But Colt’s heart is enormous and anything he does, he does big.
Like hiring me a bodyguard without asking.
Funny, I might know another man like that too.
Except Tom’s silence speaks louder than words ever could. Because he listens and he remembers and I’ve never truly had that.
“When can I see you?”
“After the gala. I have that tomorrow. Tom thinks they’ll be able to finally get to the bottom of everything.”
“I wish I could be there. I wish I couldhelp.”
“You’ve done plenty, Colt. But maybe we could do a pizza party after this.”
There was a time when Colt and I would each order a couple of pizzas and spread them out on the counter, eat till we werestuffed, and then divvy up the leftovers between us. It was our thing—just the two of us.
Life was simpler then.
“Pizza party, huh? Man, I’ve missed having those. All right, Kat, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
45
TOM
Exhaustion clings to me, my body stressed more because Kat is sleeping down the hall instead of in my arms. One night shouldn’t make a difference, but it means everything now that I know what she feels like draped over me like she can’t get close enough.
I’ve just shut the light off as I shift in the guest bed when a text message pops up on my screen.
KAT: You bought me a dress
TOM: She wasn’t supposed to tell you that
Exhaling heavily,I lie back on the stack of pillows, unsurprised but annoyed that Emerson told her already.
KAT: You just stood there when I said I had to go hunting through my closet
TOM: I wanted it to be a surprise
KAT: What does it look like?
TOM: She didn’t tell you?
KAT: No, she said that part was a surprise
TOM: It’s a surprise
KAT: How do you know it’ll fit?
TOM: Trust me, Kitten, it’ll fit
KAT: Mr. Oakden are you flirting with me?
I wasn’t.
I was going to sleep.
But now, I’m wide fucking awake.
