Page 63 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I whisper.

“Shorty’s been messing with her, okay? He hasn’t been leaving her alone. He’s been following her home from work, showing up at her classes, and a bunch of other shit. After I broke up their argument at SeaBird, Shorty made some smartass comment to her about me only wanting to get into her pants and I wouldn’t be interested in having an actual relationship with her. No one would be interested in having a real relationship with her. So, she lied. She said we were dating. Said we’re together.”

My mouth opens with another rebuttal on the tip of my tongue, but I stop myself. I knew Shorty was messing with Mia. Maybe not to this extent, but I knew something was up. But if that’s the case, why didn’t she tell me? I scramble to put the pieces together, attempting to decipher fact from fiction, but it’s too convoluted, too messy to make any sense.

Shaking my head back and forth, I press my fingers to my lips and whisper, “You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying, Sunshine.”

“Why do you call me that?”

His expression softens into a ghost of a smile. One barely there, yet somehow reaching his eyes. “You’re a ray of sunshine, Ash. You’re the only thing I’ve been looking forward to since I moved back. Maybe even before then,” he admits, his eyes going hazy. “Since my dad died.”

I sniff, refusing to give in to the sweetness of his sentiment. Because I can’t. I can’t care about his past the way I want to. Because he isn’t mine. And if there’s any chance of it changing, I need answers. And I need them now.

“Then what happened?” I demand. “You…agreed to fake-date Mia?”

“She took me out to dinner. Asked if I would cover for her. I agreed.”

“Why?”

“Because the only girl I really wanted was in a relationship with my friend.” He rubs his thumb against my cheek. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I was in a real relationship, Ash. I’m not a cheater. And you’re not in a relationship now, either,” he reminds me. “We’ve done nothing wrong.”

My tongue darts out, and I lick my bottom lip as I give in and lean into his touch while refusing to acknowledge how good it feels. How good he makes me feel.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I force out. “About Logan. About Mia.”

“I felt like it wasn’t my secret to tell.”

“And Logan?” I push.

He hesitates, letting out a sigh. “My history with Logan is complicated. We’ve been friends for years. Had each other’s back through everything. He said he was done having anyone else on the side, and I wanted to believe him.”

“But why?” I choke out. “If you wanted me, why would you want to believe him?”

“I didn’t want you to get hurt, Ash. And you wanted Logan,” he reminds me. A bitterness seeps into his words, and his shoulders slump slightly. “When I found he was cheating again, I gave him a week to come clean, or I’d do it for him.”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek while refusing to acknowledge how painful it is to hear Colt say the truth aloud, I choke out, “When did you tell him?”

“The night your car broke down.”

“Is that why you were so frustrated?”

He nods. “I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

I blink back my tears and suck my lips between my teeth as his words wash over me, and I admit, “I am hurt.”

“I know, Ash,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry.”

“You lied.”

“I know,” he repeats. “But I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to.”

I shake my head. “I thought you were with Mia. Part of me still thinks you’re with Mia,” I clarify.

“I’m not with Mia, Ash. I promise.”

“Even if you’re not, I just got out of a relationship. It’s not like I can dive right into another”––I wave my hand at him––“something with one of my ex’s friends.”

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