If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I would be stuck in a car with Nate for four long hours, I would have laughed and called them crazy. Turns out it's not so crazy, because here I am, sitting in the passenger seat of Nate's car on my way to Vegas with him. And if anyone is to blame for all of this, it's Gracie. Insert a long internal heavy sigh here.

She all but forced me to come with Nate when I talked to her over the phone a few days ago. I tried to fight her on it and offered to fly out to Vegas by myself when she told me there wasn't any room in Jared's SUV or any of the other rental cars the bridal party was taking to Vegas, but she wouldn't hear of it and insisted I go with Nate. She even went as far as saying that he would be more than happy to do it.

Lies.

I don't know who she was trying to convince that night we talked over the phone, but she was so wrong. Nate looked anything but happy when he picked me up from my place earlier and I don't blame him. I mean, who wants to drive their ex to Vegas? I sure as hell wouldn't and would be pissed if I was him too. Unfortunately, I'm not him and am in a very awkward position, because while he has every right to be pissed, I just have to sit here quietly and just be thankful that he's even taking me to begin with. I'm guessing Gracie blackmailed him or something to get him to agree because no one in their right mind would ever willingly agree to this.

If it were up to me, I would have backed out the day I found out I would be riding with Nate to Vegas, but I couldn't because my room was already booked and had been for weeks. That's not what was really holding me back though. I could easily cancel my room if I wanted. It was my promise to Gracie and Nate that held me back from bailing.

I had promised them both that I would come to Vegas to celebrate Gracie and Jared's joint bachelor and bachelorette party, and a promise is a promise, so I just had to suck it up and go with Nate. Even if it killed us both.

I look at the clock on the dashboard and see that we are one hour into the drive and Nate still hasn't said a word to me. Not one. Unless you count the text he sent me earlier to let me know he was outside my apartment waiting for me, which literally just said, outside. That was it.

He was clearly upset and I'm not the least bit surprised. Not after the way we ended things the last time we saw each other at Gracie and Jared's party. Scratch that. The word saw doesn't even begin to cover what went down between us. We had a really hot and heavy makeout session in Gracie's bathroom that led to a really bad fallout between us, but I don't regret one word of what I said that day.

Nate needs to understand that if he wants to be with me, he has to value me and our relationship. I'm not going to be with someone who questions whether what he have is worth it, and I refuse to stand around and wait while he figures it out. That's just a waste of my time and his.

I need someone who will not only value me as a person but who will also accept me as I am, and right now I'm not sure Nate is that person.

I pull out my headphones from my small backpack I'm using in place of a purse and plug them into my phone before placing them over my ears. I see Nate turn in my direction from the corner of my eye, but I don't bother paying him any attention and scroll through my phone until I find the audiobook Mia bought me for the long ride.

I have no idea what to expect when I download the audiobook to my phone besides what Mia told me in between fangirling over the book. She told me it's some romance novel that has a really hot alpha male and some very steamy scenes that according to her will leave me blushing. I honestly have a hard time believing it after all the romance novels I've read but who knows, maybe she's right. I'm excited to give it a listen.

I start the book, lean back in my seat and close my eyes as I focus on the voice of the male narrator that is very deep and sexy.

I zone out and get so lost in the story, I nearly jump out of my seat when my headphones are unplugged from my phone. I push them back off my head and turn to see that Nate is looking at me with an annoyed expression on his face.

"We're here," he informs me, finally speaking to me for the first time since we left home. I look around and realize that by 'here' he means we're in Vegas.

"That was fast," I say in surprise. I usually pay attention to all my surroundings when I go to Vegas, but today I didn't even see when we passed the borderline. I guess I have the audiobook to thank for that. It kept me occupied.

Mia was definitely right about the romance audiobook she gave me. I'll have to thank her again when I get back. It's honestly so good, I completely got lost in it.

I look down at my phone and realize that the audiobook is still playing somehow and it's playing out loud over my speaker! And what is it playing? A freaking sex scene of all things!

I feel my face go red and try to turn off the audiobook with my clumsy fingers, but instead of stopping the book, I end up dropping my phone.

Fuck my life.

I pick it up off the floor and finally manage to stop it. I sigh in relief when it shuts off and stupidly hope that Nate didn't hear a single word.

I look up and get my answer. His face says it all. He heard everything! I don't even need to ask. I close my eyes and let my head fall back against the headrest with a sigh. I hear him chuckle and roll my head to the side and see that he's smirking.

Bastard.

How can my luck possibly be this shitty? First, I get stuck riding with Nate and now he not only knows I read romance novels, but he also heard one very steamy snippet of one too.

We arrive at the hotel a few minutes later and check in with our luggage in tow. I go in thinking that today can't possibly get worse and curse my shitty luck when we are forced to take an elevator by ourselves.

What are a few more minutes with him? Unbearable. That's what they are.

Nate presses the button for our floor and the elevator doors close in front of us. We stand in absolute silence as it slowly travels upward and let me just say, it's awkward as hell, but I don't make any attempt to break the tension. I simply watch the numbers on the small LCD display above the doors change as we go up one floor after another.

We get closer and closer to our floor and when it finally stops on our floor I feel a sense of relief. I anxiously wait for the doors to open but when a minute passes and the doors don't open, I start to panic.

I press the button used to manually open the doors but nothing happens. I press it again and still nothing.

"What the fuck is going on?" I mutter aloud. Nate steps to my side and moves my hand. He presses the button a few times and when nothing happens, I close my eyes and start to take deep breaths.

"This is not happening. This is not happening," I whisper to myself as I feel myself teetering on the edge of a panic attack.

"Alexa, everything's going to be okay," he tells me, finally saying more than two words to me.

"No, it's not," I respond, freaking out.

"Relax," he tells me and grabs me by my arms. "We're going to be okay. Just let me call for help."

I nod and watch him as he goes over to the control panel and presses the button for emergencies like this. Moments later I hear someone talk over the small speaker and sigh in relief. The person asks Nate a few questions and he answers each one calmly, while I'm over here freaking out. When the person on the other end has no more questions for Nate, they tell him that help is on its way and that it could take a couple of hours for them to get us out.

When I hear that last part, I feel my legs give out and fall to my knees where I'm standing. I force my legs out of under me and sit down with my knees pressed against my chest. I feel a wave of nausea hit me and lay my head between my knees.

I feel Nate approach me but don't bother looking up. "Are you claustrophobic?" He asks me concerned.

"No. I don't know. I think I'm not but I'm honestly not sure. I just don't like the idea of being trapped in an elevator. The thought alone is making me feel sick to my stomach. I feel really nauseous. My ears are ringing and I'm sweating profusely."

I feel him touch my cheek and close my eyes as his warm hand presses against my cheek. "You're cold to the touch. I think you're going into shock, Alexa"

"Oh, god."

"Relax. You're going to be okay," he reassures me and sits down in front of me with his legs open, leaving me sitting between his legs.

I slowly lift my head from my knees and see that he's within touching distance. As happy as that makes me, I regret moving instantly, because the second I move, I feel my stomach turn. "I don't feel so good."

"I can tell. You're pale as hell," he tells me and wipes away the sweat from my forehead. "Maybe you should take off your hoodie. It's getting hot in here and that's only going to make you feel worse."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not wearing a shirt underneath," I admit embarrassed.

"Who cares? Take it off and put this on." He takes his T-shirt off his back and hands it to me.

"But what about you?" I ask him, taking in his naked torso. Any other time, I would have loved to take it all in, but right now I feel too sick to admire his gorgeous body.

"I'll be fine. Now put it on." I take his shirt gratefully but hesitate to change in front of him. I know he's technically seen most of me since I practically stripped for him the night he gave me a ride home from the club, but that doesn't make me any more comfortable.

"Would you mind closing your eyes?" I ask him and he nods. He covers his eyes with his hands and I take the moment to pull my hoodie over my head and slip into his T-shirt. "You can open them now."

He lowers his hands from his face and wipes away the new beads of sweat on my forehead. "You should keep your forehead down until your nausea subsides," he suggests and I lay my head on my knees but don't hide my face this time. Instead, I rest my cheek on my knees and look at him.

"Did you ever think this would happen to us?"

"Nope. This is one very unwelcome surprise."

"Why? Because you're trapped in an elevator with me of all people?"

"What? No. It has nothing to do with you. I just don't like the idea of being trapped in a confined space either. I'm pretty sure no one does."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"That has nothing to do with us being stuck in an elevator, but if you really want to know then yeah, I am mad at you. I'm fucking pissed at you, to be honest. Why wouldn't I be after the way you walked out on me?" he says bluntly and I'm not surprised.

"You deserved it," I respond honestly.

"Maybe but you should have stayed so we could talk it out, not walk away like you did."

"I did it to protect my heart. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I did what I had to do for me."

"And look where it has gotten us. Nowhere."

"I know that Nate but I don't regret what I did."

"Good to know," he responds angrily.

"I don't need this from you right now, Nate. I feel like complete shit. Even worse than the day after the club. Do you remember that day?" I ask him and see the fight immediately drain out of him. His features soften and I feel myself relax.

"How could I forget? I remember it just like I remember when you stripped for me. Too bad you don't remember that," he says with a smug smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Let's not talk about that," I plead, not wanting to remember the mortifying thing I did. "Let's talk about something else."

"Like the audiobook you were listening to earlier?" he mentions with a smirk.

"Oh, god," I say embarrassed and cover my face with my hands. "I really wish you hadn't heard that," I mutter and he laughs, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I love hearing him laugh like he used to when things were good between us.

"It was interesting. I never would have taken you for someone who loves cowboy romances. Is that a fantasy of yours?"

"Nate!" I screech taken aback by his question and he just shrugs like it's no big deal.

"What? I'm just curious," he says smugly.

"You're too curious for your own good."

"I know. So do you want to ride a cowboy?" he asks as if we're talking about the weather and I blush.

"Nate!"

"You don't have to answer that."

"Why do you want to know anyway? Are you going to dress up as a cowboy just for me?"

"I can be persuaded," he responds with a smug grin and I can't help but imagine him dressed as a cowboy. He would look even sexier than Scott Eastwood in The Longest Ride.

Hubba hubba.

What I wouldn't give to see him dressed as a cowboy. That would be a sight for sore eyes.

"I do have a soft spot for cowboys," I admit. "But that doesn't mean I have a sexual fantasy involving a cowboy," I inform him. "I just love a good cowboy romance novel. Nothing wrong with that."

"I'm not judging. What I heard sounded pretty hot. I wouldn't mind giving that a go," he says and I blush.

"Oh, god. Please stop. I can't believe we're having this conversation," I respond mortified.

"What's wrong with talking about it?"

"I don't know. It's just awkward because we're not dating and we're sitting here talking about sexual fantasies."

"You don't have to tell me yours if you don't want but that doesn't make me any less curious."

"What's yours?" I ask and he smirks.

"I thought you would never ask. You really want to know?"

"No! Yes," I respond, feeling conflicted and he just watches me amused. "No, I take it back," I say embarrassed. "I don't need to know that."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't mind telling you," he says and I bite my lip, feeling so torn. I notice his eyes lower to my lips and look away before I do something I regret like try to kiss him.

"Tell me," I finally whisper after going back and forth on it and turn to look at him. "What's your fantasy?" I ask with more confidence.

"You. Under me. Over me. And every way I can have you."

"Fuck me," I blurt out loud and the moment the words leave my mouth like word vomit, I gasp. "I'm sorry! I don't know why I said that out loud," I say in a hurry and covermy face with my hands in embarrassment. "Fuck my life," I mutter and hear him chuckle. "This isn't funny," I say annoyed.

"Look at me," he tells me and I adamantly shake my head.

"No."

"Alexa," he pleads sweetly but I refuse to look at him.

"Not happening."

I feel his hands wrap around my wrists and try to resist him, but he's much stronger than me. He pulls my hands away from my face and forces me to look at him and how can I not. He's so gorgeous and takes my breath away every time I see him. How a man as gorgeous as him desires me, I'll never understand.

No! No more of that non-sense, Alexa.

I'm tired of being so self-deprecating toward myself. It's time I stop.

"Alexa," I hear Nate say, pulling me out of my head.

"Yeah?"

"I would gladly fuck you," he says with a cocky smile. "But first I want to make love to you and worship every part of you."

"You do?" I ask before I can stop myself.

"Yes, but only until you're ready."

"Deal."

He cups my face between his hands and presses his lips hard to mine, taking me by surprise. I gasp into his mouth and he swallows it right along with my ability to think.

I close my eyes and give in to his demanding lips and forget all the reasons we shouldn't be doing this and just live for the moment, wishing we could go back to this. To happier times when things were good between us. I miss cuddling on the couch with him and kissing him whenever I dang please. Why did things have to go south with us?

I want him back and am tired of stolen kisses that lead us nowhere. They're great, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing like knowing he's mine and I'm his, and I'm more than ready to be his again but I don't know if he's ready to be mine again and just the thought alone hurts.

I let doubt seep in the back of my mind and pull away from him, wishing I didn't have to but we need to talk. It's time he learns about what happened between Johnny and I the morning of the day he broke up with me. I've been dreading this conversation since the day it happened but he needs to know because it's just as bad as what happened with him and that woman. Perhaps worse.

"There's...there's something I need to tell you and you're probably going to hate me for what I'm about to say, but you deserve to know."

"Alexa, whatever it is, it can wait," he tells me and tries to kiss me again but I shake my head.

"No. No, it can't. Not anymore," I say, feeling the guilt get to me. "I did something unforgivable and it has been eating at me since the day it happened," I tell him truthfully and he pulls away from me, putting distance between us.

"What are you going on about?" he asks and I can tell he's almost afraid to ask.

"I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday," I tell him and go silent, fearing the worst.

"Alexa, just spit it out already," he pleads.

"I-I cheated," I stammer and he slams his open palm against the floor of the elevator in anger. The elevator shakes from the impact and it frightens me, but I don't move because I know I deserve his wrath after what I did. I hurt Nate and it's time I face the consequences of my actions. "I'm sorry, Nate. I never meant to do it. It just happened."

"Don't give me that bullshit, not after all the shit you put me through for that one measly kiss that meant absolutely nothing to me."

"I'm sorry, okay?! I regret it so much and have to live with my choice, but I can't undo what happened. If I could, I would do it in a heartbeat."

"Who?" he asks angrily and when I don't answer him immediately he asks, "Was it with Johnny?"

I nod.

"That fucker! I'm gonna kill him!" he yells angrily and stands up to pace back and forth within the small space of the elevator.

"No, please don't hurt him. If you're going to hurt anyone, hurt me," I say pointing to my chest and stand up on shaky legs.

I feel my knees give out but Nate catches me before I can hit the floor. He moves me towards the wall and helps me hold onto the handrails of the elevator. When he sees that I'm stable, he stands back and I thank him. He just grimaces and walks to the other side of the elevator, putting as much distance between us as he can.

"I know you're mad, Nate. You have every right to be but if anyone is going to take the brunt of your anger, it's me. Please leave Johnny out of this. He wasn't thinking when he kissed me, and neither was I, but we're both just as much at fault, so if you want to hurt anyone, hurt me."

"Did you kiss him back?" he asks, coming to a stop in front of me. I watch the turmoil in his eyes and raise my gaze to his scalp where his fingers are running through his hair and pulling at the ends. "Did you?" he asks me again and I feel a lump form in my throat and lower my gaze to meet his eyes. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out, so I do the only thing I can do. I nod.