Only, Always, and Forever You

19 - 4 Hours

Amara's POV:

After a while, Cole and I pick out books for each other and exchange them.

For him, I choose A Room with a View by E. M. Forster, another one of my favorite classics. It follows a woman in the late 1800's or early 1900's, who is stuck between two men: one who she knows will be socially acceptable and one who she knows will make her truly whole. It's truly a classic romance.

For me, Cole chooses Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, another classic, but I haven't read this one yet. He claims that it's truly a poetic masterpiece, and its tragic yet passionate tone is admirable.

Cole finds a nook in the large library, which he seems to be very familiar with, knowing exactly where to go to get some space away from other readers. We settle down and read silently for a while.

For the most part, I'm enveloped in the book I'm reading, but there are moments between pages that I look up at Cole, and his eyes are already on me. Every time I look up, our gazes happen to meet, so I can't help but think that he just hasn't stopped looking at me, and isn't reading his book at all. I'm probably wrong, though. It's just a coincidence...

* * *

We spend hours in the library, and we don't even realize just how long until the lights overhead start to turn off.

"Shit," Cole whispers, "I guess they're closing."

"Oh my God, how long have we been here?" I ask incredulously; we got here at 3 P.M., so it must have been hours.

"Well, it's 7 P.M. right now, so that's what? 4 hours?" Cole shrugs as if it's nothing.

I start to giggle at how swept away we both got in our books, not even realizing how much time was slipping away.

"As much as I don't want this day to end, princess, we should probably get going," he sighs, and I feel warm, knowing he enjoyed today as much as I did.

Even though we didn't talk a ton, we still spent the day together doing something we both enjoy. Not only that, but choosing books for each other was fun. I wish we could do this again sometime, but I know it was probably just a one time thing.

Still, I can't help but think about how close we were the entire day. First, his proximity while leading me in the building. Then, the nook was really only big enough for one person, but since I'm somewhat small, I was able to fit— though, only when cuddling up close to Cole.

I wonder why he didn't just choose to sit in one of the bigger nooks down the hall... Oh well, there was probably something he enjoyed about this one.

I snap out of the fond memories when I feel a hand gently grab mine. Cole starts to lead us out of the nook and down the aisles of books so that we can return ours. I'll be sure to come back and finish the book Cole picked for me another time.

Since we both have classic romance novels, our books belong in the same section. Once we reach the right spot, I take the book from his hand and place it back onto the shelf I got it from. Then, I hold my own book and look around for where it belongs.

I look up and realize that the book belongs on one of the higher shelves, so I try to reach up to put it back but I can't reach. I try to stretch out my entire body and stand on my toes so that I can gain some height, but it doesn't work.

I hear a deep chuckle from behind me before hands are placed on my hips, gently pushing me down. Suddenly, the book is taken out of my hands and returned to the shelf I can't reach. I stand on my flat feet and turn around.

"I would have gotten it if you let me, you know?" I pout, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Sure you would've, but I didn't like that the whole library could see up your skirt when you were trying to," he says with a smirk, and I start to blush profusely.

He's right. I look down at the mini skirt I'm wearing, and it's riding up high on my hips. I'm embarrassed that I probably just flashed Cole, and I can help but heat up.

"Well, you're the one who picked the mini skirt, you should've thought about this," I scold, only half sarcastic.

"Who said I didn't?" he teases, his smirk only growing when my eyes widen and my blush intensifies.

He leans against the book shelf, trapping me against it, under his body. The smell of his cologne washes over me again, and I'm practically drooling at the scent. I can't move, but I'm not even sure if I want to...

Something in me comes back down to earth, and I slap his chest, not missing its firm feel under my palm. I start walking away, but I know he's following me by the close sound of his shoes on the floor.

Although I'm ahead of him, I have to wait for him to catch up since I have no idea how to get out of here. I was blindfolded on the way in.

He reaches my side, and before I realize it, his hand is entwined with mine. I look down at where our hands meet, and I get butterflies in my stomach when his thumb slowly starts tracing circles on my palm as we walk out.

We eventually reach his car, and he opens the passenger side door for me. Then, he walks over to the driver's side and gets in.

I yawn, somehow tired from the day we just had, and Cole doesn't miss it.

"I'll take you home," he says, pulling out of the parking lot.

I nod and mumble a 'thank you'.

We spend the car ride back to my apartment talking about the books we read. I'm glad that Cole likes the book I chose for him, and I can truthfully say the same about the one he chose for me.

After a while of us gushing over two books, we finally reach my apartment. I let him walk me up this time, considering he's now done it before, but when we reach my apartment, the door is already slightly open.

"Get behind me," Cole whispers deeply, holding me behind his tall frame.

I watch as he cautiously pushes the door open, but when it opens all the way, I'm met with a familiar face.

"Andrés?"