Page 92 of Colt

I swallowed to ease the dryness in my throat.

What the fuck was I thinking? As much as I’d have loved to tell Tristan and Anna about me and Colt, they were good friends with Layla. I didn’t want to put them in a position where they had to lie to her for me or even keep secrets.

More and more people were becoming aware of mine and Colt’s so-called secret relationship. If we weren’t careful, it would get back to Dad. We had to be more cautious.

“Don’t be silly.” Kennedy gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Colt told us about it when he got home.” She nudged Cara. “Didn’t he?”

“Yeah!” Cara confirmed brightly. “Freya was there too.”

My shoulders slumped with relief. Making sure nobody was looking, I mouthed,thank you.

Kennedy sent me a conspiratorial wink.

“It was only a matter of time,” Anna said, walking from behind the reception desk. “I could tell his heart wasn’t in it.”

I took a sharp intake of breath.

Anna had lost at least fifteen pounds in weight. It was a lot, seeing as she was already slim before, and didn’t need to lose a pound. I looked at her face and hair as if seeing her for the first time. Anna had long, curly red hair that usually shone with health, but hung lank and dull. Her smooth, creamy complexion seemed pale and drawn.

“Are you okay?” I asked, tone shocked. “Has something happened? You’ve lost so much weight.”

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Honey,” I breathed, taking her hand. “What’s going on?”

“She’s heartbroken,” Tristan said flatly.

Anna forced a smile on her face. “Oh, it's not that bad. I’m fine.”

Tears heated the back of my throat.

My friend was in obvious pain. Who the hell had hurt her so badly that she couldn’t eat? I wracked my brains, trying to think of who she’d been seeing, and almost groaned out loud.

“Was it Hendrix?” I asked, tone shocked.

Anna blinked her tears away and smiled blankly at me. “Yeah, but I’m okay.”

“What happened between you two?” Kennedy asked gently. “Last time I was here, you and Hendrix were out in the back room smooching. Now you look like your heart’s been ripped out.” She took Anna’s hand and led her over to the salon chairs, looking back and gesturing for us to follow.

Anna took a seat on a small sofa under the window with Kennedy and Cara while me and Tristan pulled a couple of chairs over.

“We started seeing each other casually just before Layla and Bowie's wedding,” Anna told us, wringing her hands nervously. “It was going fine, and I thought we were getting closer, then I saw him out on a date with another woman.”

Cara shook her head. “Ugh. Fucking men.”

Anna let out a quiet snort. “We’d never said we were exclusive, but it hurt, so I told him unless he dropped the others, I’d end it.” She sighed. “I’m too old to navigate the dating scene. I want a man who wants me and only me.”

“Fair enough,” Kennedy agreed. “What did he say?”

“Drix asked me for some time, which I agreed to, but then things started to change. He became distant, almost aloof. We stopped going out, and after a while, I realized I’d turned into a booty call.”

“I told her he was stringing her along,” Tristan interjected. “One night, I went over to Mapletree to meet a friend, and there he was in the bar, almost dry-humping some skank. The asshole saw me and walked out. Ten minutes later, I went out to my car, and there he was, getting head in the goddamned parking lot up against one of the club’s SUVs.”

“He cheated?” Cara asked angrily.

“That’s just it,” Anna murmured. “He didn’t. We never had the conversation. After that, I walked away, but Hendrix started pursuing me again. He told me things would change, so I gave him another chance. Then, his dad fell ill, and he started visiting Virginia. I called him one night, and a woman answered his phone and said he was in the shower.”

My heart hurt for her. “Oh, Anna. I’m so sorry.”

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