Page 178 of Hate Mates

“Like shit. I don’t wanna lie.”

“Ask the nurses if they can give you anything,” Lochlan tells him, and I nod along. Anything that will help with the pain he keeps tensing through.

“Bro, if I take anymore, I’m gonna be fucking floating. I just wanted to see you and tell you I love you both and stuff.”

“Don’t do that, not on a call. We’ll be there soon. I swear, Colten. We will get there.”

“I know. I know you’re trying, bro, and I appreciate you both burying—” he cuts off, and Lochlan turns the phone away from us to avoid seeing his little brother vomit over the side of his bed. His voice comes in again, and the phone is flipped back around to see Mr. Drake patting down his wife’s dress.

“This is why you’re her favorite kid.” Colten smiles at his brother. “Not really though, it’s still me.”

“It always will be, and that’s fine.”

Vaguely, Mrs. Drake can be heard saying that they’re both her favorites.

“Anyway, as I was saying, I’m glad you guys were willing to bury the hatchet for me. I always hoped it was just a misunderstanding between you two somehow, but I don’t know what happened between you all those years ago. I never wanted to pick sides between my big brother and one of my best friends, but I do wanna thank you both for doing this for me now.”

“Of course.”

The rise and fall of my chest is rapid to the point I’m worrying my heart is ready to give out. It grips Lochlan’s attention.

“You okay?” he mouths, but my attention sways back to his brother.

“Colten.”

“Yeah, babe?”

“He didn’t do it.” I almost wet myself with nerves as I push out those words. “He never did anything wrong.”

Beneath me, Lochlan stops breathing.

“I made a mistake, and I’m so sorry for that.” I glance between the brothers—sympathy on one face, gratitude on another.

Lochlan’s hand slips out from mine, and a mini wave of panic crashes almost as quickly as it built when his fingers move up around my back. He holds me closer to him through my trembling as I catch glances of his family.

“It looks like he forgives you.”

My head moves from side to side. He couldn’t possibly, not after what I did. The hand on my back moves again, slinking into my hair, twirling the strands. No one comments on the tear that leaves Lochlan’s eye, but I see it and brush it away.

“I always thought you’d be cute together.” Before Lochlan can object, Colten is vomiting again.

With the phone facing away, Lochlan directs my gaze to his. A weight has lifted from him. I can see it. My admittance did that.

God, how I wish I’d been honest years ago.

“Anyway, guys,” Colten interrupts. “I’m gonna go. I love you both. Drive safe.”

“I promise. And I love you, little brother.”

“I love you, too,” I add quickly. “And Colten?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Amelie said she struggled with her words yesterday, but she wanted you to know that she does. That she loves you too.”

More pain shows on Colten’s face. “In another life. Or maybe I’ll haunt her. I think she’d be into that.”

“I think so, too.” I laugh, and the tears just start flowing.

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