"Whatever." He turns away, jaw clenched. "Doesn't matter. I'm still going to Jason's house. I'm still going to finish what Boone started."
"You'll ruin everything," I say flatly. "The ranch is finally getting back on its feet. Sierra invested. We have a real shot at making this work. You get arrested for assault and that all goes away."
"I don't give a shit about—"
"Yes, you do. You give a shit about Frank's legacy. You give a shit about your brothers. You give a shit about keeping your promises." I step closer, lowering my voice. "And you give a shit about Nikky, which means not doing something stupid that'll make her feel responsible for destroying everything we've built."
That lands. I see it hit him, see the fight drain out of his shoulders.
"Fuck," he mutters. "Fuck fuck FUCK."
Nicole moves to his side and puts a hand on his arm. "I'm okay. Really. I promise. Boone got there in time and Jason is never coming near me again. It's over."
"It's not over. Not for me." But his voice has lost its edge. "I should've been there. I should've been the one who—"
"You were exactly where you're supposed to be on Friday nights," she interrupts. "Getting drunk with your friends. Living your life. You can't protect me 24/7, Colt. That's not fair to either of us."
"I could try."
"And you'd drive us both crazy." She squeezes his arm. "I'm fine. I swear. Now go home, shower, drink some water, and stop being ridiculous."
He looks at her for a long moment, then pulls her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"Nothing to be sorry for."
"I love you, you know. You're my person."
"I know. I love you too."
They hold each other, and I look away because the intimacy feels private. Because seeing them together reminds me that Nicole is Colt's best friend first. That she was in his life years before I started seeing her as anything other than the girl who hung out in our basement. That I have no right to want her when she clearly means so much to my brother.
When they finally separate, Colt's eyes are suspiciously wet. He wipes them roughly and turns to me.
"Thanks," he mutters. "For getting there. For protecting her. For not letting me do something stupid just now."
"That's what brothers are for."
"Yeah." He glances between us. "Why is she wearing your clothes?"
Fuck.
"She stayed here last night," I say. "Didn't want to be alone. Guest room. Her clothes were dirty, so I lent her something to sleep in."
"Guest room," Colt repeats slowly. "Right."
"Right," Nicole confirms quickly. Too quickly. "Boone was a perfect gentleman. Nothing happened."
"I wasn't suggesting anything happened." But his eyes linger on her, on my flannel hanging off her shoulder, on my sweatpants rolled at her waist, on the way my clothes swallow her curves. "Just seems... cozy."
"It's not cozy. It's practical." I cross my arms. "Would you rather I made her sleep in her dirty clothes? Or sent her home alone after a traumatic experience?"
"No. Of course not." He runs a hand through his hair again. "I'm just... surprised she called you and not me."
"Because you were drunk," I repeat. "That's all there is to it."
"Right." But he doesn't sound convinced. He looks at Nicole again, studies her face like he's searching for something. "You sure you're okay?"
"Positive." Nicole sets down her coffee cup. "I should go change. Get out of these borrowed clothes." She glances at me briefly before heading down the hallway. "Thanks again, Boone."
