Page 29 of Only Ever His

“Cole, I thought… I thought you’d respect my boundaries,” I said.

“I do. But I can’t stand by and do nothing while he’s trying to worm his way back into your life. This isn’t about controlling you—it’s about keeping you safe,” Cole told me.

My anger wavered, caught between my instincts to protect myself and the warmth of his intentions.

There was no malice in his voice, only a raw honesty I hadn’t expected.

The lines I’d drawn around myself, the barriers I’d spent years carefully constructing, suddenly felt… unnecessary.

Those walls, the ones that had kept me safe and hidden, seemed to waver, like maybe they weren’t as essential as I’d once believed.

For the first time in so long, I could imagine letting someone in—lettinghimin—and it didn’t feel terrifying. It felt oddly liberating.

But then, like clockwork, doubt crept in, weaving through my mind. Was I letting my guard down too quickly?

Was I being naïve, foolishly hopeful that Cole could truly be the opposite of Marcus?

How could I be sure he wasn’t just another mistake waiting to happen?

I hesitated, gripping tightly to my reservations, the ghosts of my past whispering to stay cautious.

Yet, there was another voice, softer but persistent, gently urging,Give him a chance.

It was a quiet but insistent reminder, stirring beneath my frustration, urging me to push aside my instincts to keep everyone at arm’s length.

Cole had done nothing to earn my mistrust, yet here I was, ready to build walls.

Maybe it was time I didn’t give in to the impulse to protect myself by shutting him out.

I took a deep breath, loosening my grip on the phone.

“Okay,” I murmured, the word barely audible, but even that tiny agreement felt like a step in his direction.

I wouldn’t let this slide completely; I deserved a say in the way Cole protected me. This wasn’t over.

I intended to set clear boundaries with him. I wanted openness, honesty, even if it was uncomfortable for both of us.

Cole had to understand that trust went both ways.

“Thank you for understanding,” Cole said, a hint of relief in his voice.

Then he paused, seeming to consider something.

“Actually… I was wondering if you’d be up for a little getaway this weekend. My family is having a gathering at our lake house out in Silverwood Pines, just outside Willow Creek. It’s beautiful this time of year, especially by the water. I’d love for you to come with me.”

I felt the warmth of his invitation settle into me.

The thought of seeing him in that setting—someplace that meant so much to him, with the people who were closest to him—both thrilled and terrified me.

That soft voice inside nudged again, urging me to step a little further out from behind my walls.

“Okay,” I whispered.

COLE

The drive to the lake house wasn’t peaceful.

Tori sat beside me, her hands twisting in her lap as she looked out the window, her lips pressed together in a tight line.

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