Starting Fresh (Lorica Series #1)

Chapter 14

Tovi woke up when the sunlight passed through the leaves of the trees and the window of the car. Her eyebrows forced together into a pronounced frown as she realized that she was not on her bed, but she was on somebody's car seat. She found herself wrapped with a black coat. Then she turned her head to the backseat and saw Cole sleeping while half-naked. Her eyes widened as her heart beat fast while she was letting out short breaths. Then she found out that her dress was not on her anymore, only her undergarments. Then she let out a scream.

Cole woke up with her scream and explained to her what happened. Afterwards, Tovi puked on the grass near the trees and the crashed vehicle.

Cole's clothes were back on as he dialed his cellphone once again. To his relief, Ramon answered his call and told him that he was going to be on his way to pick them up.

Tovi put her dress back on as she dizzily went back to the car and sat on the passenger's seat. Cole silently stared in front of him as he took side glances at her whose hand was on her temple.

"So . . . I got drunk. The rain poured. The car crashed. Then you took off my clothes," Tovi summarized the details.

"I told you. I didn't touch you," Cole reminded her.

Tovi sighed heavily then she buried her face with her hands. "Oh god! I'm so stupid! This is why I don't want to go on drinks again!"

"Why? Do you always get drunk like this? Don't you know how to control it?"

"How can I control it if I'm—" she stopped midway, preventing herself from telling him her real feelings about him and Sandy. She sighed. "What did I exactly say?"

Cole shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Your friends called me to pick you up."

"They did what?" Tovi said with a shocking expression.

"After you told them to call me," he clarified, although he lied.

Tovi scoffed as a smile appeared on her face. "I'm such an embarrassment."

Cole chuckled.

Tovi glared at him. "Why are you laughing?"

"I'm not," he said, partly shaking his head.

"Yeah, you are!" she said then she glanced at the windows again with her arms crossed on her chest. "And then you took advantage of the situation so you took off my clothes—"

"I didn't touch you!" he said.

"That's still the same thing!" she hissed. A car stopped by the road and the windows rolled down as Ramon looked at Cole, Tovi and the broken car.

The two of them get on to Ramon's car as they drive in the city in the morning. Cole picked up his phone from his pocket, reading Sandy's message saying "Good morning, Sugar!"

"So, Am I not in trouble?" Tovi asked Ramon who was on his steering wheel.

"No dear. You can take the time off if you want," he said.

"Oh! Thank you, Sir! My head's throbbing," Tovi said as she placed her hand on her head.

"I'll drop you guys off at Mr. Lorica's house so you can rest first," Ramon offered.

"Um . . . no! I'm good, Sir. Please, take me home," Tovi pleaded.

"Okay dear," Ramon said with a gentle smile.

Tovi glanced at Cole who she caught staring at her, his eyes looked away as his cheeks turned red. Tovi wondered that despite him taking off her clothes without her consent, it was still a good way for her to prevent her from getting sick.

She gulped. "Thank you."

Cole's head turned to her and their eyes met. Her heart fluttered and she felt like she wanted to kiss him and confess her feelings, but she couldn't.

He's engaged to someone else. But does he really love her?

"Where's the street, Ms. Reese?" Ramon broke their moment then Tovi glanced back on the road.

"Um . . . that way," Tovi said, pointing to the road on their right. Ramon turned right and after Tovi directed him the way, they arrived at her two-story small house.

"Thank you guys for helping me. I appreciate it.”

"You're welcome, dear," Ramon said with a gentle smile. Tovi smiled then got out of the car. The car drove away from her house as Tovi sighed deeply. She went inside and Tori greeted her with a hug.

Cole remained his eyes at the window, staring at the sky. The images of Tovi's face and body continuously flashed before his eyes. He wanted to touch and feel her. But he couldn't. He wished that he could get her heart. But he didn't know what to do because of his situation with Sandy.

"She's a beautiful girl, is she?" Ramon said, his eyes never left the road.

Cole knew that Ramon knew what he was really feeling. He wished he could just get out of the chains from his father and just ran towards Tovi and confessed his love. But he couldn't. He couldn't move his feet because he wasn't sure if that was right either.

A corner of Ramon’s mouth lifted as he could see the undying love and pain written on the boy's face.