world of hurt?
I wish there were an answer.
Surprise fills his gaze as it snaps to mine. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me if I had any doubts.” In no rush to leave the car, he angles his body toward mine. “And I wouldn’t have put you in a situation that was uncomfortable either.”
Some of the nerves prickling along my flesh evaporate as his fingers drift across the curve of my jaw. It’s so tempting to close my eyes and sink into his touch, but something holds me back.
“Do they know I’m coming with you?” If not, that could make for an awkward situation.
“I checked with Jenna this afternoon before I extended the invite.”
Why does this suddenly feel like such a big deal? “What did you tell them about our relationship?” Or lack thereof.
One side of his mouth hitches. “Are you asking if I told them you were my girlfriend?”
A shiver dances down my spine as I jerk my head into a nod. Two years ago, I would have been thrilled to be introduced to his family as such. Now...
That’s no longer the case.
A soft puff of air escapes from his lips. “I told them you were an old friend from high school. Can’t go wrong with the truth, right?”
I suppose not.
His hand drifts from my face to my fingers which lay twisted together in my lap. He squeezes them as if to reassure me that everything will be okay. I’m trying really hard to believe that it will. “You ready to do this?”
Nope.
“I think so.”
“It’ll be fine. Just a couple hours, and then we’ll head back to campus.”
With that, Colton reaches into the back seat and grabs hold of a large bouquet of wildflowers he picked up from the florist, and then we exit the vehicle. As Colton rounds the hood, he extends his hand for me to take hold of. I hesitate for a heartbeat, unsure what to do. This feels like so much more than what he’s claiming it is. As much as I want to keep my heart protected against him, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult.
When I don’t immediately place my fingers in his, a patient look fills his eyes. It’s as if he knows all of the thoughts running rampant through my brain. A tentative connection forms between us in the driveway—one that is undeniable. Against my better judgment, I find myself cautiously placing my hand in his. It feels as if we’ve arrived at a decision—an unspoken promise of sorts.
Together, we climb the stone stairs that lead to the front porch. It’s wide and sweeping—a grand entrance. The massive mahogany door stretches twenty feet in height. Colton grabs the ornate handle and pushes it open. My feet stutter as I take in the two-story foyer. There is an ocean of white marble as far as the eye can see. An elegant crystal chandelier hangs suspended from high above. It sends glittering patterns of light dancing across the polished-to-a-high-shine floor. A sweeping staircase with an elaborate wrought iron banister leads to a second-floor gallery. Everything is open, airy, and reeks of wealth.
Sheesh.
When I turn wide, questioning eyes to Colton, he shrugs. Before I can fire off one of the many questions that sit perched on the tip of my tongue, he raises his voice and calls out, “Hello? Jenna?” He pauses as we listen for any signs of life coming from within this castle-like home. “Dad?”
There’s the soft padding of feet before a small blond woman with dark eyes walks into the entryway. A warm smile lights up her face as she pulls Colton in for a hug.
For a moment, I’m able to stand back and observe their interaction. She’s so petite in size that Colton nearly swallows her up in his arms. There’s something sweet about their reunion. About the tenderness that flits across his face. Once they break apart, he hands over the bouquet. Her face lights up as she buries her nose in the fresh blooms.
“They’re beautiful! You didn’t have to do that!”
He shrugs. “I wanted to. Happy birthday!”
“Thank you!”
And then she’s turning bright eyes to me. Her expression is so warm and welcoming that I’m instantly put at ease. “You must be Alyssa.” She takes me into her arms as if we are old friends instead of strangers greeting one another for the first time. “It’s lovely to meet you,” she says before drawing away.
“You, too. Happy birthday!”
“Thank you.” A smile curves her lips. “I’m delighted