Page 41 of (Un)Expected

I inhaled a sharp breath, savoring the closeness between us. The same woodsy scent invaded my space, making me want to lean in, but memories of a similar experience made my feet plant on the floor. However, it wasn’t enough to stop my breath from catching when he leaned down, whispering in my ear.

“You’re the one with the car.”

SIXTEEN

This was a fucking terrible idea.

Let the record show that I, Cole Campbell, made terrible decisions when left to my own devices. Not only did I break my promise to myself that I would stay as far away from Alex as possible, but now, I was back in her car, letting her lead me out of town.

The truth was, I had little willpower when it came to her. That became clear the moment in her kitchen, when I almost kissed her. That was stupid, really fucking stupid, and I meant every word I said when I told her it was a mistake.

Alex was involved with my best friend. That meant she was completely off-limits. Guy code said that once your friend said he was interested in a girl, you were supposed to back off. If Alex weren’t interested, that’d be a different story.

But she’d agreed to keep seeing Adam, and he was so damn happy about it that he spoke about her every time he called from LA.

Typically, when he brought up girls he was dating, it was all about their reputation and their clout. It seemed to be a common thread in his actor circle: all friendships and relationships had apurpose, usually self-serving. Every interaction was a way to network, to make sure your name wasn’t forgotten.

I didn’t know how the hell he did it.

However, his connection with Alex seemed to be the opposite. He seemed genuinely interested in her, and I almost fucked it up by thinking with my dick instead of my head. Logically, I knew she was taken, and I’d never do anything to fuck with that.

But staring at her in the driver’s seat, her long brown hair tangled from blowing in the wind, I couldn’t help the images pouring into my head. They were the same ones that had been running wild since she exited the resort in a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a cropped shirt. It was such a far cry from her usual work attire, it took me a minute to recognize her.

The further we drove from the hotel, the more Alex’s guard lowered. Her smile became freer, her body looser. It was hypnotic to watch. Cursing under my breath, I rubbed my hand over my eyes. Not even a kiss, and this girl had my head all fucked-up.

“You okay over there?” Alex asked.

“Getting a little car sick,” I lied. “Who the hell taught you to drive?”

Alex rolled her eyes, giving me the middle finger while keeping her focus on the road. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who can’t relax unless they’re the one driving. You only got to drive that one night because I had too many drinks.”

She didn’t mean much with her words, but they still cut deep, striking a little too true for comfort. A familiar bolt of grief struck through my chest, trying to pull me down to the dark place in my head, but after years, I’d become used to it being there, waiting to knock me down. If this were last year, the comment alone would have been enough to trigger a spiral.

However, now, I smiled tightly, changing the subject. “Where are you taking me anyway?”

“You’ll have to wait and see,” she smiled back.

“Holy shit.”

“I told you it would be worth it,” Alex said, coming up to my side with her hands on her hips. “The trek up here is a bitch, but you can’t get views like this anywhere else.”

She wasn’t joking. From the peak of the mountain, you could see the entire town, all the way from her house down to the Isadora. The sounds of Saint Stephen’s Lake were drowned out, but you could still feel the bustle of the world below us.

It was the most peaceful place I’d ever been.

Inhaling slowly, I let the fresh mountain air fill my lungs. This was what I needed. While Adam thrived on staying busy, I needed this: moments where you could switch your brain off and just take in the world around you.

Surprisingly, while I usually enjoyed being by myself, it was nice having Alex at my side. She kicked my ass on the trail, teasing me until I almost had to run to keep up with her. It was clear she’d been here plenty of times, knowing the path by heart.

I was about to ask her about it when she spoke instead. “When I first moved up here, I felt so lost. It was like my old life suddenly stopped and I was expected to know exactly what to do next.” She smiled up at me, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Marta suggested I try hiking. I hated it at first, but once I reached the top, I knew she was right. It put everything in perspective.” Her voice lowered as she continued. “All of my problems seemed smaller from way up here, like I wasn’t so alone.”

Turning my head, I took in the blissful expression on her face as she tilted it toward the sun, soaking in the rays. Without thinking, I took out my phone and snapped a picture before she noticed. This close, I stared at the little freckles that dusted her nose and cheeks. Matched with her soft smile, they made her look more peaceful, as if I could see the girl hidden behind her walls.

Maybe it was a kindred spirit thing, but I could tell somethingwas haunting her. It was in the way she ducked any questions about her past, in how her life seemed to start when she got to this town. Even in her home, there were no pictures from her old life, none that featured anyone looking like family.

Curiosity got the best of me, so I asked, “Why did you move up here?”

Her face instantly lost its smile, her lips twisting into a tight line. “It’s a long story.”

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