Page 171 of Things Left Unsaid

“The hero was called Colt. I can attribute whatever I want to him.”

“Gah! You’re so annoying. Why do I miss you?”

She snickers. “I think you’re selfish.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not on video so I can’t share in the show.”

The sharp bite of jealousy startles me.

It fizzles in me like I downed three cans of Pigeonberry energy drink back-to-back.

A soft chuckle sounds in my ear. “Ooooooh. Feeling possessive, are we?”

I grunt. “Despite how long I’ve been here, I’ve only just started opening up to him.”

“That’s usually when men fall short,” she disregards. “If he’s withstood a couple conversations with you, no wonder you’re eyeing him differently.

“I wondered why you hadn’t been posting any videos. You’ve been all loved up in Pigeon Creek. Honestly, that could be the title of your real-life Hallmark movie?—”

Aghast, I blurt out, “That isnotwhy I haven’t been posting videos!”

She clucks her tongue. “Shame. I know you said that lunch date was second base only but I lived in hope.

“Honestly, if I have another shitty date, I’m going to rethink my sexuality. Maybe that’s why we get along so well. I have a secret crush on you and I didn’t know it.”

“You can’t say stuff like that.”

“Sure I can. The girl in the coffee shop is hot. She looks like she knows what a clitoris is too.”

“She has one.”

“EXACTLY MY POINT.”

Though I huff, I murmur, “Is this your bi-awakening moment?”

I can hear the smirk in her voice. “I’m not too old for experimentation.”

“Only you’d figure out your sexuality because you’re tired of the male species.”

“What can I say? We’re not all gifted a Colton.”

I huff. “You’ve changed your tune.”

“I’m lonely.” She sniffs. Not sniffles. It’s taken a while, but we’ve gotten there. “What else am I supposed to do apart from work, read, watch TV, talk to you, and find someone who can make me feel good about myself?”

“Go to the gym. That does the same thing as a guy.”

“Now I know you’ve been spending time with your grandmother.”

“Actually, I haven’t.”

“You haven’t spoken to Colton, or the she-devil, or your mother-in-law, or the triplets. You haven’t visited my folks either. So, what the hell have you been doing apart from hanging out with my nemesis?”

“Callan is not your nemesis,” I mumble, craning my neck to keep Colt in my field of vision.

“He is. He’s stealing you from me.”

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