heart melted. I took his hand. “Let’s go. The amusement park.”
Once we got there, I was over the moon-wanted to try everything, eat everything.
Cole stayed by my side the whole time, patient through it all, no trace of annoyance—just pure
affection and indulgence.
Maybe it was because of him, but for someone who used to hate going out, I suddenly found the
world outside pretty fun.
The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and pink-like a painting.
On the Ferris wheel, Cole and I sat side by side.
The golden light caught his sharp profile, making his already perfect features even more stunning.
I couldn’t help staring.
Just then, a plane flew across the sky.
I leaned into him, held up my phone, and said, “Cole, look at the camera.”
In that moment, it was frozen forever.
In the frame: a sky full of sunset clouds, a white plane streaking past.
A girl nestled in her boyfriend’s arms, grinning into the lens.
A boy not looking at the camera at all-looking down at the girl instead, his eyes full of tenderness.
I was beyond satisfied. I immediately posted the photo on Instagram with the caption: [Official.]
Cole reposted it with his own caption: [How lucky I am to have found you.]
Wow. He was so good with words.
My cheeks burned. I quickly looked away, pretending to enjoy the view outside the Ferris wheel, but
my heart was so sweet it hurt.
Then Cole’s voice came, low and rough.
“Mia, I…”
I grabbed his collar and pulled him close.
“Don’t ask. Just kiss me.”
