"I should probably change first," she continues. "Into my actual clothes. These are comfortable but—"
The front door slams open.
We both jump. Coffee sloshes over the rim of my cup.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?" Colt's voice booms through the cottage, loud enough to wake the dead. "I'M GONNA KILL HIM! I'M GONNA FUCKING MURDER HIM!"
Shit.
My little brother storms into the kitchen, and he looks like hell. His hair is sticking up in every direction, his eyes are bloodshot, and he's clearly still half-drunk from whatever he did last night. But there's murder in his eyes.
"Colt—" I start.
"Don't." He cuts me off, pointing at me with a shaking hand. "Don't tell me to calm down. Don't tell me it's handled. I got six texts this morning from people at that party. Six! Saying Jason tried to—" His voice cracks. "Saying he tried to force himself on Nikky."
Nicole sets down her coffee cup. "Colt, I'm fine."
"You're FINE?" He whirls on her. "You locked yourself in a bathroom because some piece of shit wouldn't take no for an answer, and you're FINE?"
"Boone got there in time. Nothing happened."
"Nothing—" Colt's face goes red. "He TRIED. That's enough. I'm going to his house right now and I'm going to beat him so badly his own mother won't recognize him."
"No, you're not." I set down my own cup and step between them. "You're not doing anything stupid that'll land you in jail."
"Get out of my way, Boone."
"No."
"I SAID GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
"And I said no." I plant my feet. "You're not thinking straight. You're hungover and pissed off and I get it, but you're not going anywhere near Jason."
"The fuck I'm not! He hurt Nikky!"
"He TRIED to hurt her," I correct. "And I already handled it."
Colt's eyes narrow. "What do you mean you handled it?"
"I mean I knocked him the fuck out. Broke his nose. Slammed him against a wall and made it very clear what happens if he ever comes near her again."
My brother stares at me. Then at Nicole. Then back at me.
"You... you knocked him out?"
"Cold. He dropped like a sack of shit."
"And you didn't call me?" The hurt in his voice is unmistakable. "She's my best friend and you didn't fucking call me?"
"It was Friday’s night," Nicole says. "I knew you were at the Saloon. I knew you couldn't drive. Boone was the better option."
"So, you called my brother instead of me."
"I called someone I knew could help immediately. Don't make this weird."
"It IS weird!" He runs both hands through his hair. "You're MY friend, Nikky. I'm supposed to protect you. Not him."
"Colt—"
