Page 79 of Broken Saint

I can’t say those words out loud, though. Not to Mom, who’s alone in Texas right now.

“You should stay,” she says quietly, almost as if she’s forcing the words from her lips.

21

COLTON

Kane doesn’t say much during the drive to the facility. The fact he insisted on jumping in with me meant I was expecting a hundred and one questions, but he was suspiciously quiet.

It’s not until we march into the locker room that I discover why. He was just biding his time. A few sets of eyes turn our way as we enter, but there’s only one who pays us any real attention. And that is my smug-looking best friend.

“Well, well, well, look who it is. The one and only Colton Rogers has managed to detangle himself from Ella Myers and grace us with his presence.”

“Fuck off, you prick,” I scoff, dumping my bag on the bench and pulling open my locker.

“He hasn’t stopped smiling the whole fucking way here,” Kane explains, the smugness in his voice matching Luca’s expression.

“Was she everything you’ve been dreaming of? Answered all your questions about what life is like wifed up?”

“We didn’t go and elope overnight, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Not yet,” Kane sings like an asshole.

“It was a good night,” I say, keeping my cards close to my chest. “We had fun.”

“The hickeys on your neck already told us that, man.” Kane laughs. “As good as you remember?”

There’s a loaded silence that follows his question as I attempt to form an answer that explains last night but doesn’t give too much away.

But I quickly learn that there isn’t one.

“Look at that smile,” Luca points out happily as my lips twitch up at the corners.

“You’re cunts. You both know that, right.”

“And we’d have thought you’d be in a better mood, seeing as you spent the night banging the girl of your dreams,” Kane muses.

The girl of my dreams…

Yeah, she is. It’s just a shame I’ll turn it into the thing of nightmares.

Forcing that thought down, I let my smile widen farther. “I’m in a fucking great mood, and it’ll be even better after leaving you both looking like pussies in the gym.”

Dragging my hoodie off, I abandon my cell and wallet in my locker and take off. Although, I don’t lose Dumb and Dumber; they’re right on my heels.

“So, what did you do? Where did you take her?”

“Other than my apartment?” I shoot back.

“Well, yeah.”

“For us to know, man.”

Swinging the door to the gym open, I nod to a couple of the guys who are already in here, sweating through a workout I’m sure none of us really need.

But just like me, they can’t let it go. Although, I’m sure it’s not for the same reasons.

Working out, feeling my muscles burn and my skin sweat is my therapy.

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