Dallas
Colt comes charging over the cattle grid with a deranged look in his eyes. His stance is tense – he looks like Dad. Laboured footfalls echo through the shed as he storms past the tractor and into my line of vision.
“I fucked up,” he tells me.
My brows crease as I rack my brain to think of what he could possibly be talking about. Knowing Colt, it could be literally fucking anything.
“Explain?”
“I think I might have done somethingreeeallystupid.”
“Not helpful.”
“Well, last night, I drove Ella into town for the stock show. It was going fine until her fucking ex showed up with his stupid friends.”
“Fucks sake, Colson. What have you done?”
“Nothing. They started it.”
“Started what, exactly?”
Colt’s eyes narrow on the boots in my hand, and I watch him immediately check out of the conversation. “What the hell are you doing?”he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Are those A.B.’s?”
“Fuck off.”
“Dallas, are youpolishingher boots?”
“I said fuck off.”
“Man, you’ve got it bad! Have you told her yet?” I scowl at my brother in a warning, one that he seemingly ignores. “Just fucking grow a pair and tell her you love her.” It’s my turn to ignore him now as I continue to polish Annabeth’s boots. I smirk to myself, hearing her laugh in my head, seeing her smile at me. I haven’t seen Colt since the picnic last weekend, so he has no idea we’ve…
I shake my head, needing a distraction from my own catastrophic thoughts. My gaze meets Colt’s again, and in my best dad voice, I ask, “Colson. What. Did. You. Do?”
“Fine, be like that. Imayhaveaccidentallygot carried away.”
“Helpful.”
“Okay, fuck.” I watch as he takes off his hat, runs a hand through his hair, and put his hat right back on his head. “I was sitting at the bar with Ella, and they all came strutting in with their stupid leather jackets and their stupid hats. Just waltzed on in like they fuckingownthe joint, and slidriiightup next to my girl.”
“Your girl?” I ask, cocking a brow.
“Fuck off. Do you want to hear the story or not?” I nod, signalling to my brother to continue.
“Ella pretty much told him to get lost, and reminded them whose bar they were in. But this wise ass just kept fuckingtalkingto her. I tried to keep my cool, but that guy just knows how to piss me off. He slid a drink down the bar to Ella, and that’s when I snapped.” Colt shakes his head, the looming threat of what he’s done lingering in theair. “I pulled him away from her and dragged him out into the street.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. But don’t worry, It gets worse.” Colt runs a shaky hand through his hair again, trying to smile through whatever the fuck he’s trying to tell me.
“Colson, what happened?” I shout, my voice booming through the shed.
“I’m fucked. I’m so fucked. I’m going todie, Dallas.”
“You’re not going to die, calm down.”
