Amber's POV

Stepping into my bedroom, I was fuming. My pulse raced, and the frustration coursing through my veins felt like a lit fuse threatening to explode. With shaking hands, I picked up my phone and dialed Jack's number, hoping to find some solace in his sweet, familiar voice.

"Hi, babe," he greeted, and instantly, a small part of my anger started to dissipate.

"When will your friend leave?" I shot straight to the point, hardly able to contain my exasperation.

"Babe, I told you, he’s here for a vacation. Colt will be here for the whole summer," Jack responded, his tone calm and collected, as if trying to soothe a simmering pot.

"Well, I can’t wait until summer is over!" I blurted out, barely holding back my frustration.

"It’s either he leaves or I leave," I declared, setting an ultimatum that felt both bold and reckless.

The line fell silent for a moment, thick with tension. I could almost hear his thoughts racing on the other end before a heavy sigh broke the quiet. "Neither of you is leaving," he said firmly, a hint of disappointment lacing his voice.

"I can’t stand him, Jack! He’s driving me nuts!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in indignation.

"You'll have to deal with it," he replied, unfazed.

"Listen, babe, you don’t understand. Colt’s a bully. Back when we were in high school, making others miserable was practically his job. He even bullied me before we became friends," Jack continued, trying to provide me with some insight.

"Yeah, he talks dirty and flirts way too much, but trust me, babe, he won’t chase you because you’re my girlfriend. He’ll have nothing to do with you. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you," he added, his voice soothing yet firm.

Bullying me in my own house? This Colt guy has got to be kidding me. Just you wait, Colt; I’ll make your life a living hell until you end up leaving on your own before summer is even up.

"Okay," I replied, feeling a surge of determination mixed with relief.

"Just don’t let him bother you. He thrives on the chaos he creates," Jack cooed, a note of reassurance woven into his words.

Never again is he going to bother me; it’s going to be the other way around now.

"Sure," I responded, trying to keep my tone light, though a grin tugged at the corners of my mouth, fueled by my newly hatched plan.

"I’ll be back home early," Jack said, his voice warm and comforting, wrapping around me like a soft blanket.

"Can’t wait to see you," I replied, allowing a genuine smile to break through my earlier frustration.

"Me too," he said, a hint of excitement in his tone. There was a brief pause, the kind that felt charged with unspoken words, before he added, "Just remember, babe, I love you."

"I love you too," I replied, and my heart swelled at his words, my safe haven amidst the storm of emotions raging within me.

The call ended and I dropped the phone onto my bed, feeling a bit more grounded after talking with Jack. His calm, reassuring voice managed to soften my anger, but the fire inside me still needed an outlet. Colt being Jack's friend, doesn’t excuse his thrashy attitude and flirtation.

With my mind now set, I headed back to the kitchen, a new energy coursing through me. As I stepped inside, I was hit by the aroma of the breakfast I had been preparing. It was almost too late; smoky and slightly burnt, my culinary masterpiece was quickly deteriorating. “Crap!” I muttered under my breath.

Just as I rushed to salvage what I could, I caught sight of the mess Colt had left behind: a mixing bowl turned upside down on the counter, flour dusted everywhere, and an empty juice carton carelessly tossed aside. I rolled my eyes, frustration bubbling back to the surface. He was such a slob, and I vowed to remind him of that at every possible opportunity.

After struggling to straighten up the kitchen, I realized I needed to turn my strategy up a notch. Colt wanted to bully me? Fine. I’d turn the tables. He might have been able to get under my skin, but I was going to make it my mission to show him that I could play this game just as well, if not better.

Once the kitchen was presentable again, I allowed myself a moment to breathe, my mind racing with ideas. I could make his life here as uncomfortable as possible, starting with the next encounter. Perhaps a little well-placed revenge—nothing too harsh, but just enough to ruffle his feathers.

Just then my nose caught up a burning smell, I traced its trail and it led me to the oven. I opened it and bloody shit, it was smoking. "I didn't bake anything so how..."

Then it struck me, the mixing bowl and the splattered flour: Colt!

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!" He exclaimed, running into the kitchen. "Is it burned?" He asked.

"No, just ready enough for you to eat," I smiled in sarcasm and left the kitchen.

I walked out of the kitchen, a smirk on my face, but internally I was seething. Colt might have been quick to bust into the scene, but I would not let him think I’d let him off the hook so easily.

I pushed the door to my bedroom open and took a moment to calm myself, brushing my hair back and gathering my thoughts. As amusing and irritating as this was going to be, I had to prepare for my day.

I opened my closet and glanced at the multitude of clothes hanging inside—dresses, tees, and casual trousers. But today wasn’t about style; it was about establishing my new territory. I decided on a fitted black tank top paired with high-waisted denim shorts.

Dashing into the bathroom, I had a quick bath and got dressed. I applied some light makeup just enough to highlight my features and give me that boost of confidence, but nothing too overboard. Now feeling more like myself, I grabbed my bag and stepped out.

As I entered the living room, I noticed a few boxes piled up on the table and Colt lounging on the couch, casually munching on carrots.

"The doorbell was ringing for quite a while," he said, casually glancing up from his snack.

I ignored him, opting instead to move the boxes to my room. They were new arrivals for my review, and I planned to unwrap them once I returned from shopping.

Once the boxes were tucked away, I made my way back to the living room, my resolve strengthening with each step. As I reached the door, Colt's voice called out again, "Where are you going?"

"Shopping," I replied tersely, feeling a mix of determination and irritation.

"Make sure you grab some condoms; you'll need them when Jack gets back," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I stopped in my tracks, turning to face him. A smirk crept onto my lips as I shot back, "And I hope you’ve got your earbuds handy; you’ll need them to block out my moans."

With that, I opened the door, only to collide directly with Jack as he stepped inside. Without missing a beat, I crashed into him and locked my lips with his, intent on shoving Colt’s smug comments right back down his throat and to send him a message: I'll never be affected by his tactics.

The kiss was fierce and hungry, filled with a mix of urgency and defiance. When I finally pulled away, breathless and exhilarated, I could see Colt's astonishment morph into cautious amusement.

"Wow, that was one hell of a kiss," he said, clapping lightly, the glint of mischief still in his eyes.

I chose to ignore him completely, turning my focus back to Jack, who looked pleasantly surprised and slightly dazed. "I’ll be back," I said softly, planting another quick peck on his lips that spoke volumes about my feelings, and with a triumphant smirk, I stepped out of the house.