Page 61 of My Best Bet

After everything was cleaned and she was tucked in her fresh sheets, I brushed out her washed hair.

“Your hair is so pretty,” I told her. There was a little curl to it, just like Colt’s.

“It used to be more pretty,” she said sleepily. “Like yours.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean, honey?”

She rubbed her eyes and yawned. “I went to a sleepover and the girls cut my hair off.”

My whole body stiffened as I replayed what she just said. Anger like no other flared up inside my body. I had to force myself to take a breath and keep it cool so I didn’t upset her.

“Well, I love your hair,” I told her. “One of my best friends named Ali keeps her hair even shorter than yours because she says it's high fashion.”

She turned on her side to face me, resting her cheek on her hands. “Really?”

“Yes, she says it’s chic.”

“Chic.” She giggled. “Can I meet her?”

“Of course, if we can get her to visit, that is.” I smiled. “She’s also a figure skater, but she skates on cruise ships.”

Her brown eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really.” I confirmed. “I can show you?”

She nodded eagerly.

Fishing my phone from my pocket, I quickly pulled up a video Ali recently sent me from her latest show. Ali wore a shimmery gold flapper dress with sparkly tassels that splayed out when she pulled into a fast backspin.

Lucy’s eyes brightened. “Woah, she is a fashion girl! Can I watch more?”

“I’ll ask her to send some more videos, just for you.” I smiled. “I can show you my friend Piper’s skating videos?” Piper’s videos were all over the internet. “Wanna know a secret?” I asked.

Lucy nodded hurriedly.

“She might be in the Olympics one day.”

Her mouth dropped open. “She must be really good.”

I nodded and quickly pulled up Piper and Patrick at their last Worlds competition. In the video, Piper was dressed in a white feather dress that made her look like a swan.

“I love her dress!” Lucy squealed.

“She designs all her dresses by herself,” I said proudly.

“Woah,” she breathed out. “Can she come to my birthday party, too?”

I laughed. “How about we ask your dad first?”

Lucy continued watching Piper and Patrick’s skating clips until her eyelids started drooping and she eventually fell asleep.

Before leaving her room, I tucked her in, then marched directly into Colt’s room, absolutely fuming over what she told me about her hair.

I slammed his bathroom door open without thinking, then immediately regretted it.

He was slumped against the tub looking beat up. His long muscular legs stretched out in front of him. He wore only athletic shorts. It was the first time I’d seen him without a shirt on in a decade and the difference was staggering. His tanned muscular chest had a dusting of hair over it and he had a date lettered in roman numerals tattooed on his left peck right over his heart. More tattoos swirled down his entire right arm, stopping at his wrist. I spotted more ink splayed across his ribs, but I couldn't make out what it was. I wanted to trail my fingers over the ink and study the designs. I hated that I didn’t know what they were and what they all meant. They were just more evidence that showed how much I’d missed over the last decade.

I shook my head out to refocus. “Did you press charges?” I asked.

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