Her eyes widened this time.“How do you…?”
“I know who you are.”My pulse was pounding so fast Ithought I might be sick.“You’re Colton’s ex-fiancée.”
Her slim brows furrowed.“I’m sorry, but I don’t know you.You’re not seeing Jax or Colton’s brother.”
“I’m not.”I paused and then I smiled.“That’s because I’mseeing Colton.”
Any other time I might’ve laughed at her reaction.Her jawseemed to come unhinged.She gaped like a fish out of water.My lips pursed asher eyes doubled in size.Was it really that hard to believe?Geez.
“I d-didn’t know,” she said after she recovered.“He hasn’tsaid anything.”
My stomach joined her jaw, falling somewhere on the floor.
“I mean, I haven’t really talked to him,” she quickly added,lowering her gaze as she shook her head.“I’ve messaged him a couple oftimes—called him, but he hasn’t answered.”
Relief poured through me, and I didn’t even feel terriblefor that.
Nicole cleared her throat.“I…God, this is so embarrassing.”She laughed, but it was hoarse and thick sounding.“I honestly wasn’t planningto come here, and I know I probably look like a stalker, but my friend livesnearby, and when I drove past and saw his truck I thought I…”
I had no idea what to say.“I’m sorry?”
God, that was pretty lame.
She laughed again and the sound was worse this time.Hergaze lifted to mine.“Do you really care about him?Because I know if he’s withyou, he really cares about you.He doesn’t date idly.”
“I know,” I whispered, and in that moment, I really didknow.With my hand still on the door, I exhaled softly.“I’ve dreamed of him—ofsomeone like him—for a long time.I’m in love with him.I don’t know if hefeels the same way, but I know…I know how I feel.”
Nicole’s eyes closed briefly.“Make sure you tell him that,”she said, her eyes filling with tears.“Make sure you show him.I…I neverreally did, you know?I was stupid.Don’t be stupid like me.”She stepped back,her throat working.“Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes,” I heard myself whisper.For some reason I wanted tocry.
She smiled weakly.“Please don’t tell him I was here.I’mnot going to try to get in touch with him again.Not when he’s with someone.Okay?”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded.
“Thank you,” she said, and then she turned around.I watchedher leave and then closed the door.
In a daze, I gathered up the bottles and walked outside.Everyone was huddled around the table, scooping up heaps of potato salad andputting together their buns.
Colton looked up, the look in his eyes soft, and my heartsqueezed.“I was starting to get worried about you.”
“Yeah, who was at the door?”Jax asked.
“No one,” I answered, putting the bottles on the table as Itook a deep breath.“I mean, it was someone trying to sell candles.It took mea while to close the door.”
Roxy snatched up the ketchup bottle.“If it had been GirlScout cookies, I hope you would’ve let them in.”
I smiled as I moved over to where Colton stood, Nicole’swords echoing in my head as I wrapped my arms around his waist.“If it wasthem, I would’ve rolled out the damn red carpet.”
Later that night, I laid in Colton’s bed, the finesheen of sweat cooling on our bodies as our hearts slowed.It had taken somemajor effort on Colton’s part to pull the sheet up to our waists.
He lay on his back and I was on my side beside him.His handtrailed up and down my spine, an idle and tender caress I wasn’t even sure hewas aware of.
In the silence of his dark bedroom, the conversation I hadwith Nicole replayed in my head.It had several times while at the cookout.Ihated not telling Colton about her, but I also couldn’t find it in myself tobreak the promise I made to her.
I didn’t think Nicole was going to be a problem.Ifanything, her unexpected visit had been eye opening.I needed to tell Coltonhow I felt.It could be risky.Hell, it could scare him off, but the words wereburning the tip of my tongue and twisting up my heart.
And I wasn’t a coward.
