“We don’t know that. And it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
“You’re right. But it did. And we can’t change that.”
Finally, he rose to his feet and looked at his friend. “I should have checked the equipment that morning.”
“You can’t do everything yourself. It’s why we employ other people. Our only crime is that we trusted the wrong person.”
“What if we trust the wrong person again?” Because Rhett had to be the person responsible. They’d done the check on Cass, and there were no red flags. Buck wouldn’t have done this to himself.
“It could happen.” Colt lifted a shoulder. “But what are we supposed to do? Not trust anyone?”
Yeah, that was exactly the way Noah was leaning. “Can I ask you something?” It wasn’t on the topic of the park, but the question had been in his head every damn second of every day since that appointment with Toby.
“Anything.”
“Do you think it’s fair to Addie to start a relationship with her after what happened to me?”
Colt frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“My therapist thinks I should do more work on myself first. And I keep going back and forth on whether he’s right. On one hand, she helps me. And fuck, I care about her so much. But there have been a couple of times where…” He stopped, his heart suddenly thumping violently in his chest at the memories.
“Where what?” his friend asked quietly.
“I almost hurt her during flashbacks. I thought I was back in the military. The first time, I put my fingers around her throat. At the bar, I shoved her. Then the first night she stayed at my place, I was having a nightmare, and I just jumped up and grabbed her. She didn’t even touch me.”
A rustling noise sounded near the trees, and Noah and Colt shot their heads up as Jules stepped out.
The older woman cringed. “Sorry. I, uh, was just looking for a photo of mine. I lost it. I think the wind blew it out of my van into the forest. Have you seen anything?”
Noah shook his head. “I haven’t, sorry, Jules.”
“Me neither,” Colt said.
“That’s okay. Thanks.” Jules gave them a tight smile before walking away.
“Can I tell you what I think?” Colt said, once it was just the two of them again.
“You probably will anyway.”
“When you’re with her, you’re more relaxed than you are with anyone else.”
“Yeah, she’s good forme. But am I good forher?”
Colt lifted a shoulder. “That’s her choice. It sounds like you haven’t scared her away just yet. Maybe she can handle you.”
Handle him…like he was a weight. A burden. Colt hadn’t meant it like that, but it didn’t make the thought any less real.
His phone vibrated with a text.
Addie: Don’t kill me, but I was going crazy at home so I decided to pop into work for a bit. Just got here. But don’t worry, I’ll lock the doors.
“Dammit.”
Colt stepped closer. “What?”
“Addie just got here.”
“Why?”
