Page 18 of Untamed

Things are so fucked up, yet in the midst of it all, there is a flicker of hope stirring inside of me. Blooming and urging me to believe things could get better.

A ray of sunshine, bright and warm.

And the worst part? That optimism ignited when a certain someone came to the ranch. The same someone wrapped up in a shiny bow with a big neon sign flashing one word.Forbidden.

A laugh bursts from my lips though there is nothing funny about it.

Because I just realized that the small interactions with Mila are becoming a sort of light in my never-ending darkness.

Despite only spending a handful of moments with the girl, I know with certainty.

She’s the sun on the darkest of days, beckoning me to walk into the light.

Despite knowing I should turn away from her shine, I’ve come to crave it.

I could only hope I wouldn’t drag her into my darkness and strip her of her glow.

Chapter Fifteen

MILA

Gravel crunches underneath my boots as I make my way from the house to the barn. Cool air hits my warm skin, sending a shiver down my spine, and all the while my heart pounds wildly in my chest, each beat resounding with the hope of finding Colter inside.

I don’t owe him an explanation for what he saw tonight at the restaurant. But I can’t shake this need to tell him that it’s not what it looked like. That me and Brandon are friends. Nothing more, nothing less, no matter if Brandon thinks otherwise.

Anger surges inside me when I remember the possessive way Brandon pulled me in and held me. Staking a claim he has no right to. Nova is right, I need to be completely honest with him, so there’s no room for confusion. Ugh. Why did I have to kiss him and make this mess even worse?

From the moment Brandon showed up in Georgia with Maverick he made it clear that he was interested in me as more than just a friend. I should’ve seen it sooner, from the desperate way he’d try to get my attention with likes and comments every time I posted a picture on social media. But me being me, I let it slide, not wanting to cause tension between my brother and his long-time best friend.

And then I kissed him. One impulsive decision blurred the lines even more. I know I’m to blame for this mess, I own that. But surely Brandon can see that I’m just not interested in him in that way. I snort, shaking my head. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Pushing forward down the lane, the sounds of laughter and music grow louder, hitting my ears. My gaze shoots to the row of bunkhouses, narrowing on the one Colter shares with some of the other guys. A high pitched,femalesqueal cuts through the noise, piquing my interest. What the hell are they doing in there? I know the ranch hands, wranglers, cowboys and cowgirls like to party, blow off steam. But is Colter with them? Drinking, laughing… fucking women.

I swallow, the thought alone enough to make my chest tighten.

Though I caught Colter in the barn with a woman once, I don’t get the impression he’s that kind of man. He’s quieter, more reserved than the others. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. For all I know, when I slide the barn door open, he could be sprawled on those hay bales, a girl riding his dick. I don’t like the idea, but I’m here now, and no matter what I stumble upon, I need to see him.

Stepping up to the barn door, I slide it open, inhaling deeply when the scent of horses hits my nostrils. My eyes immediately go to the bales of hay, relief flooding me when I find them empty. But it’s short lived. The party happening not even forty yards away, reminds me that Colter could very well be in that bunkhouse with everyone else.

Straining my ears, I listen for a sign that he is up in the loft but come up empty.

With a sigh, I resign myself to the fact that I won’t get a chance to explain myself tonight. Turning to leave, I freeze in place when the wood creaks above me. Slowly, I glance up, asmile curving my lips. Without another thought, I rush over to the steps, climbing them quickly before pushing open the loft door.

My breath hitches in my throat. Colter is there, his eyes trained on me, the look on his face telling me he knew I would come. “Colter,” I whisper softly, scared to break the silence.

“Mila,” he rumbles, indifference laced in his tone. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

Heat burns my cheeks because he’s right. I have been avoiding him.

Stepping inside, I close the door behind me, watching him carefully as nerves course through my body. Suddenly, I’ve forgotten why I came here. The look he’s giving me says this is a bad idea. My feet shift on the wooden floor, hands wringing together anxiously. I’ve never met anyone who can elicit so many different emotions at once. I feel too much, yet wish I felt nothing at all. This is dangerous for him. But still, it didn’t stop me from coming here.

“I wanted to explain. About tonight,” I clarify.

Before I can say more, he holds a hand up, stopping me. My heart rate kicks up, beating so hard, I can hear it in my ears.

Colter eyes me for a long beat, before he exhales wearily. “He likes you.”

It's not a question, more of a statement. One that’s true.

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