Page 20 of Christmas with Hope

“It’s okay to look at me. I won’t bite… too much,” he chuckled. “Sorry.”

My gaze lifted to his face. He looked down. I was ruining breakfast.

“That was a bad joke,” Colton sighed. “It’s obvious that something is upsetting you.”

“You’re fine. This is on me.”

“Because you like me?”

“I like you in less than a day like some crazy chick,” I blurted.

His head fell slightly back and he erupted with laughter.

“At least one of us is having a good time,” I muttered and pulled my hand away from his.

“Hope,” he sighed. “What’s so bad about liking me?”

“Because it’s been a few damn hours. This isn’t something that happens to me. This is some hopeless romantic thing you read in girly books.”

“Hope?” He held out his hand. I glanced at his hand and then up at him.

“Pretty please.” He gave me aColgatesmile and wiggled his fingers. I couldn’t hold back my laugh. With a heavy sigh, I placed my hand in his. He squeezed it gently.

“What if I told you that I’m happy that you don’t just want to be friends?” His words had my heart skipping several beats.

“What?” I asked in a whisper.

“I would have preferred to toast tonew beginnings,” he said softly. His cheeks reddened. With his free hand, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll admit the way I feel towards you is unexplainable. Kinda scary, but I’m willing to welcome it as long as you are.”

Colton’s words flooded my mind. It was surreal. He actually liked me, too? Or maybe he just didn’t want me to feel like a psycho? But why would his cheeks be red from what looked like shyness?

“You um…” The words barely left my lips.

“Like you?” I couldn’t reply with words, I simply nodded. “Definitely. It’s going to sound cheesy as hell, but…”

“But…”

Colton groaned.

“This is the shit I teased Tim about when he told me he knew Stefanie was the one as soon as he saw her,” he closed his eyes briefly then looked at me once more. “When I saw you for the first time, I felt like a little kid. Anxious. Excited. Nervous. The works.”

“Really?”

Asking himreallywas a stupid question. I had heard him loud and clear. With the hesitation in his voice, telling me the first time had been hard.

“Sorry. I heard you,” I whispered. “I’m just shocked.”

“Me, too,” he laughed and shook his head.

“We’re a hot mess, huh?” The teasing words seemed to ease the tension in the room. We both smiled at each other.

“How about we eat before it gets cold and then we can spend some time together?”

“Sounds good.”

After his confession, I wasn’t sure I would be able to eat. My stomach felt like it was in knots. My breath was staggered and my hands were shaking.

“Don’t be nervous, beautiful.” Colton brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. He smiled then released it.

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