Sandy brings out a bag of food and places it in Colt’s large hands. “Here you go, sugar. An avocado chicken burger with jalapenos and sweet potato fries. I put a little of Oliver's special dipping sauce in there for you to try.”
“Thank you so much,” he says, his sweetness in his smile.
Turning to us, he gives us a little wave. “It was nice seeing you outside of the ranch, Joaquin. And, Ofelia, it was a delight to meet you.”
He makes his way out of the restaurant, and I sit back down, waiting.
“So. That's Colt,” she says, her grin sharp.
“Yeah. That's Colt.”
“You are damn lucky I’m in a monogamous relationship right now, my friend. Damn lucky.”
“Because he is amazing, right?”
“He's got freckles, Joaquin. Did you see the freckles? And the pretty eyes?”
“He and Warwick are in a battle for domination of my brain. Of course, I’ve seen them.”
“And you’ve slept with him, right?”
I nod. “Once with Warwick and more recently just the two of us.”
She smacks my arm, laughing again. “Escandalo!”Scandalous.
“Dangerous, more like it.”
“What's this thing with his family? He seemed a little sad.”
I rub my chest. “His sister is struggling with sobriety, and he goes every Sunday to visit her.”
“That’s very supportive of him.”
I nod. “It is. But he comes back from those visits looking so sad. I hate that he goes alone. I would happily join him, but I’m not sure it’s my place to offer.”
“Why not?”
“For one, Luke already offered, and Colt turned him down. And then, of course, there are all of our othercomplications. But I can’t stand that he’s handling this on his own.”
“Then don’t let him handle it on his own. Show up. People don’t always know how to ask for what they need.”
“I don't know. I want to—” I pause, biting my lip. “It sounds stupid in my head, but it makes sense in my heart.”
“Then you must tell me.”
“They are both hurting for different reasons, but I know I can help them. And I don’t want to have to choose.”
“And how do you think Colt feels?”
“He's the one who brought up the topic of metamours last night.”
“And Warwick?”
“Scared shitless of the idea.”
“It’s interesting. You’re hurting too, you know? You’re hurting without them,” she observes.
Wiping a stray tear, I nod, almost relieved to share the truth of it.
