Face To Call Home (Love Came In #1) ✔️

Chapter 19

Cole

Sunlight streamed through leaves overhead and hit her skin softly, creating a glow that seemed almost magical and angelic.

She was an angel. My angel.

Her hair, those long brown tresses came alive under the gentle kiss of light - it revealed a million colours, merging to form that lovely amber brown. Those soft, lush and pink lips turned up in a gentle quirk as her eyes creased slightly and she smiled with that single dimple on her left cheek almost smirking in the natural light.

Her smile was so beautiful - I could live with it for the rest of my life.

That smooth, untainted ivory skin seemed to call out at me - the gentle flush teasing me, asking me if I wanted to see how far down her body it goes to. Suddenly, she threw her head back in laughter at something Jack said and I swear she had never looked so...magical, enticing.

I wanted to kiss every single inch of her skin, from that cute dimple and the gentle curve of her cheek to the small birthmark on the top of her breast only I would ever know of.

Because I had already decided that I was the only one, the first and last one for her - I had decided from that first moment onwards, when I had seen her there on the sidewalk, spitting insults with her cheeks red with frustration, grey eyes glimmering with a glint of anger and will.

We didn't need labels - we didn't need to declare ourselves to anyone else. It was clear as day and no one needed to put a word on it because there already was one - Love.

I had always wanted this - I had always known, or hoped at least, that I'd find this sometime later in my life - perhaps it stemmed from my father being the lousy person and partner he was, but I wanted to be different, I wanted to not be him. Brooke was, in every way, perfect for me. She was the unexpected curve ball in my life that was also the best fucking thing to ever happen to me.

Someone clearing their throat brought me out of my reverie as my concentrated expression probably morphed into one of annoyance.

Liam smirked in front of me as James cleared his throat loudly again. The whole group continued to talk though, no one noticing how obvious those idiots were.

Liam made a motion of whipping a whip with his hand and pointed to me as James nodded solemnly in agreement. The fuckers.

Narrowing my eyes on them, I aggressively threw a piece of the cafeteria boxed popcorn from Brooke's plate as she continued to talk animatedly with Jack and Nate, flinging her hands around in that delicate way she often did.

James dodged the one thrown in his direction whilst Liam expertly catched it with his mouth.

James and Liam leaned a little away from the group to not let the others hear them. I relaxed back into the bench, arm flung around Brooke's seat casually. The whole group was outside, sitting on one if the external tables and being a ruckus as usual.

"Dude, you couldn't be more obvious, I can practically see the hearts in your eyes." Liam rolled his eyes.

He was the only one in the group who wore glasses, as he was, truly, the definition of a nerd. Although he could get plenty of action if he wanted to, he remained celibate and the single athletically challenged individual in the group of boys.

James snorted. "Cole is 100% whipped."

"You know, you really should ask her out." Reece said out of no where and leaned in from my other side.

I smacked his palm on the back of his head. "I already did, dumb fuck. We've even been on one date."

Reece winced and narrowed his eyes on me. He was one of the bulkiest guys in the group after Matt and I, seeing as he was the captain of the basketball team (also his ticket to college), but be could be just a big baby at times.

"You know what, I can already see your wedding in my mind." James munched on his chips thoughtfully. "With me as the best man, obviously."

"No, I think I'd be the best man." Reece proclaimed from beside me. I was equally close to all three of them, the brothers and Liam, although Matt was the one who I was the closest to.

We'd been through a lot of shit together, the both of us, which is why I was hesitating to come clean to him about Brooke and how I loved her.

I know he had started noticing small things though, like the way I'd stare at her when she was in the room, or when I would unconsciously push a strand of hair back from her face.

When I had done that the one time in front of him without realising it, he had narrowed his eyes at me and his jaw had clenched in a thoughtful way. Surprisingly, he hadn't said anything to me yet, which was strange of him, considering how possessive he was about his sister.

Liam rolled his eyes at the brothers. "Have you guys like, done anything or..?" Liam asked, hesitating. He was painfully shy and a bit of a prude.

I chuckled at the way he had phrased it.

"Just ask him if they've fucked yet." James said casually.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "None of your goddamn business. And yes, we have definitely...done some things."

Reece looked at me wide eyed. "Wait, you guys haven't like....actually fucked have you?"

"I just said, none of your business. But no, we haven't. She's too special for a quick lay. Its not like that with us."

There was a moment of silence in our group of four.

Reece burst out laughing as Liam snorted loudly and muttered something that sounded like 'pussy' under his breath and James made a gagging motion at the same time.

"What did you just call me?" I asked Liam, leaning forward and narrowing my eyes on him.

His own widened. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"That's what I thought."

*****

"So then, she says, 'Oh, my god Kate is that your real husband?'"

Everybody on the dinner table bursts out laughing as mom finishes her story about a work experience. She was quite a funny woman, and always knew how to entertain and host a crowd, no matter how large or small.

Everybody resumed conversation and it was lively around the table - active like it hadn't been for a long time.

Brooke laughed at something Cameroon said and Matt, his dad and mom talked about army listings and experiences. I occasionally tuned into the conversation but I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts.

"Please tell me that's lemon meringue pie." Cameroon said and widened her eyes at the dessert on the middle of the table.

I laughed at how she was almost drooling over the prospect as Brooke giggled cutely from beside me at her expression.

Mum smiled lovingly and placed a slice in all of our plates, the crust crumbling on the surface. Cameroon almost swallowed it whole, and when everyone was done with dessert mum and her went to the kitchen to get something as Matt and his father joined them to keep their plates.

It was one of lots to come (hopefully) dinners in our house with the Mathews family.

Brooke got up with her plate to keep it in the kitchen as I pulled her down forcefully into my lap. She gasped in surprise.

"Cole they'll see us." Brooke frantically looked around.

I quietly picked her hand up from where it rested on her thighs and picked a finger. Looking straight into her eyes, I put the tip in my mouth and licked off the few flaky bits of the crust on her finger.

Her eyes widened and turned into a darker shade of grey, and she released a quiet moan.

That made my eyes flare with lust as i savoured the taste of her on my tongue. Letting go of her wrist, I picked her and stood up, taking my plate in my hand like her, although hers now hung limply from her fingers.

I dropped a quick yet wet kiss on her neck and walked away, smirking to myself as she cleared her throat loudly and followed me. She was so innocent and cute.