Page 109 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

It was only four times, but who was counting?

“It was shitty, okay? What she said. If she weren’t your mother I’d have—”

She sighed, biting back words better left unsaid.

“You’d have what?”

She shook her head. “You don’t talk about someone’s mother unless you’re ready to throw hands.”

“Throw hands?” Colin laughed. “Things get real nasty over in Laurelhurst?”

Truly fished her keys from her back pocket, not sure if Mom and Dad had locked the back door. “That’s, like, a universal cross-class truism and you know it.”

No sooner had she stepped inside, did she trip over a—a suitcase? What the hell was that doing there?

She sidestepped the luggage, leaving the door open for Colin. “Mom? Dad?”

“Buttercup, hi.” Dad poked his head out of the kitchen. “And Colin, too.” He grinned and stepped around the island. “It’s good to see you again, kid. And look! In your own pants this time.”

Colin gripped the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly. “Good to see you, too.”

“Dad, what’s your suitcase doing out here? I almost took myself out on it.”

He winced. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting you home for at least another hour.”

“Colin’s one of those gross morning people.”

Colin laughed. “Guilty.”

“The suitcase, Dad?” she prompted.

Dad hesitated and her stomach plummeted.

Colin cleared his throat. “I’m going to step out for a minute and check in with Caitie. I think I might’ve missed a call from her.”

Bullshit, she wanted to call, just like she wanted to reach for his hand and ask him to stay.

She held her tongue and stayed her hand, staring at Dad, who watched them with a soft, nearly forlorn expression.

Colin’s hand ghosted over her back and his lips pressed a kiss atop her head.

With that, he slipped out the back door.

“I like him,” Dad mused. “He seems like a good kid. And he makes you smile. You were so serious when you were dating Justin.”

“I like him, too. A lot.” She crossed her arms. “But that doesn’t mean you get to change the subject.”

Dad rubbed his brow. “Truly, your mother decided to cut the trip short. She’s already on her way back home.”

Those fluffy, perfect pancakes Colin had made for her turned to lead in her gut.

“What? No. I know she was upset, but—but last night was good. You two were getting along. We had fun.”

“It was a great night,” Dad agreed, and if she wasn’t totally mistaken, he sounded wistful.

“But?”

“But you tricked us, Truly. And while I can see the humor in it all and even appreciate your... ingenuity, your mother’s a bit of a tougher sell. You didn’t get your stubbornness from me, after all.”

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