Page 62 of Wilde Hearts

Leaning forward, I said, “I never stopped loving you, Colt. I couldn’t move on because of you. I’ve wanted nothing more than to marry and have a family. But every man I tried to move on with…I couldn’t. And do you know why? Because he wasn’t you. Even though I hate you, I still love you. Now you tell me the reason you stayed away is misplaced guilt? I could just…ugh! I could scream right now.”

“I never stopped loving you either, Pip—”

Pointing at him, I said, “If you call me Pippa one more time, that will literally be the final straw and I will hit you.”

Colt closed his eyes. “I fucked up so much and hurt so many people.”

“You think?” I bit back.

When he opened his eyes, I tried not to let the sadness in them make me soft. Yes, a part of me understood how he must have felt, but the other part of me was just so furious.

“I’m so mad.” My voice cracked, and that pissed me off even more.

Colt slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Ensley. I hope you know that at the time, I thought I was doing what was the best for everyone.”

“No, you thought it was the best for you, Colt. Let’s at least be honest about that.”

The waitress appeared and looked down at our plates. “Is something wrong with your food?”

Colt and I both looked at the untouched sandwiches.

“No, everything’s great. We were just in a deep conversation, that’s all,” I replied with a tight smile.

Her face visibly relaxed. “Oh, okay. Is there anything else you need?”

“No, thanks, we’re good,” I added.

Once she walked away, I looked back down at my sandwich. “I don’t think I can eat now.”

Colt wore a stricken expression. “His room hasn’t been touched in ten years.”

My eyes widened. “Grady’s?”

He nodded. “I don’t think my mother or father has even set foot inside. I walked in there last night, and it’s like a fucking shrine to him. The dust alone tells me no one has been in there in a very long time.”

My heart broke.

“Do you think I should talk to them about cleaning it out?”

I drew in a breath and exhaled. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s probably way past time, but I don’t know how your parents would feel about it.”

We sat in silence for a bit as Colt slowly spun his plate of food in a circle. “I wish I knew what to do. I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose your child. Then to have your other child just up and leave you. I’m such a fucking asshole.”

“I won’t argue with you on that.”

He didn’t look up, just kept staring at the plate. Despite my anger, I couldn’t stand to see him like this.

“Why don’t you stop by my parents’ place tonight. I’m having dinner with them, and maybe you can talk to them about it, get their take.”

His eyes darted up to meet mine. “You want me to have dinner with you and your parents?”

I pressed my lips together in a tight line. “Not really, but I do want to help you navigate this, and if that means sitting at my family dinner table with you, then I’ll suffer through it.”

The corner of his mouth twitched with a sad smile. “Shouldn’t you ask your parents first if I can join you?”

Pulling out my phone, I fired off a text to my mother. Within seconds, I got the reply.

Mom: Of course, Colt can join us for dinner. We’re having your favorite, tacos!