Page 78 of I Wish I Would've Warned You

Just a quick “Hi. I’m still alive. Bye.”

The sooner I get to Justin’s family’s place, the sooner I can disappear into the holidays and back to the bubble I’ve built for myself in Pittsburgh.

When we arrive at the house, I feel the same kind of stunned awe I did the first time I saw the place in the Hamptons. Except this house is even bigger—and somehow warmer. More rustic. Less like a magazine spread and more like a very rich person’s attempt at pretending they’re grounded.

Stacks of Aidan’s newest book are everywhere. Arranged with sticky notes:Signed, Not Signed, For Giveaways.His smiling face on every glossy cover.

As the butler leads us through the kitchen, Cole walks in.

My heart kicks the inside of my ribs like it’s trying to escape.

His hair’s longer now, brushing the tops of his ears. The sleeves of his gray shirt are rolled to the elbows, revealing new ink winding down his forearm—ink I’ve never seen before, and yet it feels familiar.

“Oh, Mister Cole!” the butler says with a wide grin. “We weren’t expecting to see you this holiday season.”

“That makes two of us.” His voice is flat. Then his eyes find mine. “I was just dropping Matt off and grabbing a few things.”

“Well, I hope you’ll stay,” the butler says brightly. “Emily’s been delighting us with stories from her first semester—and she even brought a boyfriend.”

Cole arches a brow. His gaze flicks between me and Justin.

“If you need me,” the butler continues, “you know where to find me, Cole.” He gestures for us to follow, but we linger.

“So, you’re Cole,” Justin says, offering his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I highly doubt that.” Cole doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. “How long have you been dating my stepsister?”

“Oh, I see what this is.” Justin laughs like it’s funny. “We’ve been dating since October. But I can assure you, I only have the best intentions.” He presses a kiss to my cheek and drapes his arm around my shoulder like he’s claiming a prize.

Cole’s jaw tightens.

“Come on, lovebirds!” the butler calls from the hall. “I’ve got to show you the wine room!”

I move to follow Justin, but Cole steps in my path.

“I need to borrow her for a minute,” he says, looking directly at Justin. “I’ll have her back in a second.”

He doesn’t wait for a response. Just grabs my hand and pulls me down the hallway. We move past gilded frames and flickering sconces until he throws open a set of double doors and drags me into the indoor pool room.

The door slams shut behind us.

“We need to fucking talk,” he says, crowding me back until my shoulders hit the paneled wall.

“What if someone sees us here?”

“Sees us doing what, Emily?” He plants his hands on either side of my head. “Talking?”

“You don’t need to be this close just to talk.”

“I don’t like you pretending you don’t fucking know me.”

“Cole—”

“Don’t let your boyfriend ever kiss you in front of me again.” His eyes darken. “I don’t appreciate that shit.”

“You and I aren’t together.”

“That doesn’t mean you get to fuck other people.”

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