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Remi covered her face with her hands, embarrassment creeping over her yet again. A breeze blew and it made her shiver, her clothes still wet. “I told you I didn’t want to say it.”
“Okay, okay. No judgement. Keep going. Why did you agree to marry him?”
She rolled over onto her side so she could see Colton better. “I think I just wanted to please everyone. People kept telling me how cute we were together. And how we were perfect for each other. And I liked Tavon, I really did. I didn’t want to break up with him.”
“So, you said yes.”
She nodded, emotion swelling in her chest. “It was stupid. I shouldn’t have said yes. I should have just told him he was a nice friend, but I didn’t feel that way about him. Because what happened was way worse than if I had simply said no.”
“What happened?”
“You know.” She broke his gaze. “The whole wedding fiasco.”
“Tell me about it.” He placed a hand on hers and warmth enveloped her as a current skittered over her skin. He was making it very hard for her to concentrate on the conversation.
“I was apprehensive about the wedding, but everyone kept saying that was normal. I was just nervous. I had cold feet. I shook off the foreboding feelings and marched forward, all the while wondering why I was having such a hard time. It was how life went. You got married, had kids, then you were happy, right?” She blinked back the moisture gathering behind her eyelids. “But I couldn’t stop wondering why I wasn’t happy right now.”
Colton squeezed her hand. A silent reassurance that she could go on.
“And then the day of the wedding came. I put on the dress. I got my hair done. And as my father walked me down the aisle, I started to feel this growing panic, like I was making the biggest mistake of my life. And I couldn’t stop thinking about—” Remi froze, cutting off her words. Oh, no. She couldn’t finish that sentence.
“You couldn’t stop thinking about what?”
You, Colton.
There was no way she could tell him that. Her mind screamed at her to think of something else to say. Anything other than the truth. But she was not any good at lying, so of course, nothing came to mind. She stared up at the stars and listened to the waves.
“Remi?” He nudged her. “Don’t stop now. You’ve got me hanging on every word.”
She decided to play dumb. “Huh? Oh, sorry. I forgot what I was saying. Anyway, I ran out of the wedding, leaving poor Tavon to deal with everyone. And that was such a jerk move on my part.”
“Hold it. You were going to say something, and then you just stopped. And don’t pretend that you forgot. I know you too well. Tell me what made you run from your wedding.” He reached over and gently ran his fingers down the side of her face.
Goosebumps erupted over her skin. Every nerve ending stood at attention. His touch was electrifying. Even his breath on her cheek sent waves of butterflies through her. This is what he did to her. And this is what she couldn’t stop thinking about on her wedding day.Hewas the reason she couldn’t marry Tavon. And she would never tell him this. Not in a million years.
“I…” she started, trying desperately to think of something to say. In the end, she just blurted out, “I ran because of someone else.”
His eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Someone else? Like, someone you talked to?”
She shook her head. “No. Someone I have feelings for,” she whispered, then immediately regretted it. Why did she blurt that out? Her heart pounded so loud she was sure he heard it.
Colton froze, his fingers still touching the side of her face. He didn’t even seem to breathe for a few seconds. He just stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face. “I see,” he finally said after time had seemed to stretch out too long.
Oh, no. He didn’t see. He couldn’t see. She wasn’t going to confess to him that he was the one. Last time she tried to confess things got all messed up. She embarrassed herself in front of him. She was not going down that road again. Just thinking about that day made heat flush through her. She needed to change the subject. “But never mind that. It’s not important. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Liz and I have a breakfast together, but I should be free after that. Do you want to go check out the caves with me? There’s a beach not too far away that has them, and it was on my list to do while I was here.”
“Ooh, caves sound like fun.”
“Perfect. We can get you some sandals. You’ll want them. And wear your swimsuit because you swim to get to the caves.”
A swimsuit? Was it too embarrassing to admit she didn’t bring one? She hadn’t planned on getting in the water, much less wearing a swimsuit in front of Colton. Now she was suddenly self-conscious. “Uh…”
“Wait, you brought a swimsuit, right?” Colton chuckled, as if he knew the answer without her having to say anything. “All right, we’ll get you one of those as well.”
She grinned, glad he wasn’t making a big deal out of it. “You’re too good to me.”
Colton wore an expression she couldn’t quite read in the darkness. He slowly leaned toward her until his lips pressed gently onto the tip of her nose, then he pulled her to him and she melted into his embrace. “I’m sorry things went the way they did with Tavon.”
