Page 52 of Things Left Unsaid

Good.

“You’re asking me to spy on Colton,” I mumble, making sure I understand what he’s after when he tends to couch everything in four or five layers of BS. “Is that right?”

The irony here is that he’d believe whatever ‘intelligence’ I shared with him when half the reason my life turned out the way it did is because no one ever trusted my word.

When coming up against him, I knew whatever I had to say would be dismissed.

But this man is evil. To the core. Yet his position outranks mine so I’m the one who’s easiest to ignore.

“Spying’s such a harsh word.” He tsks. “I’m keeping an eye on a ranch that’s been a part of my family for two centuries.”

“There you are!”

I jump.

It’s humiliating, but I do.

At least three inches in the freakin’ air.

And when I come down, I nearly knock over a stand of postcards showcasing Saskatoon’s delights.

Tee clings to me until I gain solid footing.

“Jeez, how are you supposed to live on the range again without me there to prop you up?”

It’s a soggy joke, an attempt to put things right between us, but my eyes prick with tears that the confrontation with Clyde only exacerbate. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

Unaware that we’re not alone, she hurls her arms around me. “I’m going to miss you too.”

In the center of the store, like the crazy people we are, we hug.

I can feel her tears on my cheek mingling with my own.

We’ve never been apart for longer than two weeks—it feels like I’m asking to have my right arm cut off for funsies.

“Excuse me,” someone snaps.

We pull apart and Tee, ever the tigress, barks, “What? You afraid of two women hugging or something? Get your damn magazine. It’s so much more important than genuine human interaction?—”

“Tee, cool it. Wearein the way.”

She huffs but tugs me with her, which is when I remember Clyde.

Only, he’s not there.

I peer around the store, trying to find him, but he’s nowhere to be seen. He isn’t outside the store either.

Confused but relieved, I faze that confrontation out. Tee’s jabbering on about how she got delayed when this cute guy flirted with her outside the screening area. Even though I keep up with the conversation as I return the chips I dropped to the shelf because eating my feelings is no longer an option, my thoughts are racing a mile a minute.

A glance at the flight board tells me the time…

I reach for my phone and head for my contacts.

My thumb hovers over his name.

It’s obvious that Clyde wouldn’t want me to share that conversation with anyone. Tee included—his disappearing act tells me that much. But… Colt?

My loyalty lies with my family.

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