Page 31 of Never Really Over

“Tell me something. Why haven’t you seen him? Or even called him? Checked in? His sisterdied. His brother-in-law died. He’s raising their baby girl by himself. And that does nothing to you?”

“Of course it does something to me!” I shout. Pressing my hand to my heart, I continue, “I’m heartbroken for him and his niece. Heartbroken. But you don’t get it. I wrecked him once.” My voice cracks as I start to cry. I angrily swipe away the tears that start to slip down my cheek. “I wrecked him, Dalton. I heard the stories. I know he was drinking all the time and angry and lashing out. That was because of me.”

He looks sad for me when he implores, “Say his name, Layla.”

I rear back. “What?”

“You still can’t say his name out loud. Colt. Colt. Colt. Colton is who you’re heartbroken for. Colton is the man you still love but can’t admit it because you’re scared that you’re too late. Colton is the man who is heartbroken himself because his sister, the person who was his best friend, died. Colt is a single dad to his niece.”

As he talks, the tears continue to fall and I begin to weep.

“I know,” I whisper. “I know.”

He moves close and wraps me in his arms, resting his cheek on the top of my head. I circle my arms around his waist and cry while he rubs my back.

“Hey, hey. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I needed to hear it. I’ve been a coward.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to say that, but…”

“Shut up,” I mumble, pushing him away.

He laughs a little. “I finally got through to you, though.”

“Meaning?”

“Someone needed to say it. Maureen mentioned it to me, too. She’s messed up because of the accident, and she needs to see Colt but more than that, she needs you there with her. This isn’t only for you, it’s for your mother, too.”

Nodding, I agree, “Yeah, you’re right.” I wipe under my eyes and use the heel of my hand to wipe away the snot, like a total class act, then rub my hands on my pants.

“And you’re nasty,” he says, laughing.

I nod, sniffing.

“Listen, if you want me to go over there with you, I will. Colt and I are basically best friends now. You got demoted, by the way.”

“How many times do I need to tell you we’re not best friends?”

“Keep lying to yourself, Auntie LayLay.”

That makes me smile.

“I think it will be better if I go alone, even though you are his bestie.”

“But you’ll go? I’ve convinced you? Hot damn, I’m good.”

“There’s the Dalton I know.”

“And love. The Dalton I know andlove. I finished the rest of the saying for you. You’re welcome.”

I roll my eyes.

“Leaving yet?”

He leans over and kisses my cheek, giving me that signature grin of his then hops into his car and leaves.

Leaves me to think about the fact that my admission to being a coward earlier was spot on. And now what am I going to do about it?

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