"I can't believe winter break is almost over. There are only two days left." I lean my back on Colton's chest and he drapes a hand over my waist from behind. I look at him over my shoulder and press a M&M to his lips. He sucks my fingers in his mouth, taking the candy and making me all tingly. This guy will be my personal undoing because the emotions he causes within me are way stronger than they were before he agreed to come here.

"Get a room." Drake huffs, kicking my leg with his. I chuckle, kicking him back and poking my tongue at him. "You're annoying, Mason."

"Sorry Benson." I sing-song, throwing a bunch of candies in my mouth. "You're still on probation, so stop pouting."

"Unbelievable." He takes a swing of his beer, giving me a stink eye. He apologized for what he said and his behavior, he justified it by telling me about how lonely he is. Not cool but I kinda get it. I was with Colt, and it is obvious that Layla and Clay like each other, leaving Drake on his own. "Where is my damn sister?"

I kick him again and he groans, he stands up from the couch, and stalks out of my living room. I roll my eyes, not surprised by his reaction. He tries not to be overprotective and it's not really working. And in all honesty, I can't blame him. Clay has behaved himself this week, but most of the time he acts like a goofball who isn't worthy of trust. Fun is the only thing he can promise my best friend and she isn't interested.

"You love driving him out of his mind." Colt's whisper sends shivers down my spine and pushes the butterflies in my stomach to have their own dance party. I sigh, feeling his lips on my neck. "Give him a breather, Ava, you're too hard on him."

"He deserves-"

"Layla already barely talks to him when we hang out together. Do you really want to make him even more miserable?"

Why does he always need to be right? I smack my lips together in irritation and turn around, boring my gaze in his. "Did I miss something?"

"Do you think you were the only one he talked to on Christmas Day once we got back from visiting my mom?" Colt arches an eyebrow, mischief is floating behind his irises. He got me, and I even want to curse at myself. When he's with me, I kinda notice way less than I used to. He invades my thoughts and my attention, just by being himself. "He apologized and we talked things through."

"Good for him." I scoff, and he instantly pinches my nipple through my tee. "Colt!"

"Your boobs are way bigger when you're on your period. I couldn't help myself."

"Help yourself next time." I grit through my teeth, trying to stand up. "They aren't just bigger. They are way more sensitive and it hurts!"

He presses me harder against his chest, not letting me move away even an inch. "And you're also incredibly emotional these days. I like you like that. You act on a whim, and don't hold yourself back at all."

"I act like a ticking bomb and you like it?" I can't believe my ears for real.

"I like everything about you." Colton murmurs, leaning in and kissing my lips.

The reality dissolves and I'm no longer in my living room. I'm somewhere on cloud nine with him. He so easily throws me off balance, so I honestly feel confused about what we have. And how deep in my shit I already am for him. The second he asked me if we were dating, my heartbeat skyrocketed that fast so I was afraid I was having a heart attack. Never in my life have I regretted my words as much as I did that day. 'Dating for dummies', dammit! The only dummy in his car was me.

"Better? A hot breath scants over my mouth, and I slowly open my eyes, melting on the spot from the intensity of his gaze. The more time we spend together, the more I see how different the color of his eyes are depending on his mood. With me, it's always darker and deeper. Warmer. And hints of gold are more and more noticeable when he smiles. It's like... he hasn't smiled a lot before, but now he does and new shades appear as layers peel away. He looks softer, not dark and rough like he was when we first met. He calls himself a grump, but that's not who he is. Well, maybe but not with me.

"Ava?" A light peck on my nose. "You still with me?" Another peck on my forehead. "Or you're somewhere in another world?"

"I'm here." I whisper, and then break into giggles. "Or not really."

"I think 'or not really' is more accurate," he laughs, tucking strands of my hair behind my ears. "If you start purring, I won't be surprised."

"Nope. You won't get me to do that. Ever." I state, not believing it myself. I'm a submissive kitten with him, no less.

"Arguable as your dad said."

"Meaning?" I cock an eyebrow, winding my hands around his waist and hiding my face in the hollow of his neck. Mmmm, I love the way he smells and I feel tempted to borrow his cologne just to sprinkle it on my clothes too. I want to have a little bit of him on myself... and I'm so screwed!

"When we met, he said he doesn't really like hockey, and I said it's the best sport in the world."

"Let me guess, his answer was 'arguable'?" Colt nods and I hug him tighter. "He loves baseball."

"And still, he knows everything about hockey too." He tells me, putting his chin on the top of my head.

"Because of Drake. He never missed any of his games if he wasn't busy at work."

"Your dad is an amazing person. I'll miss spending time with him."

I lean away, frowning. "You said that as if you're not going to visit me ever again."

Colton's jaw drops and he stares at me as if I'm frigging Mat Barzal who jumped on him out of nowhere. "I just-"

He doesn't have time to finish because Layla glides into the room with Drake and Clay following her steps with pizza boxes and beer in their hands. She looks smiley and visibly pleased with herself, and it's definitely not how she was when she left with Clay to pick up food from her parents' house.

"What are you two up to?" My best friend asks, sauntering over to the couch and plopping herself down near us.

"Nothing." My answer is curt, and her pupils widen slightly. I understand her confusion because from the outside the picture is idyllic, Colt and I in a tight embrace, but from the inside? I'm furious... or scared. The possibility of him not ever coming to visit again makes me feel suffocated. I don't want to even imagine a reality with him not being in my life.

"We were just talking." He says and I wiggle, turning around and sliding over on the couch between him and my best friend.

I look up, watching Drake typing something on his phone. He chews on his bottom lip, suppressing his smile. It's obviously a girl, and a wild guess crosses my mind... I honestly hope I'm wrong.

"Talking about what? Are you planning the wedding already?" Clay slumps down on the chair in front of us, and Layla bursts out laughing. Ugh, his jokes lately are no fun!

"Of course! We were discussing the guest list." I narrow my eyes on Rodgers, and he frowns. "Nosey friends won't be invited."

"You're joking." Clay mumbles, eyes wide and peeled to his best friend's face. "She's joking, isn't she?"

"She's not." Colt says, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me onto his lap. He inches to my ear, his lips grazing my earlobe. "You're not allowed to create distance between us."

I'm not allowed? Well, I can make it really hard for him... like rock-solid hard for him. I rotate my ass over his dick making it look as if I'm trying to snuggle comfortably. His fingers dig into my side, as I feel him growing hard under me. His dominance excites me and turns me into someone ready to obey his every whim, but sometimes he needs to choose his words more carefully. I love being in charge too.

"Clay, they are making fun of you." Layla chimes in, meeting my gaze. "My bestie is a wild thing, and your friend needs to do more than just fuck her brains out from time to time for her to be ready to spend the rest of her life with him."

What she doesn't understand is that we have something way more than just sex. I like spending time with him, talking and laughing. We can be silent together too, sitting on the couch while I read and he just holds me close. We watch movies and play games. We hang out with my dad... and all that feels as if it's totally normal. As if it's how it should be.

"Something is telling me you're going to eat your words, Layla." His voice makes my heartbeat accelerate in an instant, drowning the room in total silence. Even Drake stops typing and peers at us with his brows pinched together.

"You do understand you don't really have a future together, right?" My best friend purses her lips in a tight line, shooting daggers at Colton with her eyes. The second the words left her mouth though, I felt like I got splashed with a bucket of the coldest water possible. It was something I already knew, but hearing her say it made things way too real for my liking. "You're graduating and Ava will have another three years of college. A long-distance relationship when you're a hockey player, who is just starting his professional career, is not going to work. You will have tons of girls surrounding you, wanting a piece of you, and you will have needs that you will need to satisfy. And my best friend isn't someone to sit still and wait. She's the life of the party, she attracts people with her energy and her charisma. She attracts guys... always, and they will be trying to hit on her. Asking her on dates. She might say no, but Ava is not one to live like a monk and without you, one day she will agree for sure."

The room is so silent so I think I even hear how everyone is breathing, their heartbeats. Layla only pointed out the obvious, but it really feels as if she stabbed me in my back.

"Colt is loyal. He's like a fucking Hachiko. He will never cheat on Ava." Clay snarls, and I lock my eyes with his. He's pissed for his best friend and me, and he definitely doesn't appreciate what Layla just did. "Making assumptions without even thinking is not cool."

"But I-" She mumbles, her gaze sliding to all of us in turns.

"You should have kept your thoughts to yourself, sis." Drake interrupts her, hiding his phone in his pocket. "Ava and Colt are fully capable of dealing with their future on their own."

"I know but-"

"There are no buts." Her brother retorts sternly, and takes a step back. "I'm going to go meet a friend. See you tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" I ask and he smirks. He knows I figured him out. "She's bad news, Drake."

"Maybe." He shrugs, turning around and heading to the front door. "But at least I won't be lonely. Getting laid also doesn't sound so bad."

"Getting laid?" His sister beacons in a shrieking voice. "Don't tell me you're going to see Caroline!"

"Chill, Layla. I'm old enough to make my own decisions." Drake snorts loudly, glancing at us over his shoulder. "Besides, I feel like I can relax now and not worry about you and Rodgers. You kinda ruined your chances with what you just said."

He winks at her and disappears down the hallway, closing the door behind him with a muffled thud. Oh, thank fuck Drake. Ugh! Though, he stood up for me and Colt, and it's beyond precious. I really love this guy and am grateful to him for his friendship.

"Ava?" Layla murmurs quietly and I focus my attention on her. "I'm sorry for what I said." I nod my head and she peers at Colton. "I'm sorry for saying those things. I should know better."

"You're worried about your best friend and want what is best for her. I'm not judging." He tells her, tightening his grip around me. "No one knows what the future holds, including us... But we have all the means to make it work."

Warmth spreads through my veins, setting my skin on fire. A sizzling feeling forms in my chest, filling me with hope and something unfamiliar too. I've never felt anything like this and now I'm having a hard time understanding what the hell it means. Is he the one? Am I insane, dammit?! I close my eyes and take a deep breath, calming my heartbeat and shooing away all these tortuous thoughts.

We spent the next two hours watching episodes from the first season of Stranger Things, talking and drinking beer. The whole Layla debacle was forgotten and we were able to move past it. Colt didn't let me go once, holding me close and moving my hair to the side and nibbling on my neck from time to time. He's definitely playing with fire because I don't have much patience in me... I want him badly.

"Can we stay?" Layla whispers and I turn my head to look at her. Clay's hand on her knee, as his eyes glued to the TV-screen. He's something else, and I'm not sure I see what they have in common except mutual sympathy. "I kinda don't want to go home."

"Yeah, you can take one of the guest rooms. Dad is out of town, and will be back tomorrow around lunch time."

"Thank you, bestie." She sends me an air kiss and returns her attention to the tv-show.

Another hour goes, and I'm already in my bed. Colt is also here, laying on my blanket with a hand tucked under his head and staring at the ceiling. He's silent but I know he is in a good mood. A gentle smile lights up his face, making him even more handsome than he already is. I bite my bottom lip, watching him with curiosity. There are days when he's a total mystery to me. How can he spend time with my dad without feeling nervous and awkward? How can he so easily deflect what my best friend said about our future? How can he be so sure we will make it past graduation? I have a lot of questions, but I don't think I'm ready to hear his answers. At least now.

"What are you thinking about?" I turn off the lights and move closer, putting my head on his chest. His hand sneaks around my shoulder and he squeezes me hard.

"You."

"Me?" I knit my brows together, thoughts like a little hurricane start swarming in my head.

"Yeah... You're always on my mind these days, and I can't do anything to get rid of it. Not that I want to."

"Sounds good." I kiss his chest and close my eyes. "I don't want you to think about anyone else."

Colton's chest shakes from his silent laughter and I lift my head to look at him. What's so funny? "You really think there is a place for anyone else in my head? You corrupted every brain cell I have."

I inch close and smash my lips on his, devouring his delicious mouth and tasting the sweetness of M&Ms on his tongue. The number of things we have in common is huge, but that one stands out among all of them. For whatever reason, that little guilty pleasure makes him even more mine... as if he belongs to me.

Panting I move away and blink. What the fuck am I thinking?! By allowing myself to have these thoughts, I risk everything I have built after my breakup with Jefferson. My fear of losing my freedom is so palpable, so it's hard to breathe.

"Ava?" Colt cups my cheek, his deep brown eyes shine bright in the darkness of my room. "Is everything okay?"

"Uh-huh."

"Did I do something?"

"No, it's just... my frigging period, it's driving me nuts." I avoid looking at him and only pray that he won't push the issue. Please, Colt, let me off the hook this time...

We stare at each other, not saying a word and suddenly a loud moan pierces the quiet atmosphere of the house. My jaw drops and eyes widen. Layla and Clay are definitely moving forward with their crushes on each other.

"Never thought there could be someone louder than you." Colton jokes, pressing me to his chest.

"I'm not that loud."

"You are." He kisses the top of my hair and I huddle closer to him. "Though you sound sexier."

"Oh, thank you very much." I scoff, winding my hand around his waist and closing my eyes. I yawn and hide my face in his chest. "Will you stay?"

"Didn't even think about leaving you." I drift off to sleep, falling into the dark vortex of my dreams. I'm not sure if he says it for real, or it's all my imagination, but the last words I hear before falling asleep are these. "I'll never leave you."