Page 248 of Things Left Unsaid

If anything, this is a break in the tension.

Ironically, that tension has nothing to do with the enmity that’s simmered between the Korhonens and the McAllisters for centuries—nope, it’s to do with the fact that Cole, as expected, ran his mouth, and Cody and Callan have joined the ‘scowl at Colton’ brigade.

A union that’s only strengthened since Callan shared the news of the breeding program with Cole. He wasnothappy to hear that update.

“What did you do?” I holler back at Tee.

“Why am I the one to blame?” She disembarks the truck with a sassy jump, shouts a ‘thank you’ at the ranch hand Colt sent to pick her up at the airport, then stalks over to me. “Maybe he’s the one, huh?”

“You know you say stuff to get a rise out of him,” I remark, having heard too many of her first drafts to the guy.

Yes,first drafts.

She writes him essays.

“He likes it when I get in his face. The douchenozzle told me he was retiring and that he thought another soldier might benefit from hearing from me.” She stomps her foot. “What does he think I am? Some letter-writing hooker?”

“I mean, I doubt it?”

“Then what?! Does he think I write letters for every soldier I come across?”

“You did join that program?—”

She slaps the letter against my chest. “He dumped me!”

“You weren’t dating,” I soothe.

And fail.

“You’re not making this any better.”

I grimace. “No. I’m sorry, honey.”

“Read it.”

That’s when Colton swoops in. “Everything okay?”

“Does it look like I’m okay, Colton?” Tee declares, arms flailing to her side. “My heart is broken.”

“Who broke it?”

“Her pen pal,” I mumble as I scan the letter.

Colt settles a hand on Tee’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Tee.”

“He’s much better at this comfort stuff than you,” my best friend grouses, then has the audacity to drag my two-hundred-thirty-pound husband in for a hug. “Men suck, Colton.”

He awkwardly pats her back. “I know.”

“I mean, you’re a man. Would you throw away YEARS of friendship?”

He casts me a look that’s tinged with desperation when she doesn’t let go of him. “Years?”

“Yes.Years. Then he dumps me. Who does that?”

“You were dating?”

“Why is everyone obsessing over that?” That means Parker said the same thing. “You don’t have to be dating someone to get dumped! If anyone knows that, it’s you two.”

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