Page 100 of Hero's Prize

And there was strike three against him. “I am the biggest asshole on the planet.”

“Today, I’m afraid you don’t get much argument from me.”

Colton couldn’t blame his friend.

“I need to talk to her. I went by her house last night, but she wasn’t there. And today, like the self-obsessed jerk I am, I went rock climbing rather than figure out that I should be groveling at her feet. I wonder where she is right now.”

“She’s not at Fancy Pants. I went by there an hour or so ago. Lilah said she wasn’t at home either. Maybe she just needs a minute to cool off.”

“I need to see her. To explain how stupid I was.”

“I think it’s gonna take a lot more than that. Better prepare to grovel.”

Colton scrubbed a hand down his face again. “I’ll do whatever it takes. No matter what.”

“Holy shit,” Bear laughed. “You’re in love with her.”

“Hell yes, I’m in love with her. There’s not even one piece of me that’s ashamed to admit that.”

Bear leaned back against the booth seat, looking smug. “Maybe telling her that is the first step in getting back into her good graces. And here’s the good thing about Ella O’Conner…the woman is as softhearted and kind as they come. Wouldn’t know how to carry a grudge if someone put it in a backpack and tried to slip it on her shoulders. She will forgive you.”

“She has to, Bear. I can’t live without her.”

“Then that’s the line I would start with.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

It was almost dark when Colton pulled up to his cabin at Linear Tactical. He sat in his truck, staring blankly ahead. Ever since leaving the Eagle’s Nest a few hours ago, he’d been driving around everywhere trying to find Ella.

Evidently Ella didn’t want to be found.

He’d gone everywhere. Her house multiple times. Fancy Pants Bakery multiple times. Even to each of her friends’ houses.

He’d started with Eva here on the Linear Tactical property. She’d answered the door, Theo standing protectively just behind her. They both still had that newly married glow to their faces.

They’d invited him in, but he hadn’t wanted to lose any time in his search for Ella. Eva had heard about the cruel social media posts against Ella, but Ella hadn’t told her what Colton had done.

Because Ella was good and kind. Because she knew it would hurt her friends to know he’d done something like that. Because for whatever reason, she was still nice even after he’d been an asshole.

Colton did not provide himself the same consideration Ella had afforded him. He spelled out exactly what he’d done and why he was looking for her.

Eva had been mad and told him he better make it up to Ella. When he’d gone over to Becky and Derek’s house next and repeatedhis transgressions to them, Becky had pretty much responded the same way Eva had. They wanted him to make it up to their sweet friend.

He planned to.

When he got to Lilah’s cabin and told her what he’d done, she’d been much more direct than Ella’s other girlfriends.

“You will make this right, jackass. And I’ll see you in the ring tomorrow.”

With that, she slammed the door in his face. Knowing Lilah, she probably shut the door to keep from drop-kicking him right then and there.

He had no doubt the woman could do it. In some ways, he wished she would have. He deserved it.

He looked down at his phone when it buzzed. A text from Bear.

Any luck?

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