Page 35 of Never Stop
We are mere feet away from their booth as I look down at my feet while walking; the nerves are taking over when I hear Izzy say, "HOLY HELL!" in a soft voice but loud enough for everyone nearby to hear and whip their heads around to look up at us.
My eyes quickly shoot up to search for whatever has stunned her. The panic in her voice has my stomach in knots. That's when it happens. He turns toward us with an expression that looks just as mortified as I can imagine my own.
Anderson Anthony Cole.
Bear is Ander. Ander is Bear.
What the actual hell?
Chapter fourteen
Ander
Six years.
It's beensixfucking yearsof complete radio silence, and now, she's here in front of me. Damn, she looks even more beautiful than I remember. How is that even possible? I look her over, completely stunned.
I didn't want to come on this date. This isn't my thing. Now, I don't even know what to think.
By the look on Via's face and judging by Izzy's outburst when they spotted me with Maverick, they were both just as surprised as I was. Before I can process what's happening, Via excuses herself and takes off. Izzy runs behind her.
I narrow my gaze to Maverick before dropping my head with a sigh.
Clearly confused, Maverick finally breaks the silence, which he's really good at doing.
"So, I take it you and Via know each other?" His tone tries to add humor but now isn't the time. My mind keeps going over the look on her perfect face.
It was clear. Seeing me pained her. How couldn't it? I'm a reminder of the worst night of her life—the night she lost everything and her entire world changed.
Damn, if she only knows what seeing her does to me. Not only is she more beautiful than ever, but before she saw me, she looked so happy.
I find peace in that, but it kills me that seeingmehurts her. I would have given anything to change that and be with her. I'd be lying if I said my anger wasn't brewing beneath the surface.
"Yeah, man, we did."
"Wait," he interrupts himself with a gasp, clearly trying to piece everything together.
"Are you the guy? The beach house guy? That's the only guy Via or Izzy have ever told me about that Via has dated or had any feelings towards. Don't tell me—"
"Yeah, I'm the fucking guy. I told you I didn't want to come on a damn date, but the last thing I expected was this shit."
"Holy fuck!" He shouts a little too loud, causing some looks to get thrown our way.
"Dude, what are the odds!" Now Maverick is the one laughing uncomfortably.
My eyes shoot up to meet his, and I know my glare says precisely what I'm thinking; 'no shit.'
I shake my head and run my hands up and down my face, still trying to wrap my mind around what happened.
"Look, man, I guess thanks for trying, but I'm gonna go," I say, trying not to sound as bummed out and pissed off as I feel.
The one that 'got away,' that I had to force myself to come to terms with and that I'd never see again, literally just stormed back into my thoughts as if my pathetic attempts at impossibly forgetting her the first time weren't hard enough.
Before I can start to pity myself, I need to get the fuck out of here.
I made her a promise that was stupid as hell, and I never wanted to make it. She forced my hand, as she so often did, and I don't break my promises—not to her.
"Bear, Via is a hard nut to crack; she probably just needs a minute,"
