Page 16 of One Little Kiss

“Good choice,” he acknowledges as he hands them over with a bottle of water.

Reaching down to grab the bag he’d placed beside him, he upends it on the table in front of us. Chips, candy bars, cookies, Pop-Tarts, and trail mix tumble out onto the table.

“Not exactly the dinner I wanted to offer you, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”

Nudging his shoulder, I attempt to lighten his mood. He’s pouting over snacks, and I’m not sure why I find it so endearing. “I was planning to have granola bars, remember? This is like a four-course meal.”

“I’m claiming a re-do. This is not what you’re going to remember as our first date.”

I choke on my water so hard it flies out of my nose. Chuckling, he holds a napkin to my face like I’m a toddler.

“Presumptuous much? We never discussed a date,” I say when I’ve semi-composed myself.

Now it’s Colton’s turn to blush, and I have the irresistible urge to run my fingers through his gorgeous, dirty blond hair. Luckily, he recovers quickly before I do something stupid.

“Are you seeing anyone, Winnie?”

He’s so blunt that he constantly catches me off guard. I don’t have time to school my expression.

“Newly single?” he guesses.

“Ah, yeah. Sort of. I moved out three days ago.”

“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking?”

Am I imagining it, or did he tense up just now?

As I try to come up with an excuse, I can’t help but replay all the information he’s given me about his family. I’ll probably never see him again, so I guess I have nothing to lose.

“I was at work and I got a notification on my phone. For the nights I watch Wes, I have a baby monitor in my living room. And it was strange because no one was supposed to be home, so I logged on thinking someone had broken into my apartment.”

This time, I feel Colton tense beside me, but he keeps his gaze neutral as he waits for me to continue.

“Ah, it wasn’t an intruder. Travis was hooking up with my best friend on the sofa. I took a screenshot, sent it to them, and moved out that afternoon.”

“Jesus. What the hell kind of friend does that?” His face is adorable even when he’s angry, I realize.

“It doesn’t matter. Both relationships were probably over a long time ago, anyway.” I shrug my shoulders, but can’t quite look at him.

“You’re very calm about all of this,” he observes.

“I’m focused on moving on.”

“But something like that has to sting.”

Sadness threatens to creep into my heart, but I force it down.

“I should have known better, Colton. There are very few people in this world who haven’t let me down in some way. It’s made me who I am, and I’m okay with that.”

The sincerity in his expression is almost enough to make me believe in a happily ever after. “I’m sorry they hurt you, Winnie. But mostly, I’m sorry you don’t have more people in your life to count on. Not everyone’s like that, you know? Someday you’ll find the people you were meant to be with. Don’t lump us all in with those who hurt you because you might miss out on the best parts of life.”

I don’t miss how he slipped himself into that sentence, and I have to wonder if he even realizes it. He doesn’t give me long to process any of it though, because once again, he’s full steam ahead and dragging me with him.

“Have you ever speed dated?”

Thankfully, I had no water in my mouth this time, or I would have repeated my less than ladylike snort. “No. I … ah, I’ve never had much time to date, and now I’m getting ready for law school.”

“Sexy and smart,” he says, clutching his chest. “Would it scare you if I told you I like that you don’t have time for dating? Well,” he scowls, “I like that you don’t have time to date anyone else. But, Winnie, we have twelve hours.”