Chapter 67 Girls Day Out
Celene’s POV
I sat at the edge of the bed staring at my phone.
Fourteen missed notifications from my school portal.
Three emails from lecturers.
Two reminders about an upcoming test.
My chest tightened.
“How many days has it been?” I whispered to myself.
Too many....too fucking many.
I’d been so consumed by fear… by Cole… by everything happening around me that I hadn’t stopped to think about real life.
My real life. My education....
"Fuck...what the fuck do I do?"
The door opened quietly behind me.
I didn’t turn.
“Kitten?”
His voice was softer than usual.
He noticed the discomfort on my face...Of course he did.
The mattress dipped as he sat behind me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I swallowed.
“I’ve missed almost a month of classes,” I said. “There’s even a test on Thursday. I don’t even know what chapter they’re on in our textbooks anymore.”
They was deep silence on his end, then his hand came to rest on my waist.
Warm...steady.
“Is that what’s been bothering you?”
I turned to look at him.
“You don’t understand,” I said quietly. “I can’t just disappear. I worked too hard to get in. I can’t fail because... because I’m hiding in a mansion.”
His jaw flexed slightly at that.
“You’re not hiding,” he said.
“It feels like it.”
He exhaled slowly.
“Celene.”
The way he said my name made me look at his deep green eyes properly.
“There’s no academic penalty attached to your absence,” he continued calmly.
I looked up at him, seeing him look so calm wasn't doing me any favors. My life was fucking falling apart.
“Cmon...you just don't get it...I’ve missed too much school.”
He didn’t say anything at first. Just watched me.
“I don’t even know what I’ve missed,” I continued. “Attendance. Tests. What if they drop me from something? What if—”
“Celene.”
I stopped talking immediately, looking at his face with, at the aloof smile that split his lips.
“I handled it.”
My brows pulled together. “Handled what?”
“School.”
I stared at him. “What does that mean?”
“There’s someone there for you.”
My chest tightened. “What?”
“She's on my payroll,” he said calmly. “She’s attending your classes. Logging attendance. Sitting in for quizzes, writing your tests... And she's pretty good at it.”
I shot to my feet, astonished. “Cole, that’s insane. Why would you do that?”
“Of course, it's only temporary... So don't get super comfortable staying away from your education, though.”
“That’s fraud.”
“No, It’s protection.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “You can’t just replace me in school.”
“I didn’t replace you.” He stepped closer. “I covered you.”
I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around it. “This is crazy.”
“You think I’d let your future fall apart because of me?” he asked quietly.
That made me pause. I didn't want him to feel that way because of me and the situation we were in. Cole saw my facial expression and then lowered his voice even further.
“You can switch to online classes for now, if you want,” he continued. “It keeps you safe. When everything settles, you go back properly. Clean. No questions. I promise.”
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
“You already thought about all of this?”
“Yes.”
My shoulders slowly dropped.
That made me breathe a little easier.
I looked down at my hands.
“You shouldn’t have to fix my life for me.”
His fingers slid under my chin gently, lifting my face.
“I’m not fixing it,” he said quietly. “I’m making sure no one else ruins it.”
The tension in my chest loosened just a little.
His thumb brushed against my cheek, lightly rubbing it to and fro.
“You’re allowed to worry about normal things,” he murmured. “You’re allowed to want school. That’s not weakness.”
My throat tightened as he leaned in closer till I felt hs breath fan my face.
His lips pressed against my forehead first.
Then my brow...Slow...Unhurried.
Then he kissef the corner of my eye.
I felt myself melt before he even reached my mouth.
“Stop thinking,” he whispered against my skin.
His lips finally found mine.
Soft at first, gently.
Nothing like the hungry kisses from the night before.
This one felt careful...intentionally... Like I was sift porcelain doll and he was being extra careful with me.
I slid my hands up his chest, pulling him closer.
He deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding and slipping in and out of my mouth.
Slowly, his hand moved to the back of my neck.
I forgot about emails, forgot about tests. I forgot about everything except the way his mouth moved against mine.
I was still leaning into Cole when a soft cough from the door made me jump in Cole's arms.
We turned towards the door, and Cole's mother was at the door, smiling.
"Ooooh...you're being busy, huh?"
"Mother" Cole said, looking up at his mother like she just witnessed what she shouldn't have.
"Cole, Buenaventura Ryder...I think I'm going to go insane in this house" she said.
"Mother...what's wrong?" Cole said, suddenly serious.
“I’ve been cooped up in this house long enough,” she said lightly. “I was thinking… maybe me and Celene dear could go shopping."
Cole stiffened immediately.
"Mother..."
"Oh don't be such a kill joy, Son. Think about it... me, Celene, Jeffrey, two guards, a driver… we will be perfectly safe.”
“Mother…” His tone was low and clipped. “Do you not understand what’s going on?”
She raised a brow innocently. “Do explain, son... Since I'm obviously so dumb.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” he said, his eyes flicking to me briefly, as if asking silently whether I agreed.
“Oh, come on!” she whined, the way all mothers do when they want something. “Just a little trip! We’ll be careful!”
She turned to me, eyes wide and pleading. “Kitten, beg him for me.”
I froze. Kitten? Beg him? That wasn’t usually my style… but I looked at Cole, unsure. “Uh… what do I…?”
"That nickname is reserved for just myself, mother... Don't cross that boundary"
She tilted her head, smiling mischievously, as if he had not just scolded her like a damn teenager.
“Celene darling, Do it. You know… use the girlfriend card. It works every time.”
I sighed, finally raising my eyes to Cole. “Please?” I tried, feeling awkward.
Cole groaned, running a hand down his face. “Celene...Fine. Fine.” He pointed at the exit. “But you’re definitely taking Jeffrey, the two guards, the driver… and a convoy of at least two cars... You're taking every precaution. You’re not stepping out without protection. Also, I'm coming with you”
His mother shook her head. “Oh, no, you don’t need to come with us. You’ll scare everyone in the boutiques. Let us have a girls’ day. Besides…” She tapped her temple lightly. “Your face is known everywhere right now. We don’t need a spectacle.”
Cole hesitated a beat, then finally nodded. “Fine. I'll keep communication lines open with Jeffery”
She clapped her hands like a little girl. “Wonderful! Then it’s settled. Girls’ day it is!”
I let out a small laugh, still leaning against him. “You’re letting us boss you around? Strange.”
He smirked faintly. “Only this once.”