SUNSHINE - COLE WALTER

011.

• ───────────────── •

Jamie quietly took a seat at her table, joining her friend Maddy. Leaning in, she whispered, "Alex kissed me."

Maddy's eyes widened, and she couldn't contain her surprise. "What!" she exclaimed, only to be quickly hushed by the people studying around them.

Jamie continued, her tone a mix of frustration and excitement. "Yeah, he took me to this incredibly romantic spot, and it was all so sweet. But when we got back and he kissed me, I just... I couldn't fully reciprocate."

Maddy's curiosity got the best of her. "Why? Was he a bad kisser?"

"No, that wasn't the issue," Jamie clarified.

Confused, Maddy pressed for more information. "Then what was it?"

Hesitating, Jamie finally admitted, her voice filled with a tinge of shyness, "All I could think about was Cole."

Maddy's eyes widened once again, the realization dawning upon her. "What!" she loudly exclaimed, once again earning shushes from the library patrons.

Sighing, Jamie groaned softly. "Ever since he kissed me at the lake house, he's been on my mind. I can't seem to shake the memories or the way it felt."

Maddy smirked mischievously, drawing a parallel that left Jamie confused. "Wow, two brothers... It's like déjà vu," Maddy commented.

Confusion laced Jamie's voice as she asked, "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

Maddy clarified, her tone subdued. "Well, Cole and Alex once fought over Paige. Cole ended up stealing her away from Alex."

Jamie's eyes widened in shock, her heart missing a beat. "Cole did what?" she exclaimed, once again catching the attention of annoyed shushes.

Sensing Jamie's distress, Maddy quickly reassured her. "Hey, don't stress. You made it clear to Alex that you're not interested, so there wouldn't be any problem pursuing things with Cole."

Jamie shook her head firmly. "I'm not going after Cole. I believe Jackie likes him, and I can't do that to her."

Maddy let out a knowing sigh. "Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure Cole likes you too," she confessed.

Frustrated, Jamie wanted to end the conversation. "Stop," she pleaded, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and longing.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Jamie was engrossed in editing a picture when she heard a firm knock on her door.

"Come in," she called out, momentarily distracted by the interruption. Her eyes shifted to the doorway, and her heart sank a little as Cole walked in, his familiar presence evoking conflicting emotions within her.

"Hey, Sunshine," he smirked, glancing at her work before continuing, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

Jamie sighed, trying to maintain her composure. "I have things to do, Cole. Unless you actually want something?"

Cole's expression turned serious as he leaned against the door frame. "What's going on with you and Alex?" he asked unexpectedly, catching Jamie off guard.

Confusion crept into Jamie's voice as she replied, "Nothing, why?"

Cole's gaze lingered on her intently as he spoke, his tone laced with subtle concern. "That kiss didn't exactly look like 'nothing,' Jamie."

A flash of annoyance shot through Jamie. "Listen, Cole, that is none of your business," she snapped, her words sharper than intended.

His response was nonchalant, seemingly unfazed. "I was just curious, that's all," Cole shrugged, making an effort to downplay the significance of his question.

With a tinge of regret, Jamie muttered the next words under her breath, the tension between them palpable. "Yeah, just like you were 'curious' with Paige?"

Caught off guard, Cole's expression shifted, his defenses momentarily lowered. "I don't know what you mean," he denied, his tone hesitant.

Her frustration apparent, Jamie refused to hold back any longer. "Your secret is out, Cole. I know you stole Paige from Alex, so stop acting all high-and-mighty," she accused, her words laced with bitterness.

His demeanor hardened, and Cole took a step closer, his voice firm. "Okay, first of all, you don't know what you're talking about. Second of all, I didn't 'steal' anyone. And third of all, if anyone acts high-and-mighty, it's you," he retorted, his words reflecting the underlying tension between them.

"Excuse me?" Jamie's voice caught with a mix of defiance and shock.

Cole's eyes locked with hers as he continued, his words cutting through the air. "You walk around here, pretending to be some saint or something, accusing me of cheating. But aren't you the one cuddling up to me by the fire one day and then making out with Alex the next? Wait, I forgot, it's none of my business, right? I may flirt around a bit, but at least I'm honest about it. The only one pretending to be something they're not is you."

A steely glare held Jamie's gaze as Cole stormed out of her room, leaving her alone with a myriad of emotions. In an instant, one conversation had taken them right back to square one, their once-affable connection marred by lingering resentment and unspoken truths.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•