“Tell me I’m wrong,” he said. “Tell me you’ve walked down the street from your office and picked up a salad from that bistro you like. Or maybe you went the other way through the alley? You know how you used to go over to the coffee shop and get that caramel hot chocolate? You’ve done that, right?”
“Okay,” she said. “You don’t need to be so sarcastic.”
“Sorry,” he said, his bluster falling immediately. “I just—I really think it would be healthier if you talked to someone.”
“I talk to you,” she said.
He shook his head. “No, we don’t talk about what happened.”
“We don’t need to,” Elaine said. “We were both there.”
“I was only there for the end,” Colt said, and he blew out his breath. “Your momma could help you with this.”
Elaine nodded, her teeth pressed together tightly. Everything had turned tense the moment Colt had brought up that night with Brandt.
“It’s not your fault, you know.” He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “Is that why you won’t tell anyone?”
Her bottom lip shook, and she nodded. “It’s one of the reasons.”
“That’s just ridiculous,” he said. “You work with women, some of whom have been abused. Would youevertell them that it was their fault?”
“Absolutely not,” she said.
“And what happened with you and Brandt wasnotyour fault. He’s a loser who’s used to getting whatever he wants.”
She nodded. “I know.”
He finally let several moments go by. “Tell me how to help you with this,” he said. “Because my friends have noticed that I’m acting different.”
She looked down at his hand over hers, and Colt quickly pulled it back. She followed the movement, her eyes skating up to his. “Why would you be acting different?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s just what Trap tells me, and I’m not lying to them.” A fierceness entered his expression. “If Conrad asks me why I’m at Wilde and Organic for a toothbrush, I’m going to tell him it’s for you.”
“I didn’t ask you to lie.”
“No, but you’ve put me in a situation where I feel like I have to.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. None of this is your fault, and you should get to process it however you want.”
He sighed and took off his cowboy hat, tossing it on the back of the table between them. “I’m sorry, Elaine. I don’t mean to put any pressure on you at all.”
“I just don’t know how to bring it up, you know?”
He looked at her again, and she begged God to put understanding in his heart. “How do I walk into my mother’s house and say, ‘Hey, do you want to know the real reason I broke up with Brandt?’ And then tell her. How do I do that?”
“I don’t know,” Colt whispered as he shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m really sorry.”
She sighed and looked out over the clipped lawn. A breeze rustled through the trees now, and the wildflowers bent under the power of it.
“Brandt knows I go to that coffee shop,” Elaine said. “That’s why I don’t go.”
“It’s a small town, Laney,” Colt said. “You’re gonna run into him eventually.”
“I know, but I’m not ready yet.”
Colt nodded. “All right.” He finished his Arnold Palmer and got to his feet. “And just so everything between us is really clear, you understand that I’m not upset about bringing you the toothpaste, and the dinner, and the coffee, right?”
Elaine looked up at him, finding the tiny frown between his eyebrows so adorable. “I know that, Colt.”
“Good.” He reached for his cowboy hat, and Elaine got to her feet and quickly threw herself into his arms.
