**Chapter 72**

ELLIE'S POV

We got reckless.

It started with small things — Cole staying ten minutes longer than he should, my hand lingering on his belt when Nathan was only upstairs, the two of us kissing in the garage when the risk of the door opening was too real. Every close call left me wetter than the last. Fear and want had started tasting the same in my mouth. The more dangerous it became, the harder it was to stop. I told myself I would be careful. I told myself the next time would be the last time we pushed it. I was lying to myself with increasing ease....