Chapter 16
A feather could’ve knocked my ass over. I was in such
shock, all I could do was stand there and stare.
Over the past month, I thought about her every so often,
just like I thought about the man I’d seen murdered, the man who ended up in
the river, and the one who nearly killed me. How could I not?
And now she was here.
Since I’d only seen Nicole from distances, I wasn’t prepared
for just how stunning she was up close. Her blonde hair was ridiculously
straight and shiny, her complexion absolutely flawless and without a wrinkle in
sight. Lips plump and full and nose pert, paired with high cheekbones, she was
the poster child for perfection.
There was no recognition in her blue eyes. “Hi,” she said,
her voice soft. “Is Colton here?”
My heart pounded in my chest and I said the first, most
obvious thing that popped into my head. “This isn’t his house.”
And I thought that was a super-valid statement.
She glanced over my shoulder. Her hands were clasped
together in front of her. “I know that. I saw his truck outside.”
Then she knew damn well he was here.
“Can you get him please?” she prompted, giving me a
tight-lipped smile. “I really need to talk to him.”
Why would she show up unannounced at a friend of Colton’s
house? Who does that? I didn’t think most people did. A hundred thoughts formed
at once. Maybe it wasn’t entirely unannounced. Maybe she and Colton had been in
contact with one another and I simply didn’t know. Maybe he wanted—
I pulled the brakes
on that train wreck of a thought process. Colton was an honest man, and the
stupid as fuck, evil voice in the back of my head wasn’t going to win.
But I realized then that I had started to turn around to go
retrieve Colton, and that was like a smack in the face. What in the hell was I
doing? His ex-fiancée had come to Jax’s house looking for him—for my
boyfriend, and I was just going to walk off and get him?
Oh hell to the no.
I faced her. “Why do you want to see him?”
Nicole blinked, obviously surprised by my question. “I don’t
mean to be rude, but that’s really none of your business.”
“Actually, it is, Nicole.”
Her eyes widened this time. “How do you…?”
“I know who you are.” My pulse was pounding so fast I
thought 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’m
seeing Colton.”
Any other time I might’ve laughed at her reaction. Her jaw
seemed to come unhinged. She gaped like a fish out of water. My lips pursed as
her eyes doubled in size. Was it really that hard to believe? Geez.
“I d-didn’t know,” she said after she recovered. “He hasn’t
said 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 of
times—called him, but he hasn’t answered.”
Relief poured through me, and I didn’t even feel terrible
for that.
Nicole cleared her throat. “I…God, this is so embarrassing.”
She laughed, but it was hoarse and thick sounding. “I honestly wasn’t planning
to come here, and I know I probably look like a stalker, but my friend lives
nearby, 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. Her
gaze lifted to mine. “Do you really care about him? Because I know if he’s with
you, he really cares about you. He doesn’t date idly.”
“I know,” I whispered, and in that moment, I really did
know. With my hand still on the door, I exhaled softly. “I’ve dreamed of him—of
someone like him—for a long time. I’m in love with him. I don’t know if he
feels 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 never
really 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 to
cry.
She smiled weakly. “Please don’t tell him I was here. I’m
not 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 watched
her 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 and
putting together their buns.
Colton looked up, the look in his eyes soft, and my heart
squeezed. “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 I
took a deep breath. “I mean, it was someone trying to sell candles. It took me
a while to close the door.”
Roxy snatched up the ketchup bottle. “If it had been Girl
Scout cookies, I hope you would’ve let them in.”
I smiled as I moved over to where Colton stood, Nicole’s
words echoing in my head as I wrapped my arms around his waist. “If it was
them, I would’ve rolled out the damn red carpet.”
Later that night, I laid in Colton’s bed, the fine
sheen of sweat cooling on our bodies as our hearts slowed. It had taken some
major 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 hand
trailed up and down my spine, an idle and tender caress I wasn’t even sure he
was aware of.
In the silence of his dark bedroom, the conversation I had
with Nicole replayed in my head. It had several times while at the cookout. I
hated not telling Colton about her, but I also couldn’t find it in myself to
break the promise I made to her.
I didn’t think Nicole was going to be a problem. If
anything, her unexpected visit had been eye opening. I needed to tell Colton
how I felt. It could be risky. Hell, it could scare him off, but the words were
burning the tip of my tongue and twisting up my heart.
And I wasn’t a coward.
Worst-case scenario, it was too soon and Colton ran for the
hills, but if he didn’t feel the same way now, would it really change later? It
wasn’t like people couldn’t grow to love one another, but I was a firm believer
that you knew pretty quickly if love was in the cards.
I drew in a deep breath. “Colton?”
“Hmm?” he murmured.
“You’re still awake, right?”
His chuckle rumbled through me. “Yes.”
“Good. I need to tell you something.”
Colton’s hand stilled along the center of my back. “You have
my attention.”
I closed the hand that rested on his chest because it was
starting to shake. “I…I really loved Kevin. He was more than my husband. He was
my closest friend too, and when he died, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel that
way about someone else. I wanted to, but I…I just wasn’t sure.”
He didn’t move. There was a good chance he wasn’t breathing.
“Even though I was with Kevin in high school, I still
noticed you and I still…God forgive me, had a crush on you.” I squeezed my eyes
shut. “And well, what I’m trying to tell you is that I…I love you.”
He still didn’t move. Or breathe.
My eyes opened and I added in a rush, “And I know it’s soon
and it’s probably too soon for me to be saying that to you, but I wanted you to
know that I do. I do love you, and I know you probably are seconds from
freaking and—”
“I am freaking out.”
Oh dear.
Colton rolled onto his side and suddenly we were eye to eye.
“I’m freaking out in a good way.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
His hand curled around my cheek. “It’s not too soon. Or if
it is, we’re both feeling it too soon.”
My breath caught. “You…you love me?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” His lips brushed over mine. “I think I
fell in love with you the moment you said you thoroughly enjoyed crepes.”
I laughed as tears, the good kind, filled my eyes. “Really?
It was the crepes that made you fall in love with me?”
“They had something to do with it.” He kissed me softly.
“And so did your sweet ass,” he added, and then I laughed again. “Your smile
had a lot to do with it. So did your strength. And your kindness. Everything
about you actually.”
“Wow,” I whispered, resting my forehead against his. “That’s
all very sweet.”
“It’s the truth.” His hand slid into my hair, holding it
back from my face. “I love you, Abby.”
With my heart full of love and my mind empty of all fears
and concerns, I threw the sheet back, pushed him over, and climbed onto him,
straddling his hips.
Colton grinned widely. “I like where this is heading.”
Laughing, I placed my hands on his chest. “You know what?”
“What?” His fingers skimmed my sides.
I leaned down and kissed him. There was barely a space
between our lips when I spoke. “I’ve dreamed of you for so long.”
Colton picked up my hand and brought it to his mouth,
kissing my palm. “You don’t have to dream anymore.”
My lips curved into a smile.
He was right. I didn’t have to dream anymore.