Aria brightens. “We are? We’re living at Aunt Ella’s ranch?”
Cole coughs. “Not her ranch.”
“Well, Yaya says she runs the money, so technically it’s hers,” she argues.
Cole groans. I grab my bag. “Okay—bye!”
I flee before he can say another word because if he looks at me softly one more damn time, I’m going to melt into the floor.
I have no idea how I make it out of his house, back to the bar to get my car, and all the way home. All I know is that I’m mortified the whole journey.
My heart is still racing from the disaster that was this morning. From Aria walking in on me wearing her father’s clothes, Coleteasing me as I panicked, and the fact that I had to sprint back into his bedroom.
By the time I pull into Iron Stallion, the embarrassment has settled deep in my bones. I steal one last look at myself in the rearview mirror, wearing Cole’s shirt, inhale his scent like an idiot, and then I walk up the porch steps on silent feet.
The house is quiet, which is perfect for my sneaking back in. If I can just make it inside, shower, and pretend last night never happened, that will be perfect. I turn the knob quietly, push the door open, and walk straight into Zane and Ava’s stares.
Ava gasps so loudly I actually jump. Zane’s face goes flat—suspicious, big-brother mode activated.
“Oh my GOD,” Ava whispers, eyes widening. “You look—what is—Ella. Where were you?”
I freeze, caught like a deer in headlights. “Me? Out. With… friends.”
“Name one,” Ava deadpans.
I freeze.
She crosses her arms. “Ella. I am your only friend.”
“Wow,” I say, voice cracking. “That’s rude.”
She’s not wrong, but she doesn’t have to say it like that.
Zane folds his arms. “You were at the station with Cole yesterday, then you vanished. The whole family was panicked; even Ava could barely sleep. I had to calm her down.”
“You did NOT calm me down,” Ava snaps. “You poured whiskey in my tea!”
“It worked, didn’t it?” Zane mutters.
Ava ignores him, planting both hands on my shoulders. “Where. Were. You.”
I trip over my own words. “I—well—it’s not—not like that—I wasn’t with Cole.”
Ava gasps again. Zane raises one perfect accusatory eyebrow.
I panic. I am not ready for their questions. “OKAY, LOVE YOU BYE!”
And then I dart up the stairs.
“ELLA SHILOH MORGAN COME BACK HERE!” Ava yells after me.
Zane mutters, “She’s definitely lying.”
“Obviously!” Ava retorts.
I dart down the hall like a criminal sprinting from the law. When I get to my room, I slam the door closed and lock it. Only then do I let out a squeal I will deny until my death. I face plant onto my bed, bury my burning face in my pillow, and kick my feet like a teenager.
I had sex with Cole Dawson.
