Chapter 31: Alyssa

On wooden legs, I force myself to the table and awkwardly take a seat on the chair. My fingers fidget restlessly in my lap. Colton returns with two glasses of red wine before offering me one.

Once I have mine in hand, he raises his glass and offers a toast. "To new beginnings."

Another burst of nerves explode inside me. With stiff lips, I echo the sentiment and raise the glass to my mouth before gulping down at least half the contents. If this behavior continues, I will never make it through the night.

If he notices my unease, he refrains from commenting. Instead, he returns to the kitchen and brings out a colorful looking salad filled with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons before doling out our servings. There's a bottle of Italian dressing already on the table. I pour just enough to give the greens taste. Normally, I try to eat carefully. What I've discovered over the years is that there is no way to hide a few extra pounds in a skintight leotard.

As much as I hate