Page 87 of Blush Crush

CHAPTER 26

Cole

DEER-IN-THE-HEADLIGHTS

“Those sneaky motherfuckers,” I grit, grinding my jaw back and forth.

Ariana laughs, dry and humorless. “Who? Your parents or mine?”

“Both.”

I cut the engine but neither of us seems eager to move.

“You don’t think there’s a priest in there too, do you?”

My face twists. “Priest?”

She blows out a breath, something between a gasp and a laugh. “Yeah, to marry us off or something.”

She’s joking, but I consider it for a moment because I know my mother and she actually does have a priest on speed dial.

And then my mind goes somewhere it’s never been before. Me, standing in a church, at the altar beside a priest, watching Ariana walk toward me. Big blue eyes locked on mine. Brown hair brushing her shoulders. A white dress.

I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut like I can force the image out.

Because what the fuck was that.

“Are you okay?” Her small hand settles on my arm as she eyes me with genuine concern.

Just picturing marrying you. No big deal.

“Just hoping this goes smoothly.” I clear my throat.

“Okay then.” She hesitates. “I’m ready when you are.”

“One second.” I reach into the back seat and grab the bottle of olive oil before I push open my door. The bite of cold air stings my face as I walk around to her side to help her out.

I’ve never really been the chivalrous type. I know all the moves—the polite, old-fashioned things like opening doors, pulling out chairs, walking on the outside of the sidewalk—but I’ve never had the desire to actually do them. Not because I’m an asshole. It’s just never occurred to me to be that way. I’m a good-time guy, and that kind of behavior feels reserved for something more serious than anything I’ve ever been interested in. Even Whit never pulled it out of me.

But for some reason, I want to be that guy for Ariana.

Maybe it’s because I know she’s a romantic, or because I feel like I have something to prove, but the more I’m around her, the more it comes naturally.

I take her hand and we walk toward the front porch.

The front door swings open before we’re even halfway up, my mother standing at the threshold, already smiling like she was staring out the window from the second we got here.

“Come in, come in,” she says, steering Ariana immediately inside. “It’s so cold. Jack and Leanne are here—such a coincidence, they just happened to be free tonight?—”

“Mom,” I say flatly, handing her the oil.

I don’t think anyone here believes that flimsy lie. Clearly, this was planned.

She dismisses me but grabs the bottle and keeps moving.

Ariana never lets go of my hand, squeezing it tighter the further in we walk.

The house is warm and loud and smells like my mom and Wela have been cooking since noon. The second we cross intothe great room I can see all of it at once—Jack and Leanne Ledger in the dining room with my dad, the three of them mid-conversation as if this is completely normal. Nora a few feet away on her phone. Blake in the kitchen snacking, which earns him a look from Wela that he doesn’t notice.