Page 59 of Three Reckless Words

Rina lights up in a way I didn’t know she could.

Everything about her is brighter, airier—her eyes under those stupid contacts, her smile, the way she holds out her free arm to him.

“Oh, Colt! Baby!” she croons, beckoning him closer. “I came to see you, honey.”

Colt glances at me and after a second, I release her arm with a sigh that grates my throat.

Rina flings herself forward with her arms outstretched, waiting as he walks toward us. When he’s close enough, she folds him up in the world’s most awkward hug.

He’s almost taller than she is now, and he keeps looking at me over her shoulder for reassurance.

Yeah, this is weird, and not just because two of the three people standing here wish the other one never existed.

Rina’s always been an absentee mother. If it wasn’t for the fact that Colt deserves to have some kind of mom in his life, I would have cut her ass out years ago.

Her very presence rings alarm bells. She’s either decided to be more active in his life or she wants something.

Probably more cash to fund her wanderlust and endless art projects. It wouldn’t be the first time. It’s not alimony ordered by a court, more likefuck offmoney I send every few years as ex-wife repellent.

But Colt, he’s smiling at her now as she pulls back and pats his cheek affectionately.

“Holy crap, Colton, you’ve gotten so big,” she gushes, tears in her eyes. “When did that happen?”

When you weren’t around to see it. Obviously.

“I’m thirteen, Mom,” Colt says.

“I knowthat, baby. It’s just, well… it’s like you’re a new person every time I see you. I have to relearn how to hug you, that’s all.” Her smile fades, turning wistful now. I’ve never seen her like this. “Are you holding up okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Holding up? As if I’m not the reason he’s happy and healthy and mostly keeping out of trouble?

“Of course you are! You look great. Your dad looking after you okay? Helping you with schoolwork?” The audacity of her question makes me bristle, and she shoots me a quick, nervous glance before adding, “I’m sure he does.”

“Why are youhere,Rina?” I bite off again. We’ve moved past the glaring stage to proper death stare. The front door is still hanging open and I’m happy for it to stay that way. The sooner she leaves, the better. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing’s ‘going on,’ Archer. I told you, I came to see Colt.” She wraps a protective arm around his shoulders, flashing me a pouty look.

What the hell ever.

If she wants to have this talk in front of our son, I can play ball.

I push past her to the great room. The white sofas are all gathered around the glass table and large doors that slide open to the patio. It’s the first time she’s been here since the place was remodeled, and her eyes are wide.

“Shit, Arch.” She laughs as she looks around. “Do you ever slow down and take a break from showing off?”

“I have good taste and watch your language.” I sit on the sofa, folding my legs.

“Dad. It’s not like I haven’t heard it before. You swear all the time.” Colt stops trailing Rina like a puppy and sits beside me.

“Doesn’t mean you need to hear it from your mom.” I know I’m being a flaming hypocritic here. I’ve slipped up and sworn in front of Colt often enough, but the fact that she’s here doing it uninvited pisses me off.

Rina touches a hand to her dark brunette hair, cut short now. It’s stylish, though lost in the dangling orange earrings that look like miniature dreamcatchers.

She’s always been a mix of things, a human tornado in the worst way.

Aside from being half the reason Colt exists, she’s the biggest mistake of my life.

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