Page 106 of Colt

A violent rush of heat works its way up my neck and into my face. I let out a threadbare laugh. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“You got a big heart, Colton. It’s your job to share it.” There’s a funny gleam in his brown eyes. “Maybe if you stop resisting change so much, you’ll get the change you need. The kind that makes your life better, not harder. It’s already happening.”

A tear slips down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away with my knuckle. “Maybe.”

“So you and Lainey.”

I blink. “What?”

“I thought you came here to talk about Lainey.”

“We are talking about Lainey.”

“Are y’all…”

“What?” I feel like an idiot parrot repeating myself like this, but if Dad’s getting at what I think he’s getting at—shit.

“Do you know?” I blurt.

Dad’s face creases in a small smile. “Know what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me.” The pieces start to come together in my head. “Did you—don’t tell me you hired her because you felt sorry for me and thought we’d hit it off?”

Dad laughs. “I hired Lainey because I heard she was the best in the business. I like that she’s young and in the know about all this social media stuff.” He wags his fingers. “Do I like her for you too? Of course I do. But that was never the reason I brought her here.”

Best to just say it, then. “I’m taking her out. Friday. The Rattler.”

“To hang with all those degenerates and drunks?” Dad curls his lip. “You know how I feel about the Rattler.”

Laughing, I straighten. “You gotta stop saying that shit around Dean. And don’t worry, I’m taking her to dinner first. Sally’s band is playing at the Rattler, though, and it’s always a good time when there’s live music there.”

“If you say so,” Dad says with yet another sigh. “I’m sure y’all will have a nice time.”

My chest twists. “You’re not worried about me mixing business and pleasure?”

“You’re making big changes, son. You’re in therapy. And you’re smart. You may be, ahem, not exactly easy to deal with sometimes. But you’re a good man through and through. Something happens, we’ll deal with it.” He meets my gaze again. “Because we’re all in this together, yeah? We have yet to lose an employee because they’ve had a bad experience working here. We’ll make sure Lainey leaves with a smile too.”

I’ll leave her with a smile all right.

But there it is: put plainly, the fact that she is leaving. I need to keep sight of that.

I also need to have some fucking fun.

“You don’t need me to tell you that the world ain’t gonna end if you’re a little, er, irresponsible this weekend, right?” Dad asks.

I arch a brow. “Are you giving me permission⁠—”

“Don’t wanna know.” Dad holds up his fingers. “Just know we’ve got you covered.”

Goddamn it, more tears. I don’t wipe them away this time, though.

Instead I reach for Dad and pull him into a bear hug.

“This felt good.” I pat his back. “Can we talk like this more often?”

“Keep doing that, then. Whatever feels good.” Dad squeezes my harder. “And of course. Love you, son.”

“Love you, Dad.”