Page 153 of Colt

“Wait, that’s actually kinda true.” Mack furrows his brows. “What we do seems a lot less…er, noble when you think about it like that.”

“Can we stop talking about balls, please?” Billie asks. “It’s getting weird.”

“You’re weird,” Nash shoots back.

Colt rolls his eyes. “Can y’all not hush for five fucking seconds so I can publicly apologize to Lainey? You guys need to hear this.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Nash clears his throat. “You’re right, we all need to witness you taking a knee. I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

“It’s happening now,” Colt replies.

It’s happening for me.

“I knew I was angry,” he continues, “and I thought I understood why. Change was always a bad thing for us—Dean and me. But your brand of change—sorry for the terrible pun—it’s different. It’s good. Really good. Your commitment to authenticity, to being who you are without reservation—I’ve never seen anything like it before. I’m not sure I knew it existed.”

“Aw.” Paige dots her eyes with her sleeve. “What a lovely thing to say, Colt.”

“Are we sure he’s not being possessed right now?” Tate peers at his older brother. “Because I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

Colt takes a sharp inhale through his nose. “If y’all would let me finish, you might get where I’m coming from.”

“Don’t you dare stop,” I blurt.

Billie raises her eyebrows. “I get the feeling that’s not the first time she’s told you that, Colt.”

“Y’all.”

“Fine, fine.” Billie holds up her hands, but she’s smiling. “Keep going.”

“As I was saying”—Colt turns back to me—“Lainey, you’re living proof that change can be a force for good. Staying the same meant I was safe, but I was also dead inside. Dead and very, very angry about it. And now I see that some things need to change to stay alive. Me included.”

My knees are literally wobbling at this point. I put a hand on the table too, hoping I don’t literally swoon at this man’s feet.

“Thank you.” It comes out as barely a whisper.

“Your work is truly incredible.” His eyes are soft when they meet mine. “I’ll be proud as hell to wear those T-shirts with that logo on ’em. I can’t wait to show people our new website. And I can’t wait to brag on you, because you deserve it.” His gaze moves to his family. “There, I said it in so many words. I was wrong. Y’all were right. I’m sorry about that.”

Dale folds his hands over his stomach. “Not gonna lie, son, feels real good to hear those words.”

I want to kiss the shit out of Colt. I want to cry some more. I want to fall into bed and sleep for the next four days.

But right now, the only thing I can do is keep working on this project.

“So that’s a yes?” I say. “I have your approval to move forward with the designs?”

“Not a yes,” Dale replies. “But a heck yes.”

“Fuck yes,” Billie adds.

“Yes,” Colt says simply.

People begin to scatter. Others, like Dale and Paige, stay awhile to chat with me about my ideas.

I walk out of the conference room with them, Colt a step behind me. Both Dale and Paige give me tight hugs, and then they grab each other’s hands and head for their house.

Colt holds open the door for me. The door. The one that witnessed everything that first day.

I walk outside, and he walks out behind me. The door closes with a whoosh.