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Chapter 12: Cole
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STay Chapter 13: Cassidy
##Chapter 13: CassidyBook One: Stay"Where'd you disappear to last night? I thought we were going to hang out at the bar after the game."Even though Brooklyn looks as though she didn't get a wink of sleep last night, her voice is chipper and brimming with curiosity.I glance up from the bowl of oatmeal I'm trailing my spoon through as we sit in the cafeteria with its walls of floor to ceiling windows. Brilliant sunshine pours down on us. Even this early in the morning, students are bustling past with trays full of food before their days get underway."I decided to head home after the game instead.""Well, you missed an awesome time last night. We had a blast." She grins before digging into her scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. She waggles her perfectly plucked brows before dropping her voice. "And what happened after the bar was even more fun, if you know what I mean."I roll my eyes because yeah, I know exactly what she means. Instead of taking the bait, I clear my throat. "Austin s
STay Chapter 14: Cassidy
##Chapter 14: CassidyBook One: StayIt's not quite seven in the morning as I run through the sleeping streets of the small-town Western University calls home. The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon, washing everything in a soft pink glow. The air is crisp, the leaves overhead vibrant in their orange, red, and yellow colors.After the hockey game last week, I made the decision to slowly start incorporating exercise back into my routine again. In high school, I'd spent a ton of time working out and skating. After failing out last year, that had been another thing that had fallen by the wayside. I've decided to run three times a week. Okay, so maybe it's more of a jogging/speed walking type of thing but still...I'm out there, doing it.I'm pretty sure that counts for something. Not working out six days a week for the last nine months has taken a toll on my waistline. I used to be muscular and toned all over. Now, not so much. I'm a lot softer than I once was.One side benefi
STay Chapter 15: Cassidy
##Chapter 15: CassidyBook One: StayWith our arms linked, Brooklyn and I get absorbed into a herd of students heading to the same party. My brows rise as I stare up at the large Victorian that looms in front of us. It looks as if it's bursting at the seams with people. Even though it's only nine o'clock on a Friday night, drunken revelers are spilling out onto the darkened lawn, plastic beer cups in hand, laughing and hollering as music pulses from inside.I give Brooklyn at bit of side-eye. "Jeez. It looks like the entire campus is here.""Didn't you see the flyers plastered all over school? I think it's a," she uses her fingers to make air quotes "fundraiser."I can only imagine what will be bought with the money they make tonight.Probably more red plastic cups and beer.It takes effort to push through the throng of people and make our way inside the house. My gaze darts around, overwhelmed by the sheer number of partiers crammed inside the living room. Every square inch of space i
STay Chapter 16: Cassidy
##Chapter 16: CassidyBook One: StayFor the next couple of hours, we listen to the band. They're a local group who play at a lot of bars around town. They also perform exclusively at the hockey parties, since the lead singer knows one of Cole's teammates. Before I realize it, I'm dancing with Cole, Austin, and Brooklyn. After a while, Alex joins in. In a shocking twist, he turns out to be smooth on his feet.A few drinks later, he sidles up to me like a puppy dog with its tail tucked between his legs and apologizes for grabbing me a couple of weeks ago. Even though I'm pleasantly surprised by the olive branch, I can't help but wonder if Cole put him up to it.Once we've exhausted ourselves from dancing, we stand near the front of the makeshift stage, listening as the band finishes up their last set. By now, the crowd has thinned, and the atmosphere is mellower. I stifle a yawn. As awesome as tonight has been, it feels like it's time to head home.My gaze coasts over the crowd, searchi
STay Chapter 17: Cassidy
##Chapter 17: CassidyBook One: StayI'm probably pushing the boundaries of what I can handle without having a small-or god forbid, huge-freak-out. I don't want Cole to see me like that. He's already witnessed enough.As I stand motionless, I realize that everything has quieted downstairs. My gaze slides from his to the queen-sized bed. My nerves ratchet up a couple hundred notches. I've spent the last nine months pushing people away and yet, somehow, Cole has managed to sneak past all my defenses.The last thing I want to do is put myself in a situation that ends badly. I force my gaze back to Cole who silently watches me.It's as if he can read my thoughts, which is disconcerting on an entirely different level."I could pile pillows in the middle of the bed like a wall if that would make you feel better." He pauses. "Or I could sleep in the chair. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."His earnest gaze holds mine before he offers a lopsided smile. "I promise, nothing will happen. We
STay Chapter 18: Cassidy
##Chapter 18: CassidyBook One: StayMy brows are knit tightly together as I glance suspiciously around before asking, "What are we doing here?"It's a few minutes before five o'clock in the morning, and the ice arena is closed. The lights are off, the concession stand is locked up tight, there's not even a maintenance guy on duty to question our presence.Even though this isn't the first time I've posed the question, Cole remains tight-lipped. The only thing he said is that it's a surprise.The first wave of questions fell from my lips as we stood outside the arena, and I realized it wasn't open. That's when Cole had produced a key. I'm not going to lie, it had struck me as a little bit sketchy. The last thing I need is a police record to go along with the other crap I put my parents through. They'd probably disown me.Officially.But I trust Cole.I do.He doesn't strike me as a guy who engages in criminal activity. Right now, I can only hope I'm not wrong about that. Then again, he
STay Chapter 19: Cassidy
##Chapter 19: CassidyBook One: StayI tip my face toward his and wait for his lips to settle over mine. He caresses them gently, making me forget where we are. Just as I sink further into the warm embrace, he draws away before untangling himself from me, leaving my body to pulse and throb with need."Okay, let's try that again." He motions for me to skate toward him. Slightly disorientated from that kiss, I pick up each skate as if clumsily trying to walk across the ice."No, not like that," he patiently instructs. "You have to glide. Just remember, long smooth strokes."Long smooth strokes.Now that's a distracting thought. Maybe even more so than his kisses.It doesn't take long before I'm imagining Cole caressing my insides with long smooth strokes. God, I bet he's good at it. I mean, come on, of course he is. His kisses are literally mind-blowing. Even thinking about them has me clenching my inner thighs together, which is something I've never felt compelled to do."Cassidy?"I bl
STay Chapter 20: Cassidy
##Chapter 20: CassidyBook One: Stay"It's nice to see you looking so happy. Things must be going well," Dr. Thompson says with a smile as she continues to study me.Her thin black framed glasses are perched on the bridge of her nose. Every hair of her blonde, shoulder-length bob is in perfect place. Her beige suit is carefully tailored and form-fitting. A thick strand of creamy pearls clasped around her slender neck completes the picture. She sits back, looking pleased with my progress.I have to admit, I'm happy with it as well.Her comment has a small smile blooming across my face. I can't remember the last time I've felt this good. Even thinking back to before my life imploded, I'm not sure I was happy. I spent my high school years stressed out. There was always another game to excel at. Another test to ace. Scouts sitting in the stands that I needed to perform for like I was a circus act.There's no longer the same pressure to succeed.But it's more than that. A lot of my happines
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