Page 249 of Things Left Unsaid

Colton cringes but agrees, “No, fair point.”

“Tee,” I chide. “Was that necessary?”

Still embracing my husband, she squints at me. “Did it hurt when Colton ghosted you?”

“You know it did.”

“Then you know how this feels.” Her bottom lip wobbles. “I loved him, Zee. I did.”

Heart hurting for her, I tuck her in a hug too. “I’m sorry, honey.”

She sniffles. “Was that so hard?”

Man, I suck.

I nuzzle my nose against hers then kiss her cheek. “I got you All-dressed chips.”

I know she’s pouting. “What about Nanaimo bars?”

“Made those.”

“What about a Coffee Crisp?”

“Yup.”

She heaves a sigh. “You don’t totally suck as a BFF. Who busted Colt’s nose? It was prettier back in New York.”

I snort. “Cole.”

“Huh. Did you deserve it, Colt?”

Colton pats her back again. “I did. I need to deal with the grill, Tee.”

Sniffling, she lets go of him because he mentioned the magic word ‘grill,’ but I quickly tug her into a proper hug.

As we collide, her cheek brushes mine and, this time, I feel the tear tracks there.

“I’m sorry I doubted you, sweetheart.”

“You didn’t doubt me. You know I’m difficult,” she excuses soggily. “But he liked that. I know he did. You don’t talk to someone for years and years if you hate their guts.”

“You’re right. Maybe he thought you wouldn’t want to be a pen pal with someone who wasn’t enlisted anymore?”

“More like he didn’t want to tell me his address.”

“What do you mean?”

Her cheeks flush with heat. “I mean he never told me. For security purposes.”

“I’m confused. How did he ever receive a letter from you?”

“Via his service number. I guess he’s more of a jerk than I realized. Clearly, he doesn’t think he’ll have time for me seeing as he’s back here and can get laid instead of writing to me.

“But he could have gotten laid with me. What did I have to do? Send him a manual? Visit these coordinates, go to the fourth floor, knock on the door, kiss resident’s mouth, spread legs, insert penis here?”

A laugh bursts from me but her woeful expression has me quickly containing it. “Did you tell him you’d have been amenable to a relationship with him?”

“No. I’m going to miss him. How can he just cut me off like that?”

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