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I look from Annie to Laura. “Oh, um—lots of stuff happened last night.” Like I got married and lost my virginity in scorching hot sex with Mr. Hot Ferrari.
“Such as?” Annie gives me the spill it look.
My mother clears her throat, “Annie, leave Kate alone. Come help me clean up this cake mess, please.” I give Annie a sympathetic smile, but for once I’m grateful to be saved by my mother.
Kurt comes sulking into the kitchen. “Katie, Cole had to go show dad and Mark his car. I need another player.”
“Coming.” I breathe a sigh of relief to get away from Annie, my mom and even Laura. Something feels off; everyone’s way too calm about this whole thing.
It’s after midnight before we get back to our house. My dad and Mark both had to drive the Ferrari. It’s a good thing I got to drive it before them or I would’ve been ticked off.
Cole opens the door for me, then locks it, shutting the porch light off. I yawn, stretching and toe each of my shoes off.
Cole comes up to me. “Let’s try this again.” And he hitches me over his shoulder.
“Oh, brother.” I heave over his shoulder.
“No! No brothers, or nephews, sisters, mothers, fathers, and grandparents of any kind. Just you and me and our tiny ass bed.”
CHAPTER FOUR
I rollover and Cole’s fingers poke at my face. This bed is definitely too small for the both of us. I look over at the red, beady-eyed alarm clock and it winks at me, telling me it’s 3:45 am. I carefully scoot out of bed, grabbing Cole’s discarded shirt off the floor. I pull it over me as I tiptoe out of the room, so I don’t wake him up.
Once out of the bedroom, I relax. I walk into the kitchen and pilfer through the refrigerator. I have milk, eggs, and a loaf of bread. I sniff the milk and scrunch my nose. Yuck. Well, it’s a no go on the cereal idea. I open the freezer to a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with a note that says: just in case, love Laura. Oh man, do I love that girl. I pull the note off and take the container out of the freezer: ‘Chocolate Fudge Brownie’ Laura is my girl. She knows my favorite. I grab a spoon and dig into the container, not worrying about a bowl. I turn the light over the sink on so I’m not in complete darkness.
I feel weary from today’s events. More specifically, my family’s behavior and their unquestioning approval and acceptance of Cole. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around it. My mom didn’t even flinch. My dad did, but it was nothing like the explosion I expected. Oh, and Grandma Alice, that was all Cole and his million-dollar smile that makes any woman go a bit weak in the knees. I shake my head, laughing at the thought. But something feels off. I’m not sure what it is. It was too easy. I look down and I’ve gone through almost half the carton. Good thing it’s only the pint size. I put the lid on and shove it back in the freezer. I hear the bedroom door creek open and Cole coming down the hall.
“Kate?”
“I’m in the kitchen,” I call, licking the remains of chocolate off my spoon, then toss it in the sink.
He wraps his arms around me. “Cereal?”
“No, the milk was bad. I had ice cream.”
Cole’s lips cover mine tenderly and he flicks his tongue out. “Chocolate ice cream.” He pulls me closer, his tongue sliding into my mouth. I wrap myself around him, pressing my body into his. He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his hips. My body heats with want, and I arch my hips into his.
He sits me on the counter. “Don’t move from that spot.” He tries to leave, but I keep my legs locked around him, continuing to kiss him.
“Wait, where are you going? You, me, the kitchen, now,” I say between kisses.
“Condom.”
For some reason, the word seems cold on his lips, and it cools my heat. “Oh, yeah.”
“You know, you should make a doctor’s appointment and get on birth control while we’re here. Then we won’t have to worry about it.” He kisses down my neck, and his hands slip under my shirt.
I tense. Um—what kind of conversation is this? This is a conversation my mother would have with me, not—ah hell, I guess it is a conversation you would have with your husband.
“Kate.” Cole looks at me. “What’s the matter?”
I’m suddenly very embarrassed. Mortified, we’re having this conversation and humiliated that it’s Cole who’s bringing it up. It shows just how uneducated I am about relationships. “Nothing, I’m fine.” I try to capture his lips, but he grasps my face in his hands.
He looks me over and I can’t take it, lowering my gaze.
“Kate, it’s not a big deal. If you don’t want to go on birth control, there are other contraceptive methods.”
Please, this is not happening to me. If he starts naming them off, I may lose it because I have no idea what they are. He opens his mouth. Oh, hell no. I cup my hand over his mouth, cutting him off. Then put my other hand over it, to ensure it stays closed. Of course, he knows. Keep it together, Kate. I untangle my legs and push off the counter. I let my hands linger on his mouth, then turn around and walk out of the kitchen.
