Chapter 14 – Kenna-Past
Chapter Fourteen
SUNSHINE SERVED WARM
KENNA-PAST
The school bell rings, signaling the end of another long day, and my stomach flips in anticipation. It’s Friday, and that means Cole is coming over after school. I try to keep my cool as I grab my bag and head toward the exit, but inside, there’s a fluttering excitement I’ve felt all day.
When I step outside, Cole is waiting for me by his car, leaning against the side with that easy, relaxed smile I love so much. My heart skips a little skip, and I wave as I walk toward him. His eyes light up when he sees me, and in that moment, it feels like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
“Hey Sunshine,” he says, kissing me before opening the passenger door.
The nickname always makes me smile, especially when it’s just him and me.
“Hey, yourself,” I tease back, reaching back to put my bag in the backseat. “Ready to hang out.”
“Always,” he replies, and I can’t help but notice the warmth in his voice, the way he looks at me, like nothing else matters. Maybe it’s the way he says my name, or maybe it’s just him being him, but every part of me wants to stay in this moment.
I climb into the passenger side as Cole walks around the car to the driver’s side. He slides into the seat, and without a word, he starts the engine.
I glance at him, and he’s already looking at me with that soft, almost secretive smile that always makes my cheeks turn the brightest shade of pink.
We don’t have to say much. I invited him over because the need to just be close, to have him around, is all-consuming, and I can feel it in the way my heart pounds a little faster just being in the car with him.
His hand rests casually on the console between us, but as we drive through the familiar streets of Cherry Falls, Cole slowly reaches for my hand.
His fingers slide between mine, warm and steady, and my chest fills with a soft, fluttering sensation. I squeeze his hand, letting him know I’m here with him, just as he’s here with me.
He doesn’t let go, and neither do I. His grip is strong, but gentle, grounding me as we head towards my house.
The trees pass by in a blur of gold and green, the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the windshield.
I study the way the light catches in Cole’s eyes. The way the corner of his mouth lifts slightly even when he’s focused on the road. I wonder if he knows what he does to me? How my world quiets down around him and everything feels right.
I want to say something, but I don’t want to ruin the peace that’s wrapped around us like a blanket. My mind drifts, imagining us like this years from now. Different car, maybe. But the same him. The same me. Still reaching for each other in the quiet moments.
For the entire drive, he holds my hand in silence, and it’s the most comforting thing in the world.
There’s no rush. No need to fill the air with words.
His presence, his touch, says everything I need to hear.
The rest of the world melts away when I’m with him.
It’s just us. It always has been, always will be.
When we pull into my driveway, I don’t want the moment to end. The car slows to a stop, and Cole reluctantly pulls his hand away from mine, though his fingers brush mine one last time. My heart physically aches at the loss of his touch.
We both get out and head into the house. There’s a quiet sense of familiarity between us, like everything is perfectly in place, even without saying anything. It’s the small moments that matter. Like holding hands in the car and feeling that connection grow stronger every time.
Once we’re inside, I lead him upstairs to my room. I don’t know why I feel like I need to do this, but I invite him to sit on my bed, like we’ve done a million times before.
I kick off my shoes and pull the blanket back, sitting down next to him. He does the same, and for a while, neither of us says anything. It’s as if just being near each other is enough. His hand finds mine again, and I lean my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin through his shirt.
There’s something peaceful about this. The way we fit together without trying, the way his presence calms me. His hand moves to my hair, brushing it back gently, and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future,” Cole murmurs, his voice a soft rumble in my ear. I feel the vibration of his words more than I hear them.
“Yeah? Like what?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my fingers tracing patterns on his shirt as I settle deeper into his chest. The smell of him—of soap and something earthy—settles around me, and it’s the most comforting thing in the world.
“I’ve been talking to Old Man Harris about taking over the hardware store,” he says, his fingers grazing my arm. “He’s getting up there, and I think it’s time for someone else to take the reins. Maybe I’ll make it a bigger deal, expand it. It could be good. You know?”
I smile, feeling the warmth of pride swelling in my chest. “That’s awesome, Cole. You’d be great at that. You’ve always had a good head for that kind of thing.”
He chuckles, a soft sound. “Thanks, Ken. What about you? Any ideas for after graduation?”
I pause, the question catching me off guard. I never really thought about what I’d do after. In the back of my mind, there’s always been art, always been painting. But I’ve always kept it in the background, unsure of where I’d take it.
“Well,” I say slowly, “I’ve been thinking about cosmetology school. I want to open a salon here in town. Maybe something small at first, but I could grow it. You know?”
Cole nods, his hand now resting against my back, his thumb moving in slow, reassuring circles. “I think that’s a great idea, Kenna. Totally doable. The skills are definitely there. That’s always been a special thing about you. The way you can make people feel good about themselves.”
I feel a smile stretch across my face. The words settling in my chest like a warm blanket. “Thanks, Cole. I want to keep painting, though. I don’t want to lose that part of me.”
“You won’t,” he says with conviction. “Don’t forget about what you love, Kenna. You can do whatever you set your mind to, but don’t ever lose that passion for your art. It’s who you are.”
His words hit deeper than he probably realizes. I swallow hard, the pressure behind my eyes making itself known. No one’s ever said that to me before. Not like that. People always talk about being practical, about backup plans, about money and job security. But Cole…he just sees me.
I lean up slightly to look at him, the sincerity in his eyes melting any doubt I had. “I won’t,” I promise. “Thanks for saying that. I needed to hear it.”
Cole’s eyes meet mine for a long moment, and something unspoken passes between us. I feel my chest tighten, and I know I have to say it, that I have to take a chance now.
“My stomach’s growling,” I admit, trying to lighten the mood, but Cole laughs softly, his hand still resting at my side.
“Yeah, I figured,” he says, his voice warm with amusement. “Come on, Sunshine, let’s get you something to eat.” He stands, pulling me up gently by the hand, and then, without warning, he pulls me into a tight hug.
“You’re hungry, huh?” he teases, his breath warm against my neck. “I don’t let my Sunshine go hungry. Let’s get something to eat.”
His arms are strong around me, and for a split second, I let myself feel the security of it, the comfort that only Cole can bring.
But then, without thinking, I pull back just enough to bring my lips to his.
It’s not like any kiss we’ve shared before—this one feels different, more certain, like a declaration I didn’t know I was ready to make.
When I pull away, I look into his eyes, my chest full of emotion. “I love you, Cole,” I whisper, barely able to get the words out.
The way his face softens, the way his eyes search mine, makes my heart skip a beat. “I love you too, Kenna. I always have.”
His voice doesn’t shake. There’s no hesitation. Just three words spoken like a promise. It’s like everything in me settles in that moment. Like I’ve been holding my breath for months without realizing it, and now I can finally breathe.
The words feel right, like they’ve been waiting to be said for a long time. I smile, a little embarrassed, but I don’t regret it.
We move downstairs to the kitchen, and Cole pulls out ingredients, setting up for whatever he’s going to make. As he gets to work, I stand next to him, watching his movements.
“What do you want to do this summer?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder at me.
I lean against the counter, thinking for a moment. “I don’t know… I’ve been thinking about just spending time with you, seeing where we go, you know? We don’t need to have all the answers right now. We have time.”
Cole grins and nods as he pulls out bread and cheese. “Yeah, I know what you mean. We’ve got time.”
“I was thinking,” he adds after a beat, “we should go on a trip in July. Just get away for a bit, clear our heads.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A trip? Like, where?”
“A camping weekend on the beach,” he suggests, looking at me like he’s already picturing it. “Just us, the ocean, and maybe some time to figure things out.”
The idea feels right. It feels like it could be perfect. “That sounds amazing,” I say, a smile creeping onto my face. “You know what? We should do it for your birthday. That way, it’s like the best birthday trip ever.”
Cole stops what he’s doing, looking over at me with a surprised expression. “That’s actually a great idea, Ken. I like it.”
“I’ll surprise you with something, too,” I say, suddenly feeling a burst of excitement. “It’s your birthday. I want it to be special.”
“You being there will already make it special,” he says softly, and I feel those words settle into my ribs like they were meant to live there.