Namely Stone’s.

“I get that.” A long, weary sigh escapes him. “But other people’s expectations are their problem…not yours.” His eyes meet mine. “You don’t have to live up to what anyone else wants you to be, Bianca. Your life is your path.”

God, he makes it sound so simple…so effortless.

“That’s good advice,” I tell him. “You’re pretty smart.”

He laughs, but there’s no humor. “Trust me, baby girl. I’m not. I’ve just made a lot of mistakes.”

He’s so young yet it seems like he’s lived a thousand lifetimes.

And carried the weight of each and every one of them on his shoulders.

“Oakley?”

“Yeah?”

I draw in a breath, hoping like hell he’ll change his mind about us. “Can we—”

“No.”

His answer is clipped…resolute.

Frustration rises up my throat. “Why not?”

Nothing. Not even so much as a demand that I go away.

“Whatever,” I mutter as I hike my purse up my shoulder. “I’m not gonna stand here and beg someone to be my friend—”

My breath catches when he braces his arms on either side of my head, caging me in.

His voice comes out in a harsh rasp that matches the anger swirling in his blue orbs. “You know I almost killed you, right?”

I swallow hard as I peer up at him. “Yeah.”

It’s all I can manage because it’s a struggle to think when he’s this close. My breath comes out choppy as the air around us grows heavy.

Evidently, he feels whatever’s brewing between us too because his eyes darken as his gaze roams over every inch of my face, soaking me in. “Then why the fuck do you want me in your life?”

The truth pours out of me.

“Because I feel something when I’m with you. Something I can’t explain.”

Something that makes no sense.

All I know is the heavy feeling of dread in my chest goes away whenever he’s near.

A shiver breaks free when he drags the tip of his thumb along the scar on my neck. However, it’s the sheer pain filling his eyes that has my heart twisting like someone lodged a dagger into it.

“You should go back inside.” Mere inches from mine now, his face tenses. “With your fiancé.”

It’s like being submerged in a vat of ice water.

“Right.” I duck under his arm. “Have a good night.”

My hand is on the knob when I blurt out, “Unit one, room 206.”

“What’s that?”

“My dorm room.”

A sharp, irritated noise leaves him. “I’m not changing my mind.”

Undeterred, I hold his stare. “And I won’t change mine.”

Because for reasons I can’t explain…

I need him in my life.

Chapter 20

Bianca

Past…

I mutter a curse when the windshield wipers turn on. “Shit.”

I try to turn them off, but that only makes the convertible roof slide up. “Dammit.”

“What are you doing?”

My head snaps up at the sound of Oakley’s rough, melodic voice.

It’s been almost a week since that night and we’ve barely spoken a word to each other.

He’s also moved back into the guesthouse, so there’s that.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

The lopsided grin plastered on his face makes my insides swoop. “Well, it looks like you’re attempting to drive, but—” Peeking inside my car, he gestures to the button next to my steering wheel. “You’re still in accessory mode…you need to put your foot on the brake and press the button to turn the ignition on.”

He makes it sound so simple.

He also makes me feel like an idiot because I don’t know the first thing about driving.

It just seemed like such a shame to let a nice car rot away in the driveway, so I decided to pay it a little visit today.

“I knew that,” I insist, trying to hide my embarrassment. “I just didn’t turn the ignition on because I’m never going to drive this thing.”

Ever.

His brows furrow. “Right.” He starts to walk away but pauses. “If you ever change your mind and want to take it for a spin, let me know and I’ll go with.”

Dammit. He can’t put a proposition like that on the table and expect me to turn it down.

It’s like offering a starving person a six-course meal.

“For real?” I utter before I can stop myself.

That lopsided grin is back again. “Yeah.”

My heart dips when he walks away for a second time.

“Oakley?”

He freezes. “What’s up?”

“I didn’t turn the ignition on because I have no idea what I’m doing.”

For a moment I think he’s going to laugh or make fun of me like my brothers would, but he doesn’t.

He ambles back to the car. “Move over.”

Needless to say, I’m confused.

“Why?” I question as I scoot to the passenger side.

He opens the driver’s side door. “Because I’m teaching you how to drive.”

I should protest and refuse. Remind him that the reason I’m never going to drive is because watching my mother die was the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life and I’m forever paralyzed by anxiety.

But I can’t.

Because the thought of spending alone time with Oakley, even just for a little while…is worth trying to conquer my fear.

My heart is pounding a mile a minute and my palms are so sweaty I can barely grip the steering wheel without them slipping.

“I can’t do this.”

This was a horrible idea.

“Yes, you can,” Oakley assures me. “Take your foot off the brake.”

“What if I hit something?”

He looks around the empty parking lot.

Oakley suggested we come to Ocean Falls—the same place as my cliff incident—since it’s a privately-owned beach and usually empty.

Turns out he was right, but it does little to ease my dread.

“The only thing you could possibly hit is sand and water, baby girl.” He holds my gaze. “But you won’t…because you got this.”

I don’t feel like I got this…not even a little.

However, I hate appearing weak, especially in front of him.

“Okay, but if I fuck this up—”

He squeezes my shoulder, sending a bolt of heat rushing through my shaky limbs. “You won’t.”

My heart folds in on itself. The way he’s looking at me—as if he actually believes I’m capable of doing this is…

Everything.

Heart in my throat, I take my foot off the brake and switch it to the gas pedal.

“That’s it.”

Oakley gives me one of his gorgeous smiles. I’m so distracted by the deep dimple peeking out of his right cheek, I almost crash into a trash can.

However, Oakley’s still grinning, not looking the slightest bit worried about my near fumble. “Give it a little more gas.”