Page 20 of Better Together

“I bet. That’s wild.”

Remi cleared her throat and hoped Colt would change the subject. It was difficult for her to relate to that kind of exciting news. They were surrounded by family who loved them. The new baby would have a grandma, grandpa, and a great-grandpa. Remi had never even known her grandparents. She hadn’t seen her dad since she was three. The family she did know was the exact opposite of the healthy, happy family heading up Wolf Creek Ranch.

“I asked for a cabin today.”

Remi jerked her head toward Colt, causing a throbbing behind her eyes. Why did he have to sneak in big blows like that? “You did. Why? Why?” she asked quickly.

Colt shrugged his uninjured shoulder. “I’ll have to move out sometime. Why not now?”

“But you have time. Ridge hasn’t asked you to move out yet.”

“He probably won’t. He’s a good friend, and Cheyenne probably wouldn’t want to kick me out either. But they deserve their time together. Plus, I can get started on fixing it up.”

Remi’s blood ran cold. “Fixing it up?”

Colt rested his head against the seat and didn’t answer her question. Maybe he was as unnerved by the subject as she was.

She wanted good for other people. She wasn’t a selfish, unhappy person. But seeing Colt get excited about having a family made her heart hurt. He deserved all that and more, and she didn’t.

They both stayed quiet all the way to Colt’s place. It was probably the longest stretch they’d ever gone without speaking while they were together, and it marked one step closer to that change that was coming to rock her happy world.

She pulled up in front of the house and shifted into park. Colt opened the door and was half out of the truck before he realized she wasn’t moving.

“You coming in?”

Remi shook her head. “Nah. I’ve got a headache from the whole…” She waved a hand in front of her face.

“Stay for a little bit,” Colt pleaded. “Cheyenne can drive you home when she leaves later. I don’t like the idea of you driving while you have a headache.”

“I’m fine. Just need some rest.” What she really needed was some time to have a private pity party. She didn’t need an audience for the whining.

This was one of those times when she needed a friend–a shoulder to cry on. Colt was the obvious choice for that assignment, but he was the one she’d be losing. He would ask her what was wrong, and she’d have to lie or tell the truth.

Lie: She was fine.

Truth: Things were starting to change between them, and the fear of losing her best friend was throwing her emotions into overdrive.

Another truth: Colt meant a lot to her, but she didn’t know how to explain his role in her life. He was her best friend, but friends came and went. If Jess went off and got married, Remi would be happy for her and they would stay friends. If Colt got married, she would lose him. End of story.

Was that really the only reason she was worried about Colt getting married one day? That was a dangerous question and one she wasn’t willing to investigate.

Colt stood next to the open door of her beat-up truck, and the look he was giving her said he didn’t believe a word that was coming out of her mouth.

“I’m okay. Really. I’m going to go home, ice my face, and watch the Braves game.”

Normal. Totally normal.

Colt looked her up and down, searching for cracks in her mask. “Fine. Call me and let me know you made it home okay.”

Remi rolled her eyes. “You’re worse than a mother hen.”

Colt leveled her with a serious look. “I don’t care what you call me, as long as you call me.”

He could be so infuriating and so sweet at the same time. “Fine. I’ll call you.”

“And you’ll pick me up for church in the morning? I think Ridge and Cheyenne are getting her mom settled into a new place, or I would ride with them.”

“Fine. I’ll come get you, but I’m teaching the three- to five-year-olds and have to be there early.”

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