Lost In A Daydream

Chapter Eighteen

Colton ordered Mexican food as per Victoria’s choice and this charming side to him took her breath away. He told her tales from his childhood with his mom while they enjoyed the mouthwatering food. From his talks, Victoria had the feeling that he missed his mom more than he showed. She also realized another fact from their conversation. Colton Glenn wasn’t a devil but just a lonely man! 

“I discontinued my studies when my mom passed away,” he said with a shrug. 

“Don’t you think she would feel sad seeing you waste your life? This time is for completing your studies, Colton. She wanted you to study, didn’t she?” asked Victoria and Colton nodded.

“I had to leave college and join the business after dad’s death. Still I was continuing with my studies online but after mom died, I have no one to study for,” said Colton. 

“Study for yourself now, Colton. Think of it as your mom’s wish,” said Victoria. Colton turned to look at her. “I’m studying to pursue my dream of being a lawyer one day,” she told him.  

“You want to be a lawyer?” asked Colton with appreciation and Victoria nodded at him. “Will you be ashamed of me after you become a lawyer?” Asked Colton with a strange expression on his face. Victoria gaped at him. Why would she be ashamed of him out of all the people in the world? They weren’t related in any way and neither were they friends! 

“I meant maybe you won’t recognize me. You would be a successful lawyer and I’ll remain an illiterate casino owner, “ he shrugged but his eyes searched hers, as if looking for an answer. Victoria rolled her eyes at him.

“What do you want to hear, Colton? I might be a lawyer but you’re a billionaire businessman. Why don’t you start studying if you’re so concerned about this?” asked Victoria with a laugh. 

“For whom will I study? I have no one to call my own,” continued Colton with a smile. Victoria rolled her eyes at him.

“Please, stop begging for sympathy. The role doesn’t fit you,” said Victoria, suppressing a smile. Colton chuckled. 

“I’m hurt. I’m trying so hard, can’t you just say that you’ll be mine?” he said, suddenly turning serious and looking deep into her eyes. 

“I can’t. I believe in true love, Colton. The day I truly love someone, I’ll give myself up to him,” said Victoria. Colton sighed, looking far away.

“That means I don’t stand a chance with you in this life,” he said, almost to himself. Victoria looked at him. There was a look of sadness and longing in his tone, a catch in his voice. 

“I didn’t say that,” said Victoria. 

“Indirectly you did. We both started on the wrong footing, Victoria. I know that you don’t like me and never will. I’m a bad influence on you. I’m everything you actually hate in a man,” he said quietly, picking up his fork and resuming to eat. Victoria didn’t know what to say to that. It was the truth actually but despite everything, he was the only one who made her heart skip a beat.

“Are you giving up? Then accept that you lost the  bet,” she said with a smile. Colton turned to look at her. Was she still stuck with the bet? He had stopped the moment she ran away from his house that night after he had kissed her. He had realized that night that he would never get anywhere near her. He had understood that she hated him. But he wouldn’t accept it in front of her. He wouldn’t accept his failure ever.

“No, why should I give up? Have you given up?” he asked her.

“Never,” lied Victoria. She knew that she was on the verge of falling for him but she wouldn’t ever accept that in front of him.

“Good because this date was another effort to make you fall for me and I can see that I’m winning,” chuckled Colton. He didn’t want her to guess his true feelings for her at all. Victoria gaped at him. The devil! So all this time, he was trying to make her fall for him?

“You’re wrong again. I was in turn trying to make you fall for me. I can see that it’s actually me who’s winning, “ said Victoria with a toss of her hair. Colton laughed. It served him right. He was excited and aroused by all the sass. After dinner, they strolled on the Strip. Victoria didn’t let him hold her hand and it riled up Colton. 

“Why can’t we hold hands?” Asked Colton with displeasure, trying to grasp her hands. But Victoria moved away just in time. 

“We aren’t couples nor are we friends. So why should we hold hands, Colton?” asked Victoria with a grin. 

“Are you scared that you’d fall for me?” asked Colton with a smile.

“Who falls just by holding hands?” she asked with an eye roll. 

“Anything can happen when you’re with someone as charming as me,” he said, making Victoria laugh. Victoria still didn’t give him her hand so he just captured it and caged it within his night ones. “Better now, “ he stated with a grin. Victoria didn’t struggle, his warm touch made her heart skip a beat or two. So at last they walked together holding hands like couples along the Strip. 

“I’ll need to return to Reno soon,” sighed Colton. Victoria felt a stab of pain at his announcement “Will you miss me, Victoria?” he asked quietly. Victoria was at a loss for words. Should she tell him that she would miss him terribly?

“Maybe, “ she said softly. 

“I think you won’t,” he said with conviction. He was quiet and brooding after that and Victoria didn’t have any clue what went wrong with his charming self. However he still didn’t release his iron-like hold of her hand. Victoria found his reaction strange. It was almost as if he had feelings for her but she knew that it was all an act. He was still trying to charm her to fall for him. Or was it real? She was too confused by the man beside her. It seemed as if she would never be able to fathom him. 

“I think we should go home. Do you want me to drop you to your home?” asked Colton all of a sudden. Victoria was startled by his question. Did he get tired of her so soon? Maybe he had other plans for the night. Maybe he was disappointed by her?

“I thought you wanted me to stay with you for two days,” she reminded him, feeling a little disappointed by the question. Colton stared at her without wavering an eyelid. 

“I don’t want to force you to stay. You’re free to go if you want to, “ said Colton, leading her towards his car. Of course he wanted her to stay but he didn’t want to force her to stay with him. He wanted to see whether she really wanted to stay with him or not. He wanted to test her. He had forgotten about the bet actually but since Victoria reminded him, he couldn’t understand whether she was still trying to make him fall for her or not. He had stopped trying long back. It wasn’t working and making her go farther away from him. Today however, he realized one thing. With her high ambitions and high principles, she would never like someone like him. She was like a forbidden fruit for him, someone whom he could see but never touch or taste. His heart constricted with pain with the realization. For the first time he felt vulnerable and unhappy over a girl. 

“A promise is a promise, Colton. I’m not a coward. I told you that I’ll stay for two days with you. So I’ll stay,” said Victoria. Colton smiled and held the passenger door open for her. She climbed inside and strapped on the seat belt. He closed her door and walked over to the driver’s side. 

“I’m glad that you’re staying with me,” he said softly, staring at her with longing. He was glad that she wanted to stay even though for the wrong reasons. In a few days he would have to return to Reno and had no idea when he would be able to meet her again. 

“I’m true to my promise,” said Victoria. 

“Of course,” said Colton. Much as he would have loved to have tease her, he didn’t, in case it urged her to change her mind and go home. He would make memories to last him a lifetime in these two days. 

“But I’ll sleep in my room, on my bed,” she added all of a sudden, getting Colton out of his thoughts and instantly on high alert. He chuckled and started the ignition. Of course she would but what about him? He could sleep in her room, on her bed too, right?