Page 20 of Want You Back

“I wish they would.” I had no idea what Colt’s family would make of us kissing. His mom might watch that gay TV show, but it didn’t mean she’d welcome it in her home. I could hope though. And I’d spent years now wishing I was one of the many Jennings kids or cousins. “At least they treat me right.”

“I gotta get ready for this buyer.” He stalked toward the door, not even giving me a final look.

“That’s it?” I demanded. In front of me, the cake lay so mangled it might as well have been laced with arsenic for all I wanted to eat it. I scooped the whole mess right into the trash.

“You want me to say it so badly, don’t you?” He turned on his boot heel, like a horse in the arena, all that power pivoting. “Hell yes, I’d trade everything to get Mel and your mom back.”

“Even me and Faith.” I didn’t make it a question. I’d known the answer. But I had one more question, one that kept me up at night. “Would you trade the ranch?”

That he wanted Mel and my mom back was no surprise, nor was him having no use for me. But I had to wonder what he loved more—the ranch or his son? His legacy or his duty? He’d trade me for Mel, but would he have given up the ranch for Mel? I doubted it. Generations of miserable Lovelorns had ensured duty would always win.

“We’re done here.” He slammed the door behind him.

So was I. Done. Over. Ready to leave this place in my dust, and barring that, I couldn’t get to the diner where all the Jennings were celebrating Colt’s graduation fast enough. Aunt Georgia had seen fit to close for the afternoon, family over profits, a motto Melvin Lovelorn would be hard-pressed to understand.

“Maverick! You made it!” Colt rushed over, but Aunt Georgia was faster.

“Wasn’t sure if you’d stop by.” She threw an arm around me, steering me toward the food table. “Did they have a big to-do for you at the ranch?”

“Faith sent a cake.” Accurate. Somehow, I delivered the line without gagging. The memory of how I’d hacked it up during the argument with my father ensured I wouldn’t be eating anytime soon.

“Oh, that’s nice.” Aunt Georgia beamed, undoubtedly picturing a crowd at the ranch equal to the one here, with streamers, signs, and smiling faces. “Something fancy, I bet.”

“Wish her wedding had been here, not Houston,” Colt’s mother joined in. Like Colt, she was tall and broad-shouldered with dark-brown hair and hazel eyes. “Would have been nice to see her all done up.”

“She got her dress in New York City. Some big-name designer.” Aunt Georgia was best friends with Miss Minnie, who’d run the Lovelorn Press since forever, and was perhaps the most devoted fan of its gossip pages.

I considered the wedding trip more of a horror story, a long-ass, silent drive with my father who refused to fly, barely in Houston long enough to give Faith away to her older oil-rich husband. I’m not sure I would have noticed had Faith worn a feed sack because all I’d cared about was getting back home to Colt.

“See? What did I say? Fancy.” Aunt Georgia and Colt’s mom continued their conversation around me as I subtly stepped away from the table piled with potluck dishes toward Colt.

Like after Faith’s wedding, all I wanted was him, the relief of sitting near him, knowing he understood.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as we headed toward the arcade games. “And don’t lie and say nothing.”

“Not here,” I whispered through gritted teeth. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to tell Colt the whole story. One’s dad wishing them dead was heavy even for us. Simply being near him would help though.

“You still want to camp tonight?” he asked, eyes soft with concern. “I told Mom I’d probably be gone.”

“Hell yeah.” It might be our last chance. College wasn’t until fall, but I wasn’t sure how many more days on the ranch I could stomach, even for Colt. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Our spot.” That was what we called the place we’d camped after prom. We’d returned a few more times in the weeks since. We didn’t talk about what happened there. We didn’t do the things we did there anywhere else either. It was a sacred, magical space, and for a moment at least, there was nowhere else I’d rather be.

Chapter13

Colt

Now

Maverick could cook,which was hardly the most surprising thing about his reappearance in my life. I should have expected he’d acquire some basic life skills in twenty years, but the pizzas were as good as the ones at the fancy brewery in Durango. Maverick made a show out of using the gas grill on the porch out back of the kitchen, much to the delight of Hannah and Willow. Faith didn’t show up for dinner, but I knew better than to touch that topic.

“This is so fun!” Willow bounced in her seat at the picnic table near the grill. I sent her a pointed look to remember her manners, so she dutifully added, “Thank you, Maverick.”

“It was my pleasure.” Standing, Maverick scooped up plates and glasses.

“We’ll help clean up.” I stood as well, but Maverick waved a fork in an attempt to get me to sit back down.

“You’re our guests!” he protested. Predictable, but I could out stubborn even the most dedicated hosts.

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