Dream Of You - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,51

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