“None of you are sober enough to drive,” Colt muttered, pulling out his phone. He pressed a button and then, “Get over here. Bring reinforcements.”
Colt hung up and then stepped further into the room until he was close enough for me to touch him.
“Are you mad they’re here? Are you really upset I’m kind of inebriated?”
His gaze softened. “No, I’m not mad they’re here. I’m glad they like you.”
It’s what I read between the lines that fascinated me—that he was happy they liked me because it meant I could fit in with his life, long term.
It was there for the taking. All I had to do was reach out and press my lips to Colt’s and nestle myself in the crook of his body. I kept shooting him sidewise glances as the girls trickled out of the house when their men came for them. Joni hitched a ride with Darcy and Gray. The front door closed and Colt and I were alone.
“My house is a mess,” he stated.
I looked around the living room, noting the empty margarita glasses, the crust-filled plates, and empty pizza boxes.
“Youaremad.”
“Yeah, I’m mad.” He grinned. “Mad that you didn’t save me any pizza.”
I laughed. “Who says I didn’t save you any pizza?”
“Did you?”
“No.”
He peered at me for a long moment. “You had fun? With the girls?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It was…enlightening.”
“Enlightening. Did it change anything for you?” When I didn’t reply, Colt said, “Leave it. It can be cleaned up tomorrow.”
He walked past me up the stairs to disappear into his bedroom. I looked after him, wondering why there was an ache in my chest, wondering why I felt like I’d made a mistake by not being honest with him.
I headed up to my bedroom, lonelier than I’d felt before.
Chapter 10
By the timeI woke up late the next morning with a slight hangover, Colt was gone. Cheese sat on the porch in his customary chair and I waved at him through the front window. The remains of my impromptu party littered the living room. While I sipped on a cup of coffee, I cleaned up. As I threw the last of the empty pizza boxes into the garbage, my cell phone vibrated. I followed the sound of it, wondering where I’d left it the previous evening. It wasn’t like I had tons of people trying to get in touch with me. Finding it between the couch cushions, I fished it out and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Get dressed,” Joni commanded.
“Um…”
“We’re going to the clubhouse for a barbecue. So nothing fancy. Jeans will work.”
“But I—Colt—”
“You’re getting sprung, chicken. Everyone wants to meet you.”
“Everyone? Everyone who?”
“The club.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Yeah, so we’re having a potluck, grilling out. The kids will be there, so it’s just family. Nothing crazy. Promise.”