Page 23 of Starcrossed Colorado

Callum wandered over, draping his towel over his shoulder. “You didn’t walk Emma home?”

I shook my head. “Elias offered to drive her. It’s on his way, and he didn’t drink much.”

“And you let him?”

“Why the hell wouldn’t I?”

“No reason.” Callum looked amused.

“Just FYI, I’d rather you didn’t make a move on her. I have to see the woman every day. It’ll make things awkward if you hurt her feelings.” My brother was a one-night-and-done kind of guy. Some women didn’t want to accept that.

“That’s your only objection to me going after Emma? The awkwardness?”

I tightened my grip on my glass. “Pretty much.”

Also, the thought of Callum with her made me itchy all over. It didn’t sit right.

I would’ve offered to walk her myself if nobody else had stepped up. Just to make sure she was safe, because I’d do the same for anyone. But Elias was okay too. He wouldn’t try to hook up with her. Probably.

As for why I cared so much who Emma hooked up with…I wasn’t going to examine that too closely.

Callum picked up some empty glasses, swiping the bar top clean. “I doubt Emma’s interested in me, anyway. She couldn’t take her eyes off you.”

I almost choked on my mouthful of beer. “Only because she can’t stand me. And I don’t care for her. The dislike is mutual.”

“Nah, I’m not buying it,” my brother said. “I know chemistry. You and Emma? There’s chemistry.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hey, Judson. You know what I mean. Right?”

Beside me, Judson chuckled softly. Then nodded.

I shifted on my bar stool. “Both of you can keep your opinions to yourselves.”

Callum sighed. “Ashford, how long has it been since you got laid? Or at least got off with anyone besides your own hand.”

I glanced around. “Would you lower your voice? I teach these people’s kids.”

“Nobody’s listening.” Still, Callum lowered his volume and leaned across the counter. “Women are interested in you. I’ve heard the complaints that you’re unattainable, and it’s not for lack of offers, man. Has there been anyone since Lori? Even with her, I’m sure it was a while since…you know.”

Judson looked on sympathetically.

Callum and Judson both knew the nature of my marriage to Lori. After I’d returned stateside from my last deployment, she and I had tried briefly to start something. It had seemed right. Falling for my best friend. We’d both wanted stability. Love. To find a safe place to land when so much in the world was ugly and uncertain.

Only, neither of us had fallen very far. The spark just wasn’t there. We’d realized we were better off as friends than lovers. By then, she’d missed her period. And then came those two pink lines.

I would never call Maisie a mistake. She was everything. But by mutual agreement, our marriage had been platonic. We’d even slept in separate rooms.

And no, there hadn’t been anyone else. Not then. Aside from a few very occasional encounters, not since.

“I don’t have the time for that,” I said. “I have a kid at home. People are counting on me. Unlike you, I can’t be irresponsible.”

Callum laughed, not taking my insult personally. “You’re the one who pointed out you see Emma every day. Why not take advantage?”

“Because of a million different reasons. Like the fact that she can’t stand me. She’s too young. She’s leaving at the end of the summer.”

“Isn’t that a pro versus a con? They call it a summer fling for a reason.”

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