Page 61 of Undone

Anything other thanher.

TWENTY-TWO

Dorian - August

TOO SWEET - HOZIER

Settling backinto my seat at the bar, I shot a brief look at Colt, doing my best to hide what just happened. As if kissing my sister’s best friend—my daughter’s teacher—wasn’t still replaying in my mind.

I invited her to meet me at my truck later, and at the time, it didn’t seem as reckless as it should have. For months, I’d convinced myself that getting attached was a mistake—no matter how much I wanted to.

But now?

Pretending it hadn’t happened wasn’t possible.

A slow sip of my beer gave me something to focus on, but it didn’t stop my thoughts from racing.

“Have fun making out with Noah?” he asked.

I choked on my bitter liquid and started coughing.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he replied. He slapped cash down on the bar, enough for both of our drinks. “Now that you have done what you came for, I’m out. I have an early shift tomorrow.”

“Always a pleasure, brother,” I replied.

While I had a reputation for being a bit grumpy, Colt took it to an entirely different level. I kept things short and to the point, but I was never intentionally rude. Colt didn’t give a single fuck what others thought of him the way I did.

He softened for two people, though. Dotty and Gracie. Everyone else, including me, was lucky to get more than a grunt.

I added a bill to the bar, nodding to Colt as he left, then stepped outside.

I glanced over to where the group of teachers moved to a pool table and decided it’d be best to wait for Noah by my truck. My thoughts were a mess, and I could use a minute to sort myself out.

I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere with Colt, and talking to Dotty was off the table. So, I dialed the only person who might actually get what I was dealing with.

Sawyer answered on the second ring. “Hey, what’s up?”

“You got a minute?” I asked, leaning back against the wall outside the bar, staring at the stars.

“Yeah, just finished up a training session,” he said. Sawyer was out in San Francisco living the dream, making a name for himself as one of the best linemen in the NFL.

“I’ve got a… situation,” I said, trying to get my thoughts in order.

“Let me guess. You’re into the new teacher?”

“How the fuck does everyone know about that?” I asked, half laughing.

“Well, one—I heard you guys were caught almost kissing a while ago. Two, Colt texted me just now.”

“Great…” I muttered, running a hand over my face.

“Listen, man. I know you’ve been through a lot, but you deserve something good. Just… be careful, okay? Dotty’s gonna kill you if you mess up.”

“You’re probably right about that,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“You do deserve good things, and that girl? She’s good,” Sawyer said, the words sounding more serious now.

“She is,” I agreed, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

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