“Alyssa?” He squeezes my fingers, effectively pulling my attention back to him.
“Okay,” I blurt. “I’ll come with you.”
My heart pounds a painful staccato as a hesitant smile spreads across his face, as if he, too, is surprised by my easy capitulation. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Awesome.” He lifts my hand to his lips before brushing a kiss across the knuckles. “I promise, you won’t regret it.”
I hope Colton’s right about that, and I’m not setting myself up for more heartache where he’s concerned.
Chapter Thirty
Alyssa
Three hours and a shower later, I’m settled in the front seat of Colton’s BMW. The top is up, and we’re headed north toward the place we both grew up. Although, admittedly, Colton’s upbringing was vastly different than mine. He was raised in a wealthy neighborhood near Beck and Mia, while I was on the other side of town, in a more middle-class area.
I can’t resist glancing at him from the corner of my eye as I sit in the passenger seat.
Was this a mistake?
If so, it’s too late to back out now. This is happening. There’s no getting out of it. After a couple of miles, the familiar exit comes into view, and we leave the highway before turning onto a country road surrounded by farmland. I roll down the window and inhale a deep breath of fresh air. There’s something comforting about the wide-open spaces that settle the nerves fighting to break free at the bottom of my belly. I need that right now more than anything. Once on the outskirts of town, Colton turns into the drive of a gated subdivision before stopping outside an enormous iron entrance. He rolls down his window and taps a code into the control panel. After the gate slides open, we drive on through.
“Fancy,” I murmur from the side of my mouth. Even being here makes me sit up a little straighter in my seat.
He snorts, gaze pinned to the landscape beyond the windshield.
As much as I want to remain lowkey about the situation, I’m curious to see where Colton grew up and meet his parents. I’m hoping it will shed a little insight into who he is. Lord knows I need it. Even though we were together for six months, he’s still a mystery to me.
Each house we pass—if that’s what you want to call these monstrosities—grows in square footage. All have intricate stone masonry and thick wrought iron embellishments. Unable to help myself, I press closer to the passenger side window. Each residence has perfectly manicured lawns and flowerbeds that riot with intense color. Trees and shrubs have been pruned to an inch within their lives.
When I was younger, I’d look at the people who lived in these mega-mansions and imagine their existences were picture-perfect. I mean, how could they not be? Gorgeous houses, fancy cars parked in the drive, trips to warm locales, and the best of everything.
Only now do I know better.
Money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness. Although, let’s face it, it sure as hell makes life easier. I’m not naive enough to believe that it doesn’t. My parents are comfortable, but they’ve worked hard to attain that level of financial independence. While we’ve never had an excess of money, I’m lucky they could afford for me to dance. It’s not a cheap activity by any means. Between the classes, clinics, costumes, travel, and competition fees, it all adds up. It’s one of the reasons I’ve taught in my spare time.
I blink out of those thoughts as Colton turns into a long winding driveway. Trees that are in the process of losing their leaves dot the front lawn as a majestic stone structure comes into view. It has to be easily twenty thousand square feet in size. I knew he came from money, but I never imagined that it was this kind of wealth.
Colton pulls up to the front door before cutting the engine. For a long moment, he stares at the house as it looms in front of us. I do the same before tentatively glancing at him. A pit forms at the bottom of my belly.
The words shoot out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Are you sorry that you brought me with?” Truth be told, I wish I’d had the foresight to turn down the invitation.
What am I doing here with Colton?
From all outward appearances, he’s different than the guy I left behind a year and a half ago, but is it enough? Or am I just setting myself up for a