Joe's Cup of Tea

Having the mornings with Cole was enough for Noelle. The smell of his body wash wafted in her nose the moment she opened her eyes. An arm embracing her waist tightly, another body close to her body, the chest was touching her back, Noelle felt comfortable.

Nothing can go wrong with Cole around. Her time, effort, job, and money…

It was such a waste with Blake around, but not with Cole. Noelle should have chosen hooking up with Cole until it becomes the truth before than risking a romantic love with Blake, that purely started with training, lust, and his position as a recruiter.

Noelle tried to slide out from Cole, who was in a deep sleep. The humidifier is off, giving a bland scent all over the room. So, when she successfully retrieved herself from his arms, she pressed a button in the humidifier and let the scented smoke puffed out.

She retrieved her dress, panties, and bra at the edge of the seat and started to wear it.

Noelle had such a good night at that restaurant and went they gone home in the penthouse.

It all felt natural at first. It doesn't feel like anything close to boring.

Cole really had an edge on making a woman fall in love in just days. Well, he didn't even make an effort to get her, anyway. Noelle just said yes and they clicked already. Cole shifted in his position and lay down in his back.

Noelle waited until he snores again before walking out of the bedroom and to the kitchen.

Retrieving the fresh milk from the refrigerator, she poured down a half glass and drank it.

She was chilling a lot at the kitchen counter when she received a text message.

Noelle checked it, and thought that it was either the company or the bank she's using. But no. She saved up Joe's number last night just in case an anonymous number popped out in her cell phone and she can have the time to explain it to Cole. But by the looks of it, Cole would never be angry with her.

From: Joe

To: Noelle

Coffee later?

Noelle felt that is wrong to have a coffee from her ex-boyfriend, and they're the only two who was going to hang out by lunch. Noelle tapped the side of her cell phone and think deeply. Should she say it to Cole or not? Should she be honest of everything that she'll do whenever he's not around?

One thing that Noelle learned about her past relationship with Blake was that she shouldn't communicate badly with her partner. Noelle should always be honest with him.

At that point, her train of thought changed when Cole's yawn emerged from the kitchen door.

Noelle put down the phone and greeted her, "Hi, good morning."

Cole hugged her back first, gave her a kiss on the side of her head, before greeting back. Noelle blushed with his sweetness and completely forgot about Joe for a moment. Cole retrieved the box of milk from her hand and put a glass for him.

Noelle crossed her arms over her chest. She was wondering how she should start the sentence. Cole sensed something different in her atmosphere and raised his eyebrows, asking, "What? You want to ask something or seeking for my permission, yes?"

She chuckled. Cole thoroughly knows her from head to toe. Noelle hasn't come to the conclusion they can read their minds, but if they do, it will be a perfect match. Blake was really just a person who passed on her life that wasn't meant to stay forever.

"I have this… person I know before. I know, actually, a big part of my life. I mean, he is a part of my life. He entered my life again."

Cole leaned his hip at the counter and squinted his eyes. Noelle didn't have any connection with Cole before, so he wouldn't know all about Joe.

"Who is this man? Will I know him just now? A big part of your life, huh?"

Noelle shook her head.

"He is. When I went to college and we got disconnected, I met him. He's one of the college guys who liked to help freshmen. He's just a year apart from me. A sophomore. So, he tends to the freshman needs, and I was one of the few women who benefits from it."

Cole was listening intently. She can't read any emotions in his face besides a plain one. A guy listening to a girl that was in love before he came in to her life again. Cole just refilled his glass with another stash of the milk while letting Noelle finished her sentence.

"His name is Joe. Joe James Kent."

Noelle dropped it before the story becomes too engaging to escape out.

Cole nearly spit out the milk from his mouth when he heard the name. Noelle shielded her hand in front of her face, getting ready for the attack. Cole got astonished by it that he poured the milk down the sink, and looked at her, like he's been abashed.

Noelle shrugged, and confirmed, "You heard it right, Cole. It's Joe James Kent."

Cole put the glass at the sink and said, "The repairman, yes. I hired him."

Noelle gasped, covering her mouth with two hands, and gaped, stating a quiet wow.

"Small world, it is. Now, what does he had to do with you? He's trying to hook up again?"

She shook her head repeatedly. Noelle got alarmed by that and quickly defended, "No! I think he's just asking for some coffee to reconnect and catch up on things. That's why I brought it up to you, right? I don't want to hide anything, Cole."

Cole narrowed his eyes. "So, he really wanted to see you?"

Noelle sighed. She bit her bottom lip, and nodded. Cole isn't surprised. Who wouldn't want a woman like Noelle, if he's going to be honest?

"Well, yeah. I wasn't surprised. Our ending isn't…"

Cole became curious. He was silent for a moment while Noelle was shrugging.

"How did the two of you meet again? I mean, it is impossible for the two of you to…"

"At the road, Cole. We met at the road."

He tilted his head to one side.

"Don't you remember that I hated the cars skidding in front of me when I am turning the intersection? That morning, I wished that it wouldn't happen to me because I was rushing, but man, his car… he skidded it in front of me. I was so annoyed, but yeah, I had to control my temper. And there he is."

Cole was a bit skeptical with how dreamy she looks. A bit disturbed, too.

"He was the first to recognize me. And so, when he did, I got stunned. I never thought that at my happiest, I would meet someone that caused me misery before."