Page 17 of Inked Craving

On the one hand, I knew this conversation with Colton wouldn’t be easy. In fact, I might scream, cry, do both, or not say a single thing other than the truth. And in the end, I wasn’t sure how he would react, or if he would even say anything at all.

The problem with Colton was that he was a nice guy. Not the trademarked version of the guy who put you down while claiming he was aNice Guy. Not the guy who thought he owned me.

He was just kind. And dumb.

But I hadn’t minded. So what if he sometimes forgot important things? He was usually there for the people in his life in the end. He remembered birthdays and anniversaries. He always remembered our dates and was never late. He enjoyed being early or on time. It was probably because his father had been in the military, and the idea that being on time was late had been ingrained in him from a young age.

I had thought I loved Colton. And perhaps I had. But he hadn’t loved me in the way I needed. And when he left, I vowed that I would never need another man again. And yet, here I was, asking Lee if he would stay while I told the father of my child that he was going to be a daddy.

I frowned as Lee studied my face. He shrugged and then leaned back. “I’m going to be here because I said I would help you out. I won’t say a word unless you need me to. I can even do my best to draw a picture of him so you can throw darts at it.”

I snorted, liking the idea of finding a way to use my rage. “Or you could just print out a photo.”

“That requires a photo printer and wasting a lot of ink. I can just hand draw a lovely photo of him.”

“I didn’t even realize you could draw.”

“I don’t have an inch of talent. However, Icandraw a decent stick figure. I’m sure I could make a stick figure of him for you.”

I burst out laughing, surprised that I could even laugh at a time like this. There was just something about Lee. He made me all warm inside and happy. He made me laugh. He had always done that. From the first time my brothers brought him home to meet us, Lee had been there, making us smile and play around.

Lee was quiet about his past and his family. He was great at letting others lean on him if we needed it, but he rarely shared where he came from. Other than being my brothers’ friend. I knew he was from Colorado, though he’d moved around some as a kid. And he was a player. He was also brilliant—his mind fascinated me.

I had been decent at math and science in school, only because I enjoyed patterns. But once you had to layer on the concept of researching and diving into the unknown with your hypotheses, I wasn’t there for that type of math and science. And yet, that’s who Lee was. He always asked questions and fought to find answers. That was what drove him. At least, what I could see from the outside.

He was so different from Colton.

I had to wonder exactly why I was comparing the two at this moment. I shook my head and rolled my shoulders back, preparing to do what I must. It was inevitable. “I’m not going to throw darts at a stick version of him or the nicely done photo. Don’t worry. This is going to go great. I’m totally not going to panic and break down.”

“I’m not sure if I enjoy the sarcasm in your tone. It’s not like I can give you a drink to calm you down.”

“Thank you for reminding me that I can’t have alcohol for another nine…eight months? Or, wait, I can’t have alcohol if I’m breastfeeding, either. I mean, if what I remember reading during Annabelle’s and Brenna’s pregnancies was right. Or maybe TV and movies have led me wrong this entire time. That means if I decide to breastfeed, something I haven’t even decided on fully yet because God forbid I’m able to process what’s going on, I’m probably never going to be able to have alcohol again. I had my last drink—a hard seltzer, by the way, and it was horrible—and I didn’t even know it.”

“Please tell me you didn’t drink a White Claw,” he whispered.

“I was out of everything else, and a friend who brought it to drink left it at my house. It was either that or whiskey straight at six in the evening on a Tuesday. I should have had the whiskey.”

“I feel like I need a whiskey now.”

I narrowed my eyes. “If you drink in front of me, we’re done. You’re just going to have to walk right out.”

He grinned. “I promise I’m not going to drink in front of you. That would be wrong. Very wrong. For now.”

“Jerk.” I laughed.

“I know. However, you are laughing. So, I’m counting that as a win.”

I sobered instantly, as did he, and I pulled my phone closer. “Here we go.” I pressed Colton’s name and frowned. “He’s probably not even going to answer. He hasn’t before. All this wind-up for me having to send him a telegram.”

“Please make it a singing telegram if he doesn’t answer,” Lee whispered.

I met his gaze and pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh.

“Oh my God. I will help you write the song to explain it. And we can do it in public. Because if he doesn’t fucking answer, he deserves it. Oh, great, there could be dancing.” Lee practically rubbed his hands together, and I shook my head, my lips twitching.

“Paige?” Colton’s voice came through the line as I put it on speakerphone, and I shook, looking up at Lee. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“Paige, is that you? I had to get a new phone. I dropped mine at work and didn’t get to the store until yesterday. But hell, so good to hear from you. However, I do not hear you. You there, babe?”

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