Page 41 of Only Ever His

Her body seemed to melt against mine as we lay together in the quiet, wrapped in each other and the softness of the moment.

TORI

The familiar smell of cinnamon wafted from the bakery as Cole and I walked down Main Street.

The town was bustling, and for the first time in a while, I felt almost relaxed—until I sawher.

Samantha Crane. She’d been my so-called friend.

But really, she’d been Marcus’s eyes and ears, reporting back to him every time I dared step out of line.

What was she doing in Oakridge Hill? Did it have anything to do with Marcus?

Then I remembered Samantha mentioning that she sometimes came to Oakridge to do her hair, because her stylist had moved here or something.

She noticed me before I had a chance to turn away, her red-painted smile widening in that unsettling way I remembered all too well.

“Tori! Wow, it’s been ages,” she said, her voice honeyed and loud enough to make people glance our way.

She looked me up and down, taking in Cole beside me.

I felt the familiar pang of anxiety rise in my chest, memories flooding back of how she’d always worm her way under my skin.

The only reason I’d kept Samantha in my life was because, under Marcus’s tight control, I’d felt too isolated to completely let her go.

She wasn’t exactly a friend, more like someone who filled the empty spaces when I needed it most.

Even if her loyalty was questionable, she was better than the silence and solitude that Marcus imposed on me.

So, I had endured her company.

“Samantha,” I managed, keeping my voice steady.

Cole’s hand rested gently on my lower back, grounding me, though I could tell from his stiff stance that he sensed something was off.

“I almost didn’t recognize you!” Samantha’s gaze slid to Cole with thinly veiled curiosity. “And…who’s this?”

“Cole,” I said, my voice firmer this time. “My?—”

“Boyfriend,” he said effortlessly.

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I couldn’t deny the small comfort I felt at his protectiveness.

For once, it felt like someone was in my corner without hidden agendas.

“Oh,boyfriend.” Samantha’s smile turned knowing, her eyes glinting. “It’s just so good to see you happy, Tori. Aftereverything, you know. You were…well, let’s just say, you’ve come a long way.”

The undertone in her words made my stomach clench.

She’d always had a way of making me feel like a child, like I’d only been something to Marcus because of her oversight.

I could feel Cole shift beside me, his fingers pressing more firmly against my back.

He was holding himself back, I could tell, fighting the instinct to step in.

“I have,” I said, forcing a smile.

I met her gaze, a spark of anger cutting through my nerves. “I’ve come a very long way. Without Marcus’s help, actually.”

---