“Fancy,” I murmur from the side of my mouth. Even being here makes me sit up a little straighter in my seat.
He snorts, gaze pinned to the landscape beyond the windshield.
As much as I want to remain lowkey about the situation, I’m curious to see where Colton grew up and meet his parents. I’m hoping it will shed a little insight into who he is. Lord knows I need it. Even though we were together for six months, he’s still a mystery to me.
Each house we pass—if that’s what you want to call these monstrosities—grows in square footage. All have intricate stone masonry and thick wrought iron embellishments. Unable to help myself, I press closer to the passenger side window. Each residence has perfectly manicured lawns and flowerbeds that riot with intense color. Trees and shrubs have been pruned to an inch within their lives.
When I was younger, I’d look at the people who lived in these mega-mansions and imagine their existences were picture-perfect. I mean, how could they not be? Gorgeous houses, fancy cars parked in the drive, trips to warm locales, and the best of everything.
Only now do I know better.
Money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness. Although, let’s face it, it sure as hell makes life easier. I’m not naive enough to believe that it doesn’t. My parents are comfortable, but they’ve worked hard to attain that level of financial independence. While we’ve never had an excess of money, I’m lucky they could afford for me to dance. It’s not a cheap activity by any means. Between the classes, clinics, costumes, travel, and competition fees, it all adds up. It’s one of the reasons I’ve taught in my spare time.
I blink out of those thoughts as Colton turns into a long winding driveway. Trees that are in the process of losing their leaves dot the front lawn as a majestic stone structure comes into view. It has to be easily twenty thousand square feet in size. I knew he came from money, but I never imagined that it was this kind of wealth.
Colton pulls up to the front door before cutting the engine. For a long moment, he stares at the house as it looms in front of us. I do the same before tentatively glancing at him. A pit forms at the bottom of my belly.
The words shoot out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Are you sorry that you brought me with?” Truth be told, I wish I’d had the foresight to turn down the invitation.
What am I doing here with Colton?
From all outward appearances, he’s different than the guy I left behind a year and a half ago, but is it enough? Or am I just setting myself up for a world of hurt?
I wish there were an answer.
Surprise fills his gaze as it snaps to mine. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me if I had any doubts.” In no rush to leave the car, he angles his body toward mine. “And I wouldn’t have put you in a situation that was uncomfortable either.”
Some of the nerves prickling along my flesh evaporate as his fingers drift across the curve of my jaw. It’s so tempting to close my eyes and sink into his touch, but something holds me back.
“Do they know I’m coming with you?” If not, that could make for an awkward situation.
“I checked with Jenna this afternoon before I extended the invite.”
Why does this suddenly feel like such a big deal? “What did you tell them about our relationship?” Or lack thereof.
One side of his mouth hitches. “Are you asking if I told them you were my girlfriend?”
A shiver dances down my spine as I jerk my head into a nod. Two years ago, I would have been thrilled to be introduced to his family as such. Now...
That’s no longer the case.
A soft puff of air escapes from his lips. “I told them you were an old friend from high school. Can’t go wrong with the truth, right?”
I suppose not.
His hand drifts from my face to my fingers which lay twisted together in my lap. He squeezes them as if to reassure me that everything will be okay. I’m trying really hard to believe that it will. “You ready to do this?”
Nope.
“I think so.”
“It’ll be fine. Just a couple hours, and then we’ll head back to campus.”
With that, Colton reaches into the back seat and grabs hold of a large bouquet of wildflowers he picked up from the florist, and then we exit the vehicle. As Colton rounds the hood, he extends his hand for me to take hold of. I hesitate for a heartbeat, unsure what to do. This feels like so much more than what he’s claiming it is. As much as I want to keep my heart protected against him, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult.