Page 36 of Let Me Love You

“Is Colt with you?” she demands.

“Just left.”

“Did you see the article?”

I pause, gritting my teeth. “Logan showed it to us.”

“Is it true? Does Colt have a kid?”

“I don’t—” I roll my shoulders, attempting to keep the knots from inevitably forming between my shoulder blades. “I don’t know. Did Ash call you or something? How’d you find out?”

“Logan forwarded it to everyone on his contact list ‘cause he’s an asshole. I assume Ash blocked his number, but…” Her voice trails off while guilt taints her words or lack thereof.

“Butwhat,Blake?” I seethe.

She takes a deep breath. “But I may or may not have forwarded the link to her.”

“What the hell, Blake!”

“I know! But she’s my best friend, Teddy. And she has a right to know if—”

“I gotta warn Colt.”

I hang up the call and pull up his contact info, pressing the call button as my heart thrums faster and faster.

“Pick up, motherfucker,” I mutter as the call rings in my ear. “Pick up.”

11

ASHLYN

Iwake up with a hangover. Not surprising since I probably had one drink too many last night. And boy, how I wish I’d stayed sober. Maybe then, I’d be able to piece together everything the paparazzi said. Instead, I’m left…fuzzy. And confused.

I press my hand to my temple and shift on the mattress, finding Colt’s side of the bed cold and empty other than a note.

The folded piece of lined paper looks like it was ripped from a notebook. My name is scrawled across the front in Colt’s handwriting. With a smile, I pick it up and read the message.

Sunshine-

Meeting up with the team for a quick skate session, then I’ll grab your favorite bagels and coffee at The Bean Scene. Advil and water are on the nightstand. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Love you.

Colt

After chugging down the water and Advil he set aside for me, I check my phone plugged in on the nightstand. Colt must’ve plugged it in after we got home last night.

There are a dozen texts, most of them from unknown numbers.

My lips pull into a frown as I read a few, but none of them make any sense.

376.555.2324

That two-timing asshole. I want you to know I stand behind you, and so do my friends.

435.555.5960

It’s too bad you couldn’t keep his dick satisfied. Glad he found someone else to help him out instead.

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