“I’m so confused,” I said. “How did kissing you turn into a fake engagement and an invite for Christmas?”
“Why did you kiss me?” he asked, turning to study me.
“That’s your question right now?” I asked, letting out a shocked laugh.
“Yes,” he said firmly, not letting it go. “Whydid you kiss me?”
“The truth?” I asked. “It’s not pretty, and it’s not quick.”
“First, where am I driving you to?” He shifted the vent to blow warm air over me. It was barely a thought for him, and very telling of just how kind this alpha was.
Not all the rumors were true, it seemed.
“That’s a good question,” I admitted, thinking it over. Technically, I still had my apartment. My lease wasn’t up for another three weeks, but I’d moved almost everything out. Whatever was left behind would just have to do.
I gave him my address and he put it into the GPS before letting it guide us through the city.
“Now,” he said again, “are you ready to tell me why you kissed me?”
It was clear he wasn’t going to let it go. And at this point, what did I have to lose?
“I ditched my wedding.”
“You what?”
I had a feeling Cole wasn’t an easy man to stun, but I’d done it. He flipped on his blinker, pulled to the side of the road, and shifted in his seat so he was facing me.
For better or worse, I now had all of Cole Hawthorne’s attention.
“Why did you ditch your wedding?” he asked. His body was tense now. As if he were deciding whether to be upset at me, or for me.
“I’d been feeling uneasy all day. It felt like their sister was getting in the way. When I went out to the balcony to get some fresh air, I heard them fucking their little sister’s best friend, the one they told me countless times that I had nothing to worry about. The one who continuously pushed boundaries. And before you can ask, yes, I’m sure. She called out their names and I heard their voices.”
Anger flashed across Cole’s face. “They were fucking someone else while they were getting ready to marry you?”
I let out a hollow laugh. “Yup. Right before, in fact. I was literally in my wedding dress and waiting to walk down the aisle soon.”
“I’m sorry, Aspen.”
It sounded like he really meant it.
“For what it’s worth,” he added, “they’re insane.”
I flashed him a sad smile before forcing myself to look away.
“If I’m being honest with myself, I was always a bit too much for them. Maybe I could have saved myself a whole lot of heartache if I’d admitted that sooner.”
“My point still stands, they’re insane. You’re not too much, Aspen.”
“Yeah, well, here I am. My night’s a disaster, my life’s a mess, and instead of going on my honeymoon, I guess I’m going back to work early. Yay for me.” I deadpanned the last part.
He looked like he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or talk me down.
“Your turn, boss man. What’s with the whole fiancée thing?”
“My mother is obsessed with pairing us up,” he said with a sigh. “She grew up in this big, close-knit family, and I think she always expected us to be that as well. My brother definitely adheres to that standard more than I do. I always wanted more than Pine Ridge had to offer. There’s something about the city that drew me in. Once I was old enough I couldn’t resist its pull. I’ve never looked back.”
“That, I can understand. I escaped here, too.”
