We Fall Like Ashes | Wildfire Series

Thirty-Six: The B-Word

Actually, I knew the reason. Julian was being a moody asshole lately, so they were steering clear. So I supposed if there was anyone I could take my anger out on, it was OSU's football captain.

"I have to go back to Mammoth Mountain this weekend, baby girl."

And then there was that. I had to head out of town on Friday morning—tomorrow—which meant my time to rectify things was running short.

Collins whipped around, turning away from the easel in the corner of her room where she was touching up the picture she had painted on our date night. She seemed to be celebrating nearly making it through the first week of classes by neglecting homework, which I didn't blame her for one bit.

School was very...bleh.

It was a very articulate opinion on the subject, and I stood by it.

"What?" There was a little bit of orange paint on the side of her face, which made me smile despite the wrecked expression on the rest of it.

"I have another competition."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I do." I weaved around her bed to stand beside her, leaning down to press a kiss on her lips. I meant to be quick, but Collins deepened it needily.

It felt like a reminder.

I'm working on it, baby girl. Okay?

After taking what she wanted, Collins broke the kiss. There was a slight hesitation in her movements, though. In the way she tucked hair behind her ear and bit down on her lip.

"Can I—can I come with?"

Nothing would make me happier than to have Collins join me in the mountains again. First off, I wanted her with me because I always wanted her with me. But also because I didn't like leaving her here alone, not with fucking Phoenix lurking around her life.

But there was one problem.

"You can, but my parents will be there, too."

Collins nibbled on her lip, thinking. That wasn't the problem, though. I'd love for Collins to meet my parents, even if some people might say it was a little early in our relationship, considering we'd been dating for less than a week. Who the fuck cared what other people might say, though.

No, the problem was that Cato might be there this weekend. I'd mentioned it to him when he was there around Christmas, and yesterday he texted me to ask if that was still on the schedule.

Did I want Collins to meet my parents? Yes, yes, I did. Did I want her to meet my twin brother? No, no, I did not. Especially when it might result in a family showdown between him and my mom.

"You should spend that time with your parents," Collins decided, turning back around to focus on her painting.

"You know my mom really wants to meet you," I said softly, brushing her hair out of her face when the strand she'd tucked fell back over her forehead again.

"She knows...about me?"

"She knows about you, sweetheart. Remember the presents?"

"How could I forget the presents? That's not what I meant."

"What do you mean?"

"I meant like about us," she said, a bit shy in the way she said it.

Us. I really liked that there was an us.

"Not yet, but I'm looking forward to telling her. She'll credit herself, of course. For encouraging me to come back over break."

And honestly, Mama Martin would deserve that credit. Pushed me out the damn door, she did.