When we finally broke apart, I felt lighter somehow, like a weight I’d been carrying for fifteen years had finally lifted. Cole straightened his hat and smoothed down his shirt, careful to erase any evidence of our moment.
“You go first,” he said, nodding toward the door. “I’ll wait a few minutes.”
I reached for the door handle, but something made me turn back. “Happy New Year, Cole.”
His smile reached his eyes this time. “Happy New Year, Jesse.”
I slipped back into the warmth and noise of the party, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing tray. The room was spinning with laughter and music, couples embracing, friends clapping each other on the back. For the first time since returning to Hell Creek, I didn’t feel like an outsider looking in.
As I navigated through the crowd, I caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the room. Evelyn stood near the entrance to the kitchen, her eyes fixed on the back door I’d just come through. The knowing look on her face made my blood run cold. How long had she been watching? What had she seen?
Our eyes met across the room, and in that moment, I knew she’d seen everything. The kiss. The embrace. The confession. My stomach dropped as she held my gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she raised her champagne glass in a silent toast before turning away.
I stood frozen, champagne forgotten in my hand, as the implications crashed over me. Evelyn knew. And if Evelyn knew, how long before everyone else found out too? How long before the whispers started, before Cole had to face the judgment of the entire town he’d spent his life trying to please?
How long before the whole world came crashing down around us?
Chapter 22
Jesse
It had been three days since our New Year’s Eve kiss, and I was running out of excuses and places to hide from Cole. The guilt was eating me alive. Ever since the party, I’d been avoiding him like the plague. I’d make excuses about needing to handle online orders or make early deliveries. I’d leave before dawn and come back after dark. When we did cross paths, I’d mumble something about being tired and escape to my room.
I couldn’t face him. Not after what I’d seen in Evelyn’s eyes.
This morning I’d hidden in the barn, pretending to manage inventory while actually just staring blankly at spreadsheets. My phone buzzed with another text from Cole.
I ignored it, just like I’d ignored the previous five. What would I even say? “Hey, by the way, Evelyn saw us making out and now your life is probably going to implode”? He’d fucking melt down right in front of me.
The barn door creaked open, and I ducked lower in my chair, praying it was just one of the ranch hands. No such luck.
“You comin’ in for supper or what?” Cole asked, his voice echoing through the empty barn. He let out a long sigh. “I know you’re in here, Jesse. I can see the top of your head behind the desk.”
I straightened up and swiveled in my chair to face him, my heart hammering against my ribs. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, his usual confident posture replaced with something more uncertain.
“Sorry,” I lied. “I’ve been busy.”
“Uh-huh.”
He closed the distance between us, leaning against the desk. His face was inches from mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat. But when he reached for me, I pulled away from him.
“What the hell is goin’ on, Jesse?” he growled, clearly annoyed. “One minute you’re telling me you’re falling for me, the next you’re acting like I don’t exist.”
I couldn’t meet his eyes. “Like I said, things are busy.”
“Well, be less busy,” he grumbled, pulling away from me. I could still see the confusion in his expression. I was usually the one pushing him into uncomfortable situations, not the other way around. “Evelyn said she won’t let you skip supper again and I’m hungry.” He grabbed my chair, pulling me away from the desk. “Let’s go.”
I froze, my stomach plummeting. The thought of sitting across from Evelyn at dinner made my skin crawl with anxiety. How would I face her knowing what she knew? Would she say something? Drop hints? Give me that same knowing look that had haunted me since New Year’s?
“I’m really not hungry,” I said weakly.
“Too bad.” Cole’s hand settled on my shoulder, warm and heavy. “You’ve been avoiding me for days, and I’m sick of it. We’re going to eat dinner like normal people, and then, when Evelyn goes home, you’re going to tell me what the hell is going on.” He paused, crossing his arms over his chest. “Then I want tofuckyou.”
My cock twitched despite my panic. There was no escape. I reluctantly stood, my legs feeling like lead as I followed him outof the barn. The cold January air was sharp and unpleasant, but it did nothing to cool the panic rising in my chest. We walked in silence toward the house, my mind racing through possible excuses, explanations, anything to avoid the truth.
The warm glow from the kitchen windows seemed threatening rather than welcoming. Through the glass, I could see Evelyn moving around, setting the table. My steps slowed involuntarily.
“Come on,” Cole urged, his hand pressing against the small of my back. “It’s freezing out here.”
