You lucky bastard.
“Yup. Meeting some friends.”
“The girls from Lucky River Ranch, right?”
Seriously, how many times am I going to roll my eyes today? “Can y’all mind your own damn business for a single second of your lives?”
He smiles. “I’m glad you’re hangin’ with those gals. Should be a good time—wish I could make it, but Dean’s got a sleepover at our house.”
Wrong that I feel relieved Colt will be at home tonight? He hasn’t mentioned Ryder at all over the past week, which makes me think Ryder didn’t tell my brother about what went down between us. Not like there’s anything particularly juicy to tell. But for a hot minute there, I was worried Ryder might tell Colt that I confessed to having feelings for him.
Colt would likely rip me a new one if he knew.What the hell is wrong with you? Out of all the dudes on this planet, you gotta fall for the guy who’s never put his head on the same pillow twice? He’s only gonna hurt you.
My brother wouldn’t be wrong. Ryder takes girls home, but as far as I know, he’s never dated anyone. Who am I to think he’d break his rules for me?
I think we’re also all walking on eggshells around Colt when it comes to things like loyalty and honesty. His wife, God rest her soul, was unfaithful, and that betrayal cut Colt deep. I’d hate for him to think that I betrayed him too.
I was just trying not to betraymyself, so I told a really great guy how I felt about him.
“You’ll be missed,” I say.
“Nah, you won’t miss me. But thanks for saying that anyway. Be safe.” He pecks me on the cheek, and my stomach clenches for an entirely different reason. “And be good.”
See? My family can be great when they wanna be. Seriously, what’s wrong with me that I can’t seem to remember that fact when I’m at work or when I’m around Ryder Rivers?
“You know I’m not gonna be good,” I reply, my throat tightening up again.
Colt laughs. “Yeah, I know that, Billie. Can’t hurt to say it, though. We’ve all noticed how you’re feeling blue. Hope this gets you back to bein’ your old self again. I miss you.”
“Aw. That’s actually very kind of you to say.”
“You surprised I’m kind? ’Causethatain’t very kind at all.”
My turn to laugh. “Just…Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve you. And other times, I wonder what crime I committed in a past lifetodeserve you and your pain-in-the-assness.”
“Guilty. Since I am such a pain in the ass, can I ask what’s been goin’ on with you?” He squints against the ardent late afternoon sun. “Mom and Dad are worried.”
Now Ireallyfeel like an asshole.
“I won’t say anything to them,” Colt continues. “But I’m worried too.”
I choose my words carefully. “The bookkeeping—I’m not sure I’m cut out for it.”
“You tell them that?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.”
Colt sighs and runs a hand down his face. He looks so much like Dad when he does it that my pulse skips a beat.
“I can tell you aren’t cut out for it either,” he finally replies.
That makes my pulse skip another beat. “Thank you. Hearing that makes me feel like I’m not losing my mind or just, you know, being lazy.”
“You’re not lazy. But you gotta advocate for yourself, Billie. If your vision for the future doesn’t align with Mom and Dad’s, speak up now before it’s too late.”
