Rich was working.
Foster was missing.
I pulled my phone off the charger and called the last person I wanted to talk to.
Colton.
“Did you change your mind?” he answered.
“Good morning, Colton.” I sighed. “Did I change my mind about what?”
“Forcing Kevin to come to Cherry Creek.”
“I’m not forcing him to do anything.”
“For once.”
“You don’t even know what you’re talking about.” I wanted to smother myself with a pillow. Literally anything besides having this conversation.
“Sure, Ronan,” he sassed. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I asked Kevin to marry me,” I said, even though that had nothing to do with why I was calling.
“I know.”
His short answer had me worrying that he was going to try and talk Kevin out of it, and I was thankful I’d given him the ring before he’d left.
“I’m not forcing him to go,” I repeated, choosing my next words carefully, “but it was important to me that he do it. And that’s why he agreed. I just want you to do what you can to make his time pleasant.”
Colton answered me with silence, then the call disconnected.
I flopped back on the bed, tossing my phone onto Kevin’s empty pillow, the shape of his head still dented into the white cotton. As soon as it landed, it started to vibrate. I grabbed it and found Rich’s name on the screen.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” I answered.
“Yeah, but I decided to take the day off and see if you wanted to spend some time together.”
I glared up at the ceiling.
“That seems random, Rich.”
“Did you want to get lunch?” he asked. “Get out of the house a bit.”
“I take it back. This isn’t random at all. It’s contrived. Did Kevin put you up to this?” I asked.
“He suggested you might need someone to entertain you.”
“I’m an adult,” I reminded him.
“And you’re a dominant, and you’ve just sent your partner away even though it’s not what either of you want.”
“I hate you,” I grumbled.
“I know.” Rich gave me a sympathetic laugh. “Do you want to come over here or do you want to meet me somewhere?”
“It’s too early for lunch.”
“It’s not too early for a Bloody Mary.”
