Page 17 of Wilde Hearts

“Ensley, wait.”

I jogged to catch up, gently took her arm, and brought her to a stop.

“Ensley, please wait.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you, Colt.”

“I disagree. Can we please go somewhere and talk?”

She blinked at me a few times. “Talk? Now you want to talk? About what? How you walked away from me ten years ago with nothing but a fucking note reminding me of a stupid promise? And then radio silence for over a decade?”

I closed my eyes for a moment before focusing on her. “Yes. I would like to talk to you about that.”

“Ensley…ummm…is everything okay?”

She quickly turned her head. “Doug? What are you doing here?”

Doug Sanders stood there with a frown on his face as his eyes went to my hand, which was still on Ensley’s arm. She jerked away.

“Doug?” I asked, as he glared at me.

“Long time no see, Colt.”

My eyes bounced from Ensley to Doug. Were they together?

Forgetting my manners, I asked, “How are you doing?”

He gave me a quick nod. “I’m doing good.” He turned his focus to Ensley. “I just came to see how you’re feeling and if you guys needed anything.”

Ensley smiled. “That’s so sweet of you, Doug.”

“Are you heading to the hospital, or have you had dinner yet?”

I quickly realized I was clenching my hands into tight fists. I slowly relaxed them as I watched Ensley walk toward Doug. “Dinner sounds good.” She glanced back at me. “I’m assuming you’re going to the hospital?”

“I was, yes.”

She smiled again, but it didn’t reach her eyes this time. “Perfect, then I can go after dinner with Doug and hopefully avoid being in the same room with you.”

Doug’s brows shot up, but he remained silent.

“I don’t think we’re going to be able to avoid each other for the next few days, Pippa.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to call me that ever again. It’s Ensley. And you clearly don’t know me very well. Then again, how could you, since you’ve been gone for ten years? Besides, avoiding seems to be your specialty, doesn’t it?”

I rubbed at the instant ache in my neck. I hadn’t been prepared for what it was going to be like to run into Ensley. I knew I’d see her soon enough if I was moving back home…just not on my first day.

Without saying another word, she wrapped her arm around Doug’s, and they headed toward the exit.

Interestingly enough, all the years I’d spent regretting my decision to leave were nothing compared to the pain I felt watching Ensley walk away from me with another man.

Ensley

My heart was beating so loudly, I was positive Doug could hear it. He’d placed his hand on my lower back and guided me over to his truck. When he opened the passenger door, I practically threw myself into the cab.

Once Doug was in the truck with me, he started it, then glanced over. “Are you okay?”

I turned and looked at him. He had concern written all over his face.