my better half | c.w. ✓

Chapter 20

Cole and I stayed out on the pier for hours, just talking. We finally went back to the house at around four in the morning, thankfully making it inside without waking anyone.

I slept in until almost eleven. When I woke up Grace was already gone. I put on a sweatshirt over my pajamas and went downstairs to get something to eat.

When I got to the kitchen, Cole's mom was the only one there. She was standing at the counter making waffles, and smiled at me as I sat down at the island.

"Good morning, McKenna," she said. "Want a waffle?"

I nodded. "Yes, please."

She kept talking as she poured the batter into the waffle maker. "Seems like everyone decided to sleep in today. Cole and Luke haven't even woken up yet." She turned to face me. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Better than I have in a long time," I replied. She gave me a questioning look and I explained. "My dad snores, and the walls in our house are really thin."

She laughed. "Oh, I know how that feels. Though I can't imagine anyone snores louder than my husband."

I laughed as she turned back to the waffle maker and opened it, taking out the waffle and putting it on a plate.

"Are you enjoying the scenery around here?" she asked as she set the plate in front of me, along with a fork and knife.

I nodded, picking up the maple syrup and putting some on my waffle. "Definitely. It's beautiful here."

"That's my favorite part about coming up here. The view is gorgeous. Especially from the master bedroom. The window looks right out onto the pier. I stayed up pretty late last night enjoying the view." She smiled and winked at me.

It took me a second to realize what she meant, and when I did, my face turned bright red. "Oh, um-"

She laughed. "It's fine, honey. Don't be embarrassed. You two are really cute together."

I relaxed a little, though I still felt pretty embarrassed.

"I'm glad Cole found someone like you. There's too many girls out there that would use him just for popularity. But you guys are perfect for each other."

I smiled. "Thanks. I'm lucky to have him."

"Lucky to have who?"

I turned as Cole walked into the kitchen, looking like he'd just woken up - which was probably true.

"Shawn Mendes," I said, taking a bite of my waffle.

He sighed. "I should've known. I just can't compete with him."

I shrugged. "Learn how to sing and play four different instruments and you might have a shot."

His mom laughed. "I'm going to go meet everyone else by the pier. Have fun, you two."

We said goodbye as she went out the back door. "Want a waffle?" I asked Cole.

He put a fake-hurt look on his face. "So what, you confess your undying love for me and I can't even get a 'good morning?'"

I rolled my eyes. "Good morning, Mikey."

He made a face. "Seriously, can't you come up with a better nickname?"

"I'll think about it."

Cole sighed and went around the island to get one of the waffles his mom had made. "So what do you want to do today?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. What do you guys normally do around here?"

He grabbed a plate and sat down to my right. "Swimming, kayaking, tubing. Mostly water stuff. I don't know if you noticed, but there's this big thing of water in our backyard."