Page 16 of One Night

“Don’t be sorry. What do we do?”

“We tell him what’s going on.”

“No, we most certainly do not tell him what’s going on. He’ll lose it.”

Colton holds me against his chest. “He’ll be mad, but he’ll get over it.”

I laugh as another heavy knock hits the door. “Yeah, and what proof do you have to back that up? My father is still holding a grudge against the bag boy from Price-Mart in the Springs from ten years ago because he missed a tube of toothpaste. He’s not going to forgive us for this. This is way bigger than a missed item in a grocery bag.” My heart pounds against my chest as I speak. “Plus, what are we even doing? This isn’t permanent, remember?”

He huffs under his breath and pulls out of me before grabbing the t-shirt off the ground and tugging it over my head. “Okay, so we’ll wait. I’ll follow your lead.”

My lead? Yeah, right.

Colton tugs on his boxers and pulls on the t-shirt he was wearing, before I open the door and accept the fate that I know is coming.

The guilt. The terrible, awful, stomach twisting guilt.

God, what was I thinking? Colton is twenty years older than me. He’s my father’s best friend. This is wrong. Really, stupidly wrong.

Dad leans into me and kisses the top of my head before handing me a pink box with the pie shops logo stamped on top. “Last piece. Turns out everyone in town likes that Potter fellow.” He steps one boot inside the door. “Where’s that buddy of mine? I’ve got a bone to pick with him.”

“A bone to pick?” My voice lifts to heights that only a liar knows as I say, “What kind of bone?”

Colton steps around the door with a glass bottle of beer in his hand. “Hey, man. What’s goin’ on?” There’s a slight difference in his voice. My father isn’t the most observant man in the universe, but he will definitely notice the shift in tone.

“You left your broke fuckin’ ATV in the driveway all week. You plan on draggin’ that home anytime soon or is it my problem now?”

Colton laughs. “Your problem now, I reckon. Broke on your property.” This is usual banter for my father and Colton, so maybe this won’t be as weird as I thought it would be.

Dad glances toward me. “You hear from your sister?”

“No, why? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just worried about her. I know she’s struggling after the divorce. Last I heard she was going to adopt a big dog.”

My brows narrow. “Haven’t heard anything about that. I’ll have to check on it.” I step back as I talk, fidgeting with the torn hem of Colton’s t-shirt.

Colton’s t-shirt.I’m wearing nothing but Colton’s t-shirt.

Heat flushes over my cheeks and my throat goes dry. “Well, I should probably get to bed. I’ve gotta get up early with the kid and…” I continue to back up, desperate to escape. Trouble is, there’s a chair pulled out I’m not expecting and my foot catches it, sending me down to the ground with the pie box still in hand.

Humiliation.That’s an emotion I was hoping I wouldn’t have to add to my bingo card today.

Colton turns back, sets his beer on the table, and lifts me from the ground as though I’m a feather. “Jesus, honey. You okay?”

“Yeah,” I say low, though I’m not sure I’m okay at all. Not because of the fall, but because of the way my father is staring at us.

Colton sets me on the edge of the kitchen counter and brushes his big, rough hand down over my smooth leg. “There’s no swelling. Does it hurt to rotate?”

“No, I’m okay.” Our eyes meet, and a spark of electricity runs through me in the same way it had earlier. My lips ache for his. My body aches for his. My entire existence aches for his.

“You okay, Nora?” Dad steps forward, his focus turning to Colton. “She’s okay, man.”

If he didn’t notice something was up before, he notices now.

“Yeah,” I jump down from the counter. “I just tripped. I’m fine. I really should get to bed, though.”

“I’ve gotta take off anyway,” Dad groans as he reaches for a hug, which I oblige… though it’s weird. “Work comes early. Let me know what you think of that pie, kiddo. Love you.”

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