##Chapter 25: Cole

Book One: Stay

"Hi sweetie," Mom calls out a greeting as I walk through the front door.

I pause, flooded with memories of what it felt like to walk into Cassidy's house. The tone and feel of our houses couldn't be more different. Even with no one there to greet us, the vibe had felt strangely tense.

"Hey, Mom."

Even though I'm nearly twenty, she wraps her arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. Other guys might fight the intimacy or grumble ...