Page 23 of Better Together

Cheyenne’s shoulders sank. “What? You don’t have to do that.”

Colt held up the spatula. “I knew you’d say that, but I need to get out of here before I get used to the life of luxury.”

“She’s right,” Ridge said. “You don’t have to go.”

“Thanks, man, but I think it’s time.” At least, he hoped it was time. He’d been praying about the decision to move out, but it was hard to tell the difference in his own hopes and dreams and what the Lord really wanted him to do. Part of him wanted to just accept the future he couldn't have. Remi didn’t want him in the same way he wanted her. He was selfish. He was asking for too much.

Another part of him wanted to start planning for the future he might have. Then he realized that would include a woman other than Remi. Did he even want a family if Remi wasn’t part of the equation?

Cheyenne picked at her fingernails and shifted her attention from one side of the kitchen to the other. “Um, has Remi said anything?”

Colt stood straighter. “What? What would she say?”

“I just meant…I don’t know what I mean. You two just seem a little close but not close enough.”

“Oh, you’ve noticed,” Colt said. “A little close but not close enough is a good way to describe us.”

Ridge swiped his hand under his chin, signaling for Cheyenne to cut it out.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s totally fine,” Colt said quickly. It was not fine, but whatever.

“I don’t know. You might need to say it three more times before I believe you,” Ridge joked.

Cheyenne slapped Ridge’s chest. “I think you two are so sweet together. What’s the deal? You want to be together, but she doesn’t?”

“Yep.” Colt banged the egg against the counter, and the whole thing shattered into a pile of goo and shells.

“Easy on the eggs. What did they ever do to you?” Ridge asked.

Colt propped his hand on the counter and hung his head. “I can’t change her mind. She doesn’t like me as anything other than a friend. I’m still trying to accept it.”

Cheyenne rubbed a hand on Colt’s back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was like that between you two.”

“Yes, it’s very much like that.” Ridge checked his watch. “We need to go if we’re going to meet your mom and Hadley in fifteen minutes.”

Cheyenne looked back and forth between Colt and Ridge.

“I’m a big boy,” Colt said. He slapped a hand on her shoulder. “But thanks for your concern. Maybe getting a place that’ll be big enough for a family will help me get it through my thick head that I just need to move on.”

“Maybe you don’t need to move on just–”

“We need to go!” Ridge shouted, waving his hands in the air like distracting Cheyenne might save Colt’s life.

Colt gave Cheyenne a thankful grin. “I appreciate your optimism, but I’ll be fine.”

Fine again. No one was ever going to believe him if he said the word fine one more time.

Three hard knocks reverberated through the house.

Colt turned to answer the back door. “That’s Remi. See you guys later.”

“I want to say hey to Remi,” Cheyenne said.

Ridge grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door leading to the garage. “If you say hey, we’ll never get out of here.”

“Okay, fine. Tell her I’ll call her later,” Cheyenne said as she disappeared into the garage with Ridge.

The back door was unlocked, and Remi never knocked. Maybe it wasn’t Remi.

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