“Down his throat, actually. That’s what you said earlier,” I correct him with a grin.
“You heard her. Down your throat.”
Jeremy turns ghostly pale, takes a few steps back, and casts his eyes to the floor.
Deborah giggles nervously. “Well, can I sit with you?”
Now Colt does look at her. “Deborah, I don’t understand how you are this stupid and not realize when people don’t like you. No, you can’t sit with us. Not now, not ever. You are nothing but a stuck-up bitch, latching on to every guy who gives you a sliver of attention. So do us all a favor and get lost before I throw up the burger and ruin this date.”
I’ve never liked Deborah, but I can’t help feeling sorry for her. She turns her head away like she is about to start crying and doesn’t want anyone to see. “Let’s go, Jeremy.” She takes him by the hand and pulls him out of the restaurant.
I should be happy that Colt stood up for me, that he sent them off while also making it clear we’re dating. I should be giddy that Deborah got some of her own medicine, but instead, I’m reminded of how Colt can be.
The past few weeks have been so nice. He has been kind to me, even loving, and so attentive. I almost forgot this side of Colt. Just like his dad, he has two versions of himself, and though I’m glad I’m on his “good side” now, knowing that he could change his mind about me any day has my stomach in knots.
Dread pools in my stomach. My mind is so hazy with fear I barely notice the server coming to clear our plates and bring us the check. Colt throws a few twenty-dollar bills on the table.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He slides out of his seat and comes to stand beside me. “Let’s go home. You look a little pale—”
“What if you change your mind again?” Still sitting in my spot, I look up at him, waiting on his answer.
“What?” He looks confused. “What are you talking about?” He sits back down, but this time, he takes the seat next to me.
“Seeing you talk to them like that reminded me of how you used to talk to me.”
“I told you, I let that hate go. It’ll never be like that again between us.”
“But how can I be sure? How can I admit to loving you if I always have that fear?”
His concerned frown turns into a triumphant smile. “You love me?”
Shit.
“That’s not the point.” I try to play it off, but of course, Colt has no intention of letting it go.
“Well, it should be because that’s all that matters. I love you, and you love me. Why should we let the past get in the way of us being together now?”
“Because I’m scared that our past will be our future. I can’t go through that again, not after everything that’s happened. If you turned your back on me now, I don’t think I would survive it.” That’s it. I’m putting everything on the table. My darkest fear, my deepest thoughts. We had to go through hell to get here, but now we’ve made it. We came out on the other side together.
“It won’t be. I just know it, and if I have to, I’ll spend the next twenty years proving it to you. I love you, Leni. I want to be with you, and I won’t ever do anything to hurt you again. I swear.”
“I love you too.” The words have barely left my mouth when Colt’s lips are on mine. He buries his hand in my hair, pulling me closer into the searing kiss.
He holds my heart in his hand, and now it’s up to him to keep it safe.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER.
“Are you ready for this?” I take Colt’s hand and find it damp with sweat. It’s not difficult to imagine why he’s feeling this way. It’s been years since he last saw his mother in person, and she’s still comatose. There’s a good chance she always will be, thanks to how badly James beat her all those years ago.
But she’s alive and here in a hospital only a few minutes from his apartment. It took a lot of work, a lot of phone calls, and arrangements, but he managed to get her moved from the hospital in Florida, where James had stashed her.
He takes a deep, shaky breath. “She won’t even know I’m here. It doesn’t really matter.”
“It matters a lot. And you never know. They say people in comas can hear what goes on around them.” I mean, I’ve heard it before. I don’t know if it applies in this situation, but I can’t let him keep feeling this way without at least trying to help.
“Let’s do this.” He blows out a long sigh before leading me into the hospital room, holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers in the other hand. Lilies. It was important to him that she had her favorite flowers.