Page 103 of Come Back to Me

But that’s the only thing that’d make sense.

I’m overreacting, aren’t I? My head says yes, yet my heart wants me to sob.

“No. We were just friends. But even so, he cut me off like I meant nothing to him and that… I know he had the right to. It ... We... I-I know I had feelings for him. It’s not his fault that he didn’t.”

“Cody’s not perfect, but he wouldn’t intentionally string you along. Is that how you feel?”

“No. I didn’t expect him to cut himself off entirely, though. I figured once he was retired, hell, we might graduate to phone calls. I wasn’t expecting him to dick me down!”

(Not immediately.)

Colt’s nose wrinkles. “Okay, leave it with me.”

I shouldn’t be relieved, and I should totally deal with this myself because he’s right—we outgrew the second grade a long time ago—but I’m so grateful that I pull him to a halt. “Thank you, Colt.”

He pats my hand. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. I know him. Not as well as I used to, granted, but he would never purposely hurt you. You don’t grow up in this house with Clyde for a father and believe in hurting women.”

The words resonate because I recognize that—the Korhonens are putzes for their womenfolk.

I mean, it’s endearing, but it makes this situation more bewildering.

As he drifts off, I return to Zee’s side after I grab her makeup bag from the dresser where I know she keeps that stuff.

I pick up where I left off, both of us quiet as she finishes off her email, then I murmur, “You didn’t have to drag him into it.”

“Sure, I did. I know you too well, Tee. You’re going to bury your head in the sand and a pity party will rage on around you.”

I yank on her hair. “Remember who’s wielding a comb.”

She rolls her eyes. “Tell me I’m not right. You like to hurt sometimes, Tee. I think it’s an artistic thing.”

I huff, refusing to think about my conversation with Nonna.

A smile dances on her lips. “See?”

Though I ignore her, I finish her braid and force her to face me so I can do her makeup.

She’s one of those lucky bitches who doesn’t really need it—god, it’s a good thing I love her.

When I’ve finished, she looks like two million bucks instead of a million, and I plunk my ass on her desk chair as she scuttles into the restroom to gather her things.

While she changes, she calls out, “I heard you last night.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your music. It’s changed.”

“How?”

“It’s deeper.” Her head pops around the door. “Richer.” Her shoulder hitches. “Intense. It was always beautiful, but now it has a texture to it that wasn’t there before.”

“Pigeon Creek agrees with me.”

“Apparently. When did Cody tell you he was Butch?”

“The same day we went shopping.”

Gasping, she peers around the door again, but this time so she can glare at me. “You gave me nothing but shit when I told you Colton and I kissed, but Cody breaks your heart and I don’t hear so much as a peep from you about it?”

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