Haunted by their pasts, Keaton and Cole aren't looking for anything serious. But their undeniable connection pulls them closer, even as emotional wounds resurface. With the ghosts of their pasts threatening their future, can they open up and move fo...
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Keaton was jolted awake by the sound of a door shutting somewhere in the house. He sat up too quickly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his skull. Shit. The wine from the night before was taking its toll, leaving him with a pounding headache and a dry mouth.
His thoughts immediately went to Cole. "Cole..." he muttered, his voice raspy from sleep, but the room remained eerily silent.
No response.
Keaton blinked, trying to shake off the fog in his head. Did he leave? Panic and disappointment crept into his chest, tightening around his heart. His mind jumped to the worst-case scenario: Maybe he left because I wasn't what he wanted. Maybe he didn't get the hookup he was hoping for...
He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. The last thing Keaton needed was another person disappearing on him. Not again.
Still, a part of him clung to hope. He wasn't ready to accept that Cole had gone. Not yet.
Dragging himself out of bed, Keaton shuffled sluggishly through the house, his bare feet making soft thuds against the wooden floor. His first stop was the bathroom. He pushed open the door, half-expecting to find Cole splashing water on his face, but it was empty. He stood there for a moment, staring at the vacant sink, feeling a sinking weight settle in his chest.
Don't overthink it. It's fine. Maybe he's in the living room.
Keaton made his way down the hall toward the living room, his heart beating faster with every step. He told himself he didn't care—I don't care if he's gone—but deep down, he knew it was a lie. He cared too much. It was like history was repeating itself, bringing back memories of his ex, the one who had ghosted him without a word, leaving him spiraling for months.
When Keaton reached the living room, the couch was empty. The faint morning light trickled in through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. His eyes darted around the space, hoping for some sign that Cole was still there.
Nothing.
Keaton's heart sank, his hands shaking slightly as he turned and headed back to the bedroom. He's gone. Just like that.
He grabbed his phone from the nightstand, his fingers trembling as he opened the dating app. Maybe he's still on here. Maybe...
He typed in Cole Guy and waited for the profile to load. To his surprise, the profile was still active, Cole's name glowing on the screen. For a moment, Keaton stared at it, unsure of what to do.
Should I message him? Ask if everything's okay?
His thumb hovered over the message button, but his thoughts raced. What if I sound desperate? What if he's already moved on?
In frustration, Keaton tossed his phone onto the bed, pacing the room as the conflicted thoughts swirled in his head. He didn't want to care this much—not after one night. But he couldn't help it. Something about Cole made him feel... something. Maybe it was the way Cole had let himself be vulnerable in his arms. Maybe it was the way he felt when they had been wrapped up together, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.
Keaton couldn't shake the disappointment that Cole was gone, just like that.
Suddenly, the phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. His heart jumped as he snatched it up, hoping—no, begging—that it was Cole. But as he read the notification, his hope deflated.
"You have been charged $9.99 for Apple."
"Are you kidding me?" Keaton groaned, tossing the phone back onto the bed. Frustration welled up inside him, bubbling over. He impulsively tapped the screen, pulling up the dating app and hitting the Delete button.
"Last night was a mistake," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Keaton sighed heavily, walking back into the living room, where an empty wine bottle lay on the coffee table. His eyes landed on the second bottle they hadn't opened the night before. He stared at it for a long moment, contemplating whether it was too early for wine. It wasn't even noon yet, but the thought of pouring a glass was tempting. Maybe wine would help clear my head.
Just as he reached for the bottle, his phone buzzed again. He cursed under his breath, annoyed by the constant interruptions.
Without checking who it was, Keaton swiped the screen to answer.
"What?"
"Keat, we'll be home soon! Make sure the house is tidy," came the familiar, breathless voice on the other end of the line.
Keaton froze, the bottle still in his hand. "Mom?"
"Yes, make sure everything's in order. We'll be back this afternoon. Traffic's awful, but we should be there soon," his mom continued, her voice cheerful despite the background noise.
"Wait, I thought you weren't coming back until Monday?" Keaton said, his heart skipping a beat as the realization sank in.
"No, we're back today! Surprise!" she laughed. "Anyway, just make sure the house is good, okay? Love you!"
Before Keaton could say anything more, the call ended, leaving him standing there, bottle in hand, the words still sinking in.
He blinked, staring down at the bottle. His parents were coming back today? The house was a mess, and he had been wallowing in confusion about Cole all morning.
He dropped the bottle back on the table and looked around the room, his mind racing. Great. Just what I needed.
