Page 11 of Only Ever Mine

I chuckled. “A little of both, maybe.”

“Alright, let’s hear it.”

I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat.

Cole was the one who’d always known what he wanted—Tori, their life together, the whole damn package.

Meanwhile, I was the guy who dodged commitment like it was a terminal disease.

“There’s this woman,” I started, immediately cringing at how cliché it sounded.

Cole laughed outright. “Of course there is. Go on.”

“She’s… different.”

“Different how?” Cole asked.

“She’s not like the others, Cole. She’s smart, driven, sharp as hell. And she’s not impressed by me—not the name, not the money, none of it.”

“Huh,” he said thoughtfully. “That explains the late-night existential crisis.”

I ignored the jab. “I can’t stop thinking about her. But the thing is, I don’t know how to approach this. She’s cautious, independent. And I don’t want to screw it up.”

Cole let out a low whistle. “Wow. You’re serious about her, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer right away. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was.

All I knew was that Scarlett Lane had turned my world upside down, and I wasn’t ready to let her go.

“I think I could be,” I admitted finally.

“Well, first of all, stop overthinking it. Women like honesty, Christian. You don’t have to have all the answers right away—just be real with her.”

“She doesn’t trust easily,” I said, my tone grim. “She’s been burned before.”

Cole’s voice softened. “Then show her she can trust you. You’re not the guy who gives up when something’s hard—don’t start now.”

It was solid advice, as usual. But one thing still nagged at me. “You really think I’m cut out for this? For something… serious?”

There was a beat of silence, and then Cole spoke, his voice steady.

“Look, I know you’ve always thought of yourself as the guy who keeps things casual. But that’s just because you’ve never found the right person. Maybe she’s it. Maybe she’s the reason you’re asking yourself these questions. Don’t let your own doubts ruin this before it starts.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his words settle over me.

“Thanks, Cole,” I said quietly.

“Anytime,” he replied. Then, with a teasing edge, he added, “Now, if you need more advice, Tori’s way better at this stuff than I am. She’s the expert on taming stubborn Valen men.”

I laughed despite myself. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

We said our goodbyes, and I hung up, staring down at the glowing city again.

Cole’s words echoed in my mind:Show her she can trust you.

It wouldn’t be easy. Scarlett wasn’t the type to fall for smooth talk or grand gestures.

But if there was one thing I knew, it was that I wasn’t about to give up.

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