Chasing Ghosts

The bass of the Westwood apartment speakers vibrated up through the soles of Cole's sneakers, but he couldn't have cared less about the back-to-college party raging around him. He took a slow pull from his red Solo cup, leaning against the kitchen island, his mind exactly where it had been for the last two weeks: Cabo.

More specifically, a girl in Cabo.

Maya.

That was all he knew. Just Maya. For five sun-drenched, tequila-fueled days, they had been inseparable. Tangled sheets, breathless midnight swims, and a magnetic, consuming pull that Cole had never felt before. And then, on the morning of their flight back, he woke up to an empty hotel bed. No note. No number. Just the lingering scent of coconut and vanilla on his pillow. She had vanished like a ghost, leaving him more gutted than he was willing to admit.

"Earth to Cole!"

Cole blinked, snapping his attention to Liam, his best friend and roommate, who was grinning like an idiot.

"You're miserable tonight, man," Liam laughed, slapping Cole on the shoulder. "But cheer up. The guest of honour just pulled up. I'll be right back."

Liam pushed his way through the sweaty, dancing crowd toward the front door. Cole watched with mild disinterest as the front door swung open. Liam wrapped someone in a massive bear hug, lifting them off their feet. As Liam set the girl down and stepped back, ushering her into the hallway light, the breath physically left Cole's lungs.

It was her.

Maya.

She looked different. Gone was the tiny, neon bikini and the wild, beach-tousled hair. Tonight, she wore a demure white sundress, a pale pink cardigan slipping off one shoulder, and her hair brushed into soft, innocent waves. But it was absolutely her. The same heart-stopping hazel eyes. The same soft curve of her lips.

Cole gripped his plastic cup so hard it cracked.

Liam threw an arm around the girl's shoulders, beaming with pride as he navigated her through the sea of drunk college students. He was heading straight for the kitchen. Straight for Cole.

"Cole, man, I finally get to introduce you," Liam said over the music, practically vibrating with excitement. He gestured to the girl tucked under his arm. "This is Maya. My little sister. She just transferred here."

Maya lifted her gaze. When her eyes met Cole's, the colour completely drained from her beautiful face. Her lips parted in a silent gasp, and for a second, Cole thought she might actually bolt for the door.

A slow, wicked smile spread across Cole's face. The universe was twisted, but tonight, it was working entirely in his favour.

"Your sister," Cole repeated, his voice dropping an octave as he kept his eyes locked dead on hers. He could see the pulse hammering at the base of her throat.

"Yep," Liam said, oblivious to the suffocating tension suddenly filling the kitchen. "Maya, this is Cole. My best friend and roommate."

Maya felt the blood completely drain from her face. She hadn't just hooked up with a random guy in Cabo. She had hooked up with her brother's roommate. A roommate Liam hadn't even warned her about.

"It is so nice to meet you, Maya." Cole took a deliberate step forward, his eyes locked dead on hers. "Funny, Liam never mentioned he had a sister."

Maya swallowed hard, her eyes darting between Cole's outstretched hand and his smirking face. Her hand was trembling slightly as she reached out and placed it in his. The second their skin touched, that same electric jolt from Cabo flared to life between them. Cole's fingers tightened slightly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, letting her know exactly who was in control.