Colton shook his head. “I forgave you a long time ago, Vi. You know that. None of this is your fault.”
“I know. What happened to me isn’t my fault. But I’m sorry I couldn’t separate you from him.”
“You’re forgiven,” he said, squeezing my hand. A soft smile played on his lips. “You know what I think this calls for?”
“What?”
His fingers tickled my palm. “A forehead kiss, a junior bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a Frosty. If you want them.”
Warmth spread through me and a smile crept across my face. “I want all of that. But no bacon for me.”
“Of course. Bacon for me. No bacon for you.” Colton cupped my neck, his thumb in front of my ear before pulling me to him. I closed my eyes as his lips pressed into my forehead, taking in the slightly wet dog version of his scent. It was familiar, taking me back to a simultaneously simpler and more complicated time in my life. He inhaled while his lips stayed attached to me, smelling my hair like he used to. He sat back after a shorter kiss, then peppered down my cheek with tiny kisses that made me giggle. I pulled him into a tight hug across the car’s console.
“Thank you for coming. For being here for me.”
“Thanks for calling,” he said before kissing my hair. “And for trusting me.”
We pulled back and looked into each other’s eyes, and for a moment, I considered kissing him. It had been so long, and seeing him felt surreal. And now I knew why he scared me so badly, and that he was never the enemy.
My parents remained the only barrier, and I was a grown adult. If they couldn’t accept my decisions, that was their loss. Colton and I had no reason not to kiss, not to date, not to let ourselves love each other.
Except for one. One very big reason.
What if I let him in again, only to get triggered and push him away? What if my healing process wore him down? What if I broke him? What if I sent him to the depths of depression, ruined his career?
I must have marinated for too long, because Colton’s smile turned wry. “Let’s go smash some food.”
FOURTEEN
COLTON
SEPTEMBER | COLUMBUS, OHIO
Violet Gennari’shand was in mine as I drove her to Wendy’s.
Different city. Different circumstances. Same food tradition. Same girl in my passenger seat.
We pulled up to the menu and I leaned out to give the order I gave countless times in college: a large Frosty, a large fry, one cheeseburger, and one junior bacon cheeseburger.
“I don’t need a large,” Violet hissed, and I just rolled my eyes at her. She bent for her purse on the floor and I scoffed.
“Don’t even try to pretend you’re paying.”
She lifted a shoulder in a sly shrug. “I mean, I have to offer.”
I sighed. “Just assume if you’re with me, it’s covered.”
“But I’m a doctor now,” she objected.
I tossed an exasperated hand. “You know what? Consider it my subsidy for curing cancer. I feed the cancer scientist, and you go do the hard part.” I took stock of her features. Still fucking beautiful, even though her face was puffy from crying so much. “How’s that going, anyway? Did youget a job here?”
She nodded. “I did. My PhD supervisor got a grant to come to the university here, and I came with her. I’m doing my postdoc fellowship for the next few years.”
I dropped her hand and leaned to get my wallet out of my pocket. “Proud of you. Always knew you’d do something amazing.”
Violet pinched her lips together before reluctantly smiling. “Thanks.”
I paid and handed Violet our bag of loot. I pulled into a parking spot in their lot, putting the fries between us on the console for dipping in our Frosties. I let Violet get a few bites deep before I asked the burning question. “So, how long have you been here?”
