Page 59 of Soldier Cowboy
The opposite of love wasn’t hate. It was indifference.
Sadly, he did not look even slightly indifferent.
CHAPTER15
“This is not the time or the place,” Colton said.
He was trying to be a gentleman but every time he tried to extricate himself from Cherisse to get to Riggs, she put herself in his way. And Riggs, whose son apparently had a fascination with forks, kept following the boy from table to table, bending down to take one away.
“When else am I going to be able to talk to you? You’re not going to have anything to do with me. But if I do nothing else, I want us to be friends again.”
“Don’t bother.”
It was the height of hubris for Cherisse to think he would take any time to listen to a word she said.
“You’re still angry, aren’t you?” She crossed her arms. “I broke your heart, and you’ll never forgive me.”
He snorted. “Don’t make this all about you.”
“Then what’s it about if not the way Taylor and I hurt you?”
“It didn’t occur to you that I have a few other things on my mind today and you’re not the center of the universe?”
“I know I’m not. I’m guessing that would be your fiancée.”
He threw a glance in Jennifer’s direction as he’d been doing every few seconds in addition to scanning the crowd for anyone who looked out of place.
This time, she met his eyes then quickly looked away.
“Please, Colton. Please forgive me. I’mreallysorry.”
Allow yourself to be vulnerable,the therapist had said.
Not with her. Hell, he’d forgotten that part of treatment and assimilating back into society. He still had his walls strong and high, and he hadn’t eased them down an inch. Not a centimeter, not even with Riggs. Only Delores, of course, and Sean because, well…he wasSean.
And then there was Jennifer.
Jennifer, who stood out here today, so beautiful, and almost regal in the midst of all these small-town country folks. Jennifer, who’d drank too much rum, who wanted to give him a huggle, and who made pirate references to one of his favorite movies. It seemed he’d opened himself up to her because he felt…invested. There was no other word for it. This favor had stopped being a job almost from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. He cared probably more than he should about what happened to her. He wanted to protect her because she’d somehow vaulted over the high walls he’d constructed. She understood him, warts and all.
“Fine, I forgive you.” Colton sidestepped her and finally made eye contact with Riggs.
He seemed overwhelmed and already exhausted. He’d come to parenthood later in life than some, so it was no surprise. Wonder what on earth Riggs would do if one of his kids wanted nothing to do with the cattle ranch.
“Hey, Riggs.”
He looked up briefly. “Yeah?”
“I’ve been meaning to schedule a time to talk with you.”
“Aboutwhat?” The words were short and choppy, and anyone could hear the anger laced through them.
“My place at the ranch.”
“There’s nothing to schedule or talk about. You have a place as long as you’re here.”
As long as you’re here.Colton reminded himself that Riggs didn’t know how difficult this was for Colton. He had no idea that Colton was feeling awkward and vulnerable and trying to work with that.
Riggs picked up his son, Colton didn’t really know which one this was. They both looked like carbon copies of a smaller Riggs. The kid squirmed in his arms.
