Page 16 of Entwined Hearts

I hide my reaction to this by sucking my bottom lip inside my teeth.

“My brother-in-law has done two tours in Afghanistan. I’ve tried to get him to quit the Marines, but…”

For a combat veteran, PTSD makes total sense. But I wasn’t harmed, and they let us go. I should be able to get over this. “That must be hard.”

Colby picks at some invisible threat of vinyl on the steering wheel, looking deep in thought. “He’s trying.”

I glance at my empty house as a painful sense of loss burrows into my gut.

“You want me to come in?” Colby asks as if my trepidation is an intruder lurking inside my house that he can scare away.

I reach for the door handle. “No, thank you,” I say, steeling myself for opening the door to the shell of my life. Alone.

Before I can step out of the cab, Colby grabs my hand. I turn, our eyes connecting. His gaze is kind but fierce. It’s as if he’s trying to infuse me with strength. “Call me anytime, okay?”

I take a grounding breath and nod. It’s strange to feel the heat in his touch, but not unwelcome. I have the sudden urge to fall into his arms, imagining my sigh of relief when he pulls me close and tells me everything is going to be okay.

I shut my eyes to wipe this thought from my mind, then turn back to the house. I can’t imagine doing anything like that with Colby of all people—Colby, who brought a girl he met at the laundromat to Kabir’s party. Colby, who left at the end of that summer, just when I thought he might care about me.

I realize I’m walking into my house alone before I turn back to thank Colby for the ride. But he’s already backing out of my driveway.

Five

Colby

Isit there watching her sagging shoulders as she walks, wishing I could do something for her, but knowing I can’t. I start the truck and reverse out of her driveway, my head full.

I wasn’t…assaulted, she’d said.Holy fuck, what a thing to have to say. I mean, I’m glad she felt comfortable enough to share that with me, but now I have to think about some deranged nomad touching her. A sudden lurch of my stomach threatens to reject the shot of whiskey Kabir and I shared. I take a deep breath, my fists clenching the steering wheel. It’s too much to even imagine.

Being late to the meeting at Marvik today had nothing to do with stupid frogs. Even though I hadn’t seen her since that summer in Yosemite before I left climbing, the idea I was going to made it hard to breathe. Ever since I signed the contract last winter, I’ve been both dreading and anticipating this day. That secret Meghan made me swear to keep has weighed on me nonstop. Can I pull off what she wants me to do?

If Anya finds out about it, it’ll ruin us forever.

I paced outside Marvik, thinking about how I could make sure the meeting went smoothly. Yeah, I’d heard Anya was with Jake, but I didn’t care. I would still get to be around her. Heck, I was going to Norway with her. It made me feel lucky. And terrified.

Because I’d never forgotten her, and I was worried she was angry over the way I’d left.

Why had I baited Jake as I did?Because I read him correctly, that’s why. He’s been with Anya for three years, and they’re still just roommates?I shake my head.Moron. If I were lucky enough to be with Anya, I’d never let her go.

Funny she’s most worried about Norway. Why?

I’m nearing the intersection where I’m going to need to decide where I’ll sleep tonight. I could drive to the outskirts and park at a familiar trailhead, or I can crash in Kabir’s driveway. Tomorrow, I gotta return to Bishop early.

I’m about to turn left, toward the trailhead, when my phone buzzes.

Drama’s over. Stop by if you want,Sabrina’s text says.

I look out the window at the darkness, thinking about how Anya’s delicate nose crinkles when she laughs, the way she tucks her blonde hair behind her ear, and her eyes—like the soft blue of a wild iris. But things have changed since Yosemite.

On my way, I reply to Sabrina before turning the truck around.

* * *

Iwake to the feel of someone’s hand on my cock. When I blink my eyes open, Sabrina smiles. The details of our night filter back into my mind: how we made out on her couch and the two condoms we went through on her bed before finally calling it around two. What Sabrina lacked in experience, she made up for in enthusiasm.

I try to smile, but I’m already formulating my speech about how I need to beat feet.

She kisses me, a slow kiss that tastes of mint, which means she’s been up to brush her teeth. I glance at the clock. Six-fifteen.

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