Thirty and Single.

Chapter 24.

The night we spent together at Colton's house was nothing short of magical. He made me feel cherished, beautiful, and truly wanted. As I drifted into a deep, contented sleep, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't known in a long time.

But that tranquility was shattered by sudden, anguished screams.

I jolted awake, heart pounding, to find Colton thrashing beside me, his body drenched in sweat. His face contorted in pain, and he seemed trapped in a nightmare.

"Colton! Colton! Wake up!" I cried, shaking him gently.

His eyes snapped open, wide with terror, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He gasped for air, as if surfacing from a deep, dark ocean. When his gaze met mine, I saw a profound sadness and fear that broke my heart.

Without hesitation, I pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's alright. I'm here with you," I whispered, holding him close as he sobbed into my shoulder.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms. Eventually, I asked softly, "Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head, a silent 'no'.

I understood. Some wounds are too deep, too raw to be spoken of. I hoped that, in time, he would feel safe enough to share his pain.

"Please stay with me," he murmured before drifting back to sleep.

I nestled against him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and soon, sleep claimed me once more.

The next morning, the enticing aroma of bacon wafted into the bedroom, coaxing me awake. I reached out, but Colton was no longer beside me.

I slipped out of bed, pulling on one of his shirts, which hung loosely on me, and padded to the kitchen.

There he was, standing shirtless at the stove, cooking breakfast while soft music played in the background. The morning light highlighted the contours of his back, and I couldn't help but notice a large, jagged scar on his shoulder.

I cleared my throat, and he turned to face me, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Good morning, Green," he greeted.

"Hey, Colton. Mmm, it smells amazing in here," I replied, taking a seat at the kitchen island.

"I'm trying to make breakfast. Hope you're hungry."

A few minutes later, he placed a plate in front of me, piled high with crispy bacon, golden toast, and fluffy scrambled eggs. He poured us both glasses of orange juice and joined me at the table.

I took a bite and moaned appreciatively. "This is really good, Colton."

He chuckled. "I'm glad you like it."

My eyes drifted back to the scar on his shoulder. It was prominent and looked painful.

"Uh, sorry to ask, but what happened to your shoulder?" I inquired gently.

He hesitated, the light in his eyes dimming slightly.

"I got into a terrible accident," he said quietly.

"Colton, I'm so sorry," I said, reaching out to touch his hand.

He offered a weak smile. "It's alright."

I never imagined I'd be sitting here, sharing breakfast with Colton in his home. The thought made me smile.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"It's nothing," I replied, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"It doesn't seem like nothing. Green, you know you can talk to me about anything."

I looked into his eyes, feeling a surge of affection. "It's just that I never thought one day I'd be having breakfast with you in your house."

He didn't respond immediately, but his smile deepened. "Finish up your breakfast."

After we ate, I stood to wash my plate, but Colton stopped me.

"You don't have to do that. Just relax."

"I was thinking of heading home to shower and change," I said.

He looked at me, almost pleading. "Please don't go. You can use my shower and wear some of my clothes. It's Saturday, and we're not going anywhere."

I agreed, touched by his desire to have me stay.

In the bathroom, I used his shampoo, the scent enveloping me in a comforting embrace. After drying off, I found a T-shirt and shorts laid out on the bed. I slipped them on; the shirt was oversized, but I felt cozy and content.

When I entered the living room, Colton was working on his laptop. He looked up and smiled.

"I like you in my clothes," he said, making me blush.

I sat beside him. "What are you working on?"

"Just finishing up some work for Quinn," he replied.

While he focused on his task, I checked my phone and found several messages from Brooklyn, asking about my weekend plans. I told her about the date with Colton, and she was thrilled for me.

"Hey, I'm almost done with work," Colton said suddenly.

"It's okay. Take your time," I assured him.

A few minutes later, he closed his laptop and turned to me. Without a word, he leaned in and kissed me.

The kiss was intense, passionate, and left me breathless. It felt like diving off a cliff into a cool lake—exhilarating and invigorating.

When we finally pulled apart, we stared into each other's eyes, the connection between us stronger than ever.