Page 23 of Cold Front
My following wasn’t huge. I’d never really cared about keeping up with social media before—pre-Chase, I’d been too busy living in the moment. And during Chase… well, that was complicated.
Now, I was trying to get back into it, trying to share pieces of my life again. Maybe that’s why I noticed. Why the pattern stood out.
A single like shouldn’t mean anything. But the more I stared at the name, the more unsettled I felt.
CHAPTER10
NIALL
Barely made it on time. That wasn’t like me. I was a guy who stuck to a schedule, who showed up when I was supposed to—unless I had a damn good reason not to. And last night? I did. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.
I’d stayed at the rink long after practice, skating until my legs burned, until exhaustion weighed me down enough that I thought I’d sleep the second I got home. But the moment I stepped inside the apartment, I saw the sliver of light under Eli’s door. He was still up. For a split second, I considered knocking, maybe saying something. But what the hell would I even say? No point in giving him false hope of establishing a friendship. Instead, I went to bed, only to spend the next few hours staring at the ceiling, wide awake.
Now, dragging myself into class, I scanned the room automatically for my usual seat. Still empty. But so was the one next to it. My eyes landed on Eli sitting beside Asher near the middle of the classroom. I hadn’t even realized Asher was in this class. They were both looking at me, but Eli glanced away almost immediately after our gazes met. Asher leaned toward him, said something, and Eli shrugged, looking unbothered.
I didn’t know what the tightness in my chest meant. Indigestion? Not likely. Was I pissed off? I didn’t think so. Jealous? No fucking way.
I gritted my teeth and dropped into an empty chair a few rows ahead of them, setting my notebook on the desk with a little too much force. Whatever. It wasn’t like I cared who Eli sat with.
Professor Williams walked in, greeting the class even while her heels clicked against the floor. She set her bag down on the desk before jumping into her lecture, but I barely processed her words at first. My exhaustion was making it hard to focus. When Eli spoke up, answering one of the professor’s questions with easy confidence, it snapped me back in.
“Good point, Mr. Foster,” the professor said. “Anyone else?”
A couple of other students raised their hands and a tall redhead, Sophia, with whom I’d gone on a couple of dates when we were in our freshman year… before my parents’ accident when life was still popsicles and cotton candies.
“Yes, Miss Smith?”
“It’s also about building relationships with the audience, right?” my former date answered. “Making them feel invested?”
“Exactly,” the professor said. “Marketing isn’t only about selling—it’s about connection.”
I kept my head down, hoping she’d overlook me. She was one of those professors who actually expected participation, and sure enough, the professor directed her attention to me.
“Mr. Caldwell,” she called out, tapping her marker against the whiteboard. “What’s your take on the role of branding in consumer decision-making?”
I exhaled through my nose, forcing myself to focus. “Branding builds familiarity. If a customer recognizes a brand and associates it with quality, they’re more likely to choose it over something unfamiliar.”
“Good,” she said with a nod. “But?”
I clenched my jaw. “But… branding alone won’t keep customers loyal. The product has to deliver.”
“Exactly.” She smiled while I resisted the urge to sink lower in my seat.
Then she made an announcement.
“For your first assignment this semester, you’ll be working in groups of three. Your goal is to gain hands-on experience by helping promote an existing campus event.”
Murmurs spread through the class as she started calling out names, grouping students together. My fingers drummed against my desk while I waited.
“Asher Brooks, Niall Caldwell, and Eli Foster.”
Of course.
A sharp exhale left me as I glanced over my shoulder. Asher grinned, nudging Eli, who didn’t look quite as thrilled. I wasn’t sure if that should make me feel better or worse.
Professor Williams gave us the rest of the class to start planning, and after a brief moment of hesitation, I grabbed my notebook and trudged over to where my roommate and his… friend?... were sitting.
Asher flashed a knowing smile as I dropped into the chair across from them. “Look who decided to join us,” he said.
