Chapter 205 Nice to meet you - Monet

Chapter 205 Nice to meet you - Monet
I wake up, my head pounding and my face feeling swollen from all the tears I was crying.
I have to get out of here, maybe take a page out of Cole's book and disappear, but I know I can't. I have school, and it's almost spring break anyway. Maybe I'll go to Paris for real this time, by myself, and live the life Mom wanted for me on my own.
That somehow hurts me more than I thought it would.
The year without Cole was painful, but there was hope. Hope that he'd come back and we'll just go on with our lives. The thought of being by myself without him, literally feels like torture.
I get up and take a long, hot shower, then I check my phone. Of course there are tons of text messages and missed calls, but I ignore them all. It's still very early in the morning, just after five, my stomach is rumbling because I skipped dinner, but I'll just get something on the airport. Now I'm really grateful I grabbed the damn underwear, at least I have clean ones even though I'm putting on my clothes from yesterday.
So much for borrowing clothes from my best friend.
I notice the paper that was slid underneath my door, and I stare at it for a long time, contemplating if I should pick it up or not. Against my better judgement, I do, knowing exactly who slipped it there. I don't read it immediately. I tuck it into my jeans' pocket, keeping it for later.
I know I'm going to read it, though.
I nearly crumple to the ground and die when I press the button on the elevator, waiting only a bit before it opens and reveals a sweaty Cole with a towel around his neck, clearly coming from the hotel gym. He looks as shocked as me, before he schools his expression into a friendly grin, and presses the button from inside to hold the doors open.
My heart beats a mile a minute as I step inside and turn my back on him.
"Up or down?" It feels like his breath is on the back of my neck, the scent of his sweat and soap filling the cramped space.
"First floor." I'm impressed with how steady my voice comes out when inside it feels like I'm melting into a fucking puddle from ice to water.
"Are you leaving?" Did he move even closer to me?
I don't answer him, because what is there to say? I got what I came here for, didn't I?
When I first saw his face on the T.V., I was excited, but now I'm just a little lost.
I die for sure when a hard arm comes around my middle and he pulls me flush against his chest, his hand dipping underneath my T-shirt and spreading open on my abdomen.
I stop breathing, goosebumps breaking out over my skin by being surrounded by him. His face is in the back of my hair, and he's inhaling the smell of my wet hair deeply, a low groan escaping from him.
The only thing that goes through my mind apart from my treacherous pussy clenching at nothing, is that I will smell like him now.
And I'm so mad at myself that I'm not mad about it.
My eyes go down to the arm coming from behind me, and tears burn my eyes instantly.
The roses, thorns and vines that I thought I saw are actually paint brushes and pencils interwoven together intricately with roses in homage to my mother and his, their names hidden throughout, and starting from the inside of his wrist moving up, is my name, looking like a coal sketch in his mother's signature style.
The elevator dings, and his hand on my stomach is taken away and he steps away from me as the doors slide open on the ground floor.
"My name is Cole, by the way." His voice sounds strained when I step out, and I turn around to look at him with a frown and wet eyes. He smiles sadly at me. "It was nice to meet you."
"Monet." My name slips from my mouth, playing along to this supposed first encounter.
Regret shines in those electric blue eyes when the doors slide closed between us.
Only when I'm in the back of the taxi on the way to the airport, do I take out the folded paper from my pocket and unfold it in what is clearly from the little notebook in the hotel room.

Monet,

I hurt you. I know. You probably think I put you last, but please know that was never my intention or purpse. AlI ever wanted was to become the best version of myself, so I can be the best for you. I didn't want you to worry that I wouldn't be able to handle hard times anymore. I followed a program, and I'm sorry that you may feel as if you were excluded from it.
Please don't blame Amy, she just did what she was told, and don't think she didn't tell me that she didn't agree. She was even pissed off at a doctor as you can only imagine.
I know this is asking for too much, but please forgive me. You are the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I promise I will make it up to you for as long as we live. I really hope I'm still the one you want to be with, and if I'm not, I will fight for you tooth and nail.

I have loved you always
And I love you still,
Cole