Thirty and Single.

Chapter 30.

I finally got home. My heels clicked softly against the wooden floor as I shut the door behind me, the silence inside greeting me like an old friend. The day had been long, draining and haunted.

I dropped my bag, untied my hair, and peeled off the thin cardigan clinging to my skin. I was just about to change into something warm and comfortable when I heard it.

A knock.

At first, I ignored it, thinking maybe it was a delivery. But it came again, firmer this time.

I rushed to the door and pulled it open.

Thinking of the devil.

Colton.

He looked like sin in denim, hair slightly tousled, eyes dark and intense. He had filled out more broader shoulders, a sharper jawline, and a confidence I didn't recognize.

"Hi," he said, voice low and unsure.

"Hello," I replied coolly. "What are you doing here?"

He shifted on his feet, then looked me dead in the eye. "Can we talk?"

I folded my arms across my chest, my heartbeat accelerating. "After two years, now you want to talk?"

"Genesis, I—"

Genesis. Not Green. That stung in ways I didn't expect.

He took a step toward me, but I instinctively backed away.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I left without a word because I was falling apart. I needed help. Real help."

"Are you... better?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded. "Yes. No more nightmares. No more panic attacks. I sleep through the night now."

He looked good—too good. The haunted circles under his eyes were gone. He carried himself like a man who had climbed out of hell and built himself a new kingdom. I hated how much I still wanted to touch him.

"And you couldn't say something? Not once in two years?" I asked, holding his gaze.

"I didn't want to raise your hopes," he said. "Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever come back to Hillwood."

"So... what brought you back?"

He hesitated. "You remember Nina?"

Of course I did. His ex.

"Yes," I replied, coldly.

"Well, her parents offered me their family business. They used to work closely with Larson, so now I'm overseeing everything."

I nodded, emotion curling in my chest like smoke. "I thought you came back for me."

He paused. "I wanted to see you too."

I gave him a brittle smile, the kind that hurt more than crying. "Well. Congratulations."

"How have you been?" he asked softly. He reached out and brushed his fingers against my cheek, and just like that, I was burning. That familiar heat bloomed under my skin.

"I've been fine," I lied.

He studied me for a long moment. "You and Larson?"

I blushed, instinctively lowering my gaze. "It's not serious."

I don't know why I said it, maybe I wanted to give him hope, or maybe I wanted to torture myself.

He leaned in closer, his breath brushing my lips. The next thing I knew, we were kissing. Softly. Tentatively. Then deeper, hungrier. He pressed me against the door, and before I could catch my breath, we stumbled into my bedroom.