Page 26 of Unspoken Rules

“Thanks, Tori,” Cole says.

I think too hard on the way he says that. Was he flirting with her? Being nice? Suggestive? I hate that these thoughts run through my mind. Cole isn’t mine. Never was, never will be.

I glance around the diner, vaguely remembering it from when I was younger. I think it went by a different name then. It’s certainly had a facelift. The time I’ve been gone may as well have been a decade. It seems a lot of the older generation retired or passed away, and the new ones who took over did a ton of remodels and upgrades. This place still holds the classic diner look, but long gone are the ripped booths and chipped tables.

Tori returns a moment later with a pot of coffee, pouring a cup for Cole.

“Coffee?” she asks me.

“Yes, please.” I flip over the mug, and she fills it.

“I’ll have my usual,” Chris says.

Tori nods, leaves again, and I pick up my menu to look it over.

Cole leans into me, his arm pressing against mine. “Get the Big Stack,” he whispers. I raise a brow, looking at him. “What? You don’t like pancakes anymore?”

I huff out a laugh, surprised he remembers that.

“I do. I just don’t eat as much as I used to.”

“I can tell,” he comments.

I frown, and say, “College will do that to you. I lived off frozen food and packaged noodles for four years.”

“I’ll eat whatever you don’t,” he adds. “Trust me; get the pancakes.”

I hold his gaze for a moment longer, trying to see if there’s anything there. Something more than Cole being Cole. Finally, I nod when I can’t figure it out.

“We ready to order?” Tori asks, putting down a White Russian in front of Chris. The thought of alcohol this early in the morning has my stomach sour, especially after everything I drank last night. No clue how he’s drinking already. But he’s an adult, so he can do whatever he wants.

I was not a typical college kid. I did not go out and party, even though my roommate always invited me. He and I weren’t close, and I hardly talked to him while I lived there. We never even exchanged numbers.

For the entire four years, I went to maybe five parties, and three of them were Halloween parties. I spent all my time focusing on school, other than the stuff I did with Daniel. Which was dinner, movies, and whatever random thing he came up with.

“The usual,” Cole comments.

“Same,” says Chris, reaching for his drink and taking a long sip.

“I’ll have the Big Stack,” I say with a smile. “And a side of bacon, please. Well done.”

“You got it, boys. It’ll be right up.” She takes the menu, smiles, and heads off again.

“So, where’s the first place you’re going tomorrow?” Chris asks, picking up his phone to look at something.

“Not a damn clue,” I say, putting cream and sugar in my coffee. “This place has changed so much.”

“You gonna take a cab down to Main?” Chris asks, referring to the main part of town where all the businesses are.

“I figure that makes the most sense.” I pick up my coffee and take a sip, almost choking when Cole speaks.

“You can take my truck,” he says.

“What?” I blurt, turning toward him. “No way.”

“Yes way,” he retorts.

“How will you get to work?”

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