“But I’m lovable.” He grins. “Right?”
I fight a smile. “Cocky too.”
“Hey, cocky isn’t all bad.”
“No, it’s not.” I keep twirling my finger around my red ponytail. “I’ll think about the bonfire.”
“Skylar!” Ben’s calling for me.
I wave to him, and he waves back.
“I’ll see you later, Colton,” I say as I turn to go meet my brothers.
Chapter Fifteen
Colton
And she’s gone. I watch her two brothers flank her, one on each side, and I smile. They’re so protective of their little sister, and I love that they look out for her. I hope she’ll come with them to the bonfire tonight. Or else I’m going to have to get creative.
When I walk into the motor coach my parents rented for our trip, all I can hear is my father’s hacking cough. It always hits me in the gut.
But I hear something else, too, a familiar low voice.
“Declan?” I say as I come face to face with my oldest cousin sitting at the table with my parents.
He stands to greet me. “Hey, Colt. How are you?”
“Great,” I say as I hug him. “What are you doing in Colorado?”
Declan’s gray eyes cloud over. “I wanted to see your dad.”
The Wild family is tight. Not all of us—Dad’s got one brother who disappears for months at a time—but for the most part, we all keep in touch. Declan is Cam’s older brother, and he’s a professional hockey player. Hockey was always his dream, and he made it. To Dylan and me, he’s kind of like an icon—a Wild who really made it to the highest level athletically. And he didn’t just make it—he’s a big-time star.
Because he’s so much older, he’s never been around too much. But, he and my dad got to know each other when Declan would come visit in Montana during the summers, and they always had a bond.
I walk further into the RV and kneel down next to my dad where he’s sitting on the couch.
“How are you doing?” I ask him in a low voice. “You look tired.”
“Hanging in there. I had a good morning, walking with you and Mom. This afternoon’s been a little rough, but I’m not complaining.”
“Maybe we can all go out for another walk tomorrow,” I say in a tone that sounds fake and forced. I hate that I’m talking to him like this, like I’m pretending nothing unusual is going on.
“Maybe so. How was the game?” Dad asks me, a twinkle in his eye despite his obvious physical discomfort.
“We won.” I grin at him. “You wouldn’t expect anything less, would you?”
Dad gives me a thumbs-up. “That’s my boy. As long as you enjoyed yourself, too.”
“I did.”
“You’re flushed, Coltie.” Mom comes over and feels my forehead as I stand up. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” I don’t mention Sky, although part of me wants to. “I had a good time today. I’m probably just a little sunburned.”
She gives me a second look. “Maybe. You do seem especially happy.”
That’s because I met a girl. And I can’t stop thinking about her.
