Page 102 of Come Back to Me

He cuts me a bewildered look. “She means you, doesn’t she? Not Parker?”

God, I have to tell Parker too.

This is so fucking humiliating!

“She means me,” I agree, pursing my lips. “Remember the day of the BBQ?”

“You mean the day I beat the shit out of my dad and he was arrested for hit and run causing death?” he asks wryly. “Yeah, I remember.”

“More importantly than that piece of turd, do you recall when I arrived?”

“Ohh, yes. Your grand entrance and?—”

“Didn’t you know his call name when Cody was a pilot?” Zee exclaims.

“I did. It was Buffalo Bill or some Western movie reference…” He pulls a face. “Butch Cassidy.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Cody was your pilot?”

“Ten points! This is why he’s been sleeping at the detachment! He’s ashamed of himself,” Zee growls. “As he should be.”

Awkwardly, he glances between us, then he sighs. “What do you want me to do?”

“Scalp him!”

“Zee!” I sputter.

“You’re joking, aren’t you? You’ve been moping around the damn house like a bear with a sore paw?—”

“This is Tee moping?” Colt mutters, sounding more bewildered than ever.

“Yes!” Zee wallops his arm. “She was hurting, Colt. Your brother hurt her.”

“I can’t scalp him, baby. I kinda like him. Plus, Mum and Mrs. Abelman would have something to say about it.”

She grits her teeth. “Then punch him or something.”

He turns to me. “Would that make you feel better, Tee?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “No. I-I need to get over it.”

He eyes me warily. “Cody’s a good guy, Tee. He wouldn’t... My uncle raised us right. Did you ask him?—”

“Did she ask him to pour salt in the wounds?” Zee’s eyes narrow upon her beleaguered husband. “You can ask him. Be the go-between.”

His mouth opens then shuts. “That I can do. Even if I outgrew telephone in the second grade.”

She jabs her finger at him. “I’m about to do an interview with some Chatty Cathy that’ll broadcast my image to the entirety of Canada, Colton Korhonen. The least you can do is figure out why your brother, the so-called decent guy, jerked Tee around.”

He concedes that with a nod. I get the feeling he’d agree to flash mob the town if it meant calming her down before the interview.

“Do you want a soda?”

“No.”

Right on cue, we all get a CGM alert. As Zee deals with it, Colt tugs me aside. “Are you okay, Tee?”

“Been better.”

He studies me, his gaze surprisingly gentle. “Were you... in a long-distance relationship? You didn’t say before but?—”

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