Page 94 of Colton

My eyes widen. “What? I’d never ask you to do that!”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering,” he shrugs. “If she makes you uncomfortable because she’s my ex-wife, and because of the little stunt she pulled, I’d understand you wanting me to pull out. I want a future with you where you will feel secure in our relationship, sweetheart.”

“That’s really sweet,” I smile. “I may find her intimidating, but I’m not that insecure. As long as I don’t have to see her as often, I’m fine with you continuing your partnership with her. I trust you.”

The feeling of jealousy lingers, and I know that in time, it will disappear entirely. If Colton wanted to be with other women, I have no doubt he’d be. He has the looks, personality, and everything that comes with that. He’s a catch — so when he tells me he wants to be with me, I believe him.

I have to believe him.

Because if I stop holding onto that thin thread, I’ll break. Sophia was right — as she always is — I’m already in too deep.

I’ve fallen in love with him.

◆◆◆

The little bakery Colton chose for breakfast is lovely. All of the staff members are high school kids, except for the bakers, of course, and I can tell it’s their first job. They’re polite, and the service is absolutely amazing. It’s no wonder Colton tipped them extremely well. If I were sixteen and someone tipped me double the bill, I’d be ecstatic, too.

He paid for us, and even when I told him I wanted to get something for the girls too, he had no trouble footing the bill. I’m slowly starting to get used to the fact that he will never let me pay for a single thing in my life.

It’s windy and rather chilly, though the lake view is beautiful. I can only imagine how pretty it must be when it’s all covered in snow, and I make a mental note to come back here with him after the first snowfall.

We take a seat on a bench and watch families play with their toddlers. The sound of laughter, chatter, and even music playing from someone’s phone makes me smile. It’s such a peaceful sight, and it makes me lose track of time.

“Avalon,” Colton says, turning to look at me. There’s something inexplicable in his eyes that makes me sit up straight. He takes my hand in one of his, brushing his thumb over my knuckles. His other hand is tucked in his pocket, and for a moment, I can swear I see something akin to anxiety in his eyes. It’s gone in the blink of an eye, making me wonder if I’d just imagined it.

“Yes?”

“Firstly, I want to return this to you,” he says, pulling a small earring from his pocket. Oh, hell — I forgot about it. It’s one of the ruby earrings Sophia got for me, the very reason she suspected my relationship with Colton.

Sophia saw it in his office back at the Academy and kept it to herself until she was certain there was something going on. I was going to ask him to look for it in the office, but he beat me to it.

I took it with a smile of gratitude, tucking it in my pocket so I could put it back in the box once I was back in my dorm.

“Thank you,” I smile. “I thought I’d lost it.”

“Well, you did,” he says with a chuckle. “And I think I know when it fell off, too.”

My cheeks flush in embarrassment, the memory of us having sex the first time in his office flashing behind my eyes. I clear my throat, trying to force the memories away, but the teasing smirk on his face makes it impossible for me to focus.

“Still, thank you. Sophia got them for me, and they’re precious to me.”

He nods. “And I want to give you something else, too.”

I lift a brow. “What is it?”

He pulls out a small velvet box, and my breath hitches. I’m not naive, I know he’s not going to propose to me right now, and even if he were ready for that step, I’m not. Besides, it’s Colton. He’d never do it in such a public setting, he’d make it more romantic and intimate.

Yet, my heart skips a beat.

“Don’t look too alarmed,” he chuckles and opens the box.

The sigh of relief that escapes my mouth when I see it’s a bracelet makes Colton snort. My brows narrow a fraction as I inspect it, and my God, it’s gorgeous.

It’s definitely vintage, and not the kind you’d often see nowadays. The bracelet itself is white gold — having spent so much time with Sophia, I can tell it’s not silver — and in the middle is a small star-shaped sapphire.

“It was my mother’s,” he says, and my eyes snap to his. “It was passed down through generations in our family, and I want you to have it.”

“No,” I say immediately. “This is… Colton, no.”