Page 63 of Wilde Hearts

When I turned the phone so he could read the message, his grin was more genuine. “What time should I be there?”

My grin was a bit more wry. “Same time as always.”

“Six?”

Nodding, I turned and motioned for the waitress. Once she walked over, I asked, “May we please get to-go boxes? And he’ll take care of the check.”

He chuckled.

Smiling, she replied, “Yes, of course.”

Once she walked away, I focused back on Colt. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He reached for my hand as I started to slide out of the booth. “You don’t want your sandwich?”

“My appetite is gone. Throw it away or take it home with you.”

Colt let go of my hand. Before I walked away, I turned to face him. “Thank you for telling me why you left.”

He gave a slight nod.

Turning, I quickly made my way out of the café. I was laser-focused on my truck, parked just down from the restaurant. The moment I got in, I started it, drew in a few deep breaths, and closed my eyes.

“Hey, sis!”

I turned and looked over my shoulder to see Caden walking into the barn. “Hey, what are you doing over here?”

He faked a hurt expression. “I can’t come see my favorite sister?”

Laughing, I pointed the brush at him and said, “If Emeline hears you, you’ll be banned from this barn.”

“It’ll be our secret.”

Standing, I eyed my older brother and asked, “Why are you really here, Caden?”

He winked. “Straight to the point, like always. I was talking to Dad, and he mentioned you and Colt were having dinner with them tonight.”

“Wow,” I said, my brows raising. “News travels fast in the Wilde clan.”

Smiling, he said, “Always has, always will.”

“Colt is coming to dinner to talk to Mom and Dad to get their advice. He and I are not going together.”

Now his brows rose. “So, you haven’t patched things up?”

“No. But I’m not as angry with him as I was before. Well…actually, I am, but for a different reason now.”

“That’s good, right?”

I nodded and huffed a laugh. “I guess so.”

Caden leaned against a pole. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I’d gone back to brushing the horse, but I paused again.

Did I want to talk about it with someone?

“I’m not sure. I spent the last ten years thinking Colt left because he didn’t love me, and it turns out that isn’t the case.”