Page 69 of Puck King
The duo came to a stop in front of me, and Colton hopped off the horse effortlessly. “Ali.”
I shoved my foot in Daisy’s stirrup.
“Stop. Before you run, I have something to show you.”
“Colton.” I put my foot on the ground. “I don—”
“Catch.” He tossed a cell phone at me, and I instinctively grabbed it. “Press play.”
I shook my head and was about to toss the phone back to him, but he took off his sunglasses and put his hands together in a prayer position. “Please, Ali. I just rode the craziest stallion in your barn so I could show you this. Please watch it.”
I blew on my fingertips, wondering if they were warmed up enough to press play. As I did, a man’s face came on the screen. “Who is this?” My brow furrowed at the screen.
“Just watch.” Colton and Wolfie stepped closer as the video played. The man, who looked to be about twenty years old, was sitting at a metal table across from a man who identified himself as an investigator but looked more like a retired Navy SEAL. The investigator slid some incriminating photos across the table and asked the young man to explain each one. The camera panned out and I caught Everleigh standing in the shadows. Colton was now looking over my shoulder. “The young guy’s name is Ricky.”
I squinted at the small screen and turned up the audio on the phone. Ricky identified himself in several of the photos with Brittany, and conceded that they’d been taken during her relationship with Colton. Ricky admitted that they had conspired together to set Colton up, and bribe the King family to keep the story quiet.
Ricky had been with Brittany the entire time she’d been with Colton. She was the cheater. Not Colton.
“Colton,” I whispered. “This…”
“I know.” He took the phone from my hand and put it in his pocket. “Ali, your hands – they’re freezing.”
I let Colton rub my hands between his, then watched as he brought our hands to his lips, gently blowing warm air on them. “Colton.” When I looked into his blue eyes, I couldn’t believe that I’d ever doubted him.
“Before you say anything, there’s something I have to tell you.”
I couldn’t tell whether it was good or bad news. My throat constricted and I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded.
Colton rubbed my hands vigorously, then kissed the back of each one. “Ali. I wasn’t going to stop until you knew the truth.” He squeezed my hands. “What we have isn’t something that you just give up on.” He cupped my cheek with his hand, his palm radiating warmth throughout my entire body. “Ali. I love you.”
I managed to gulp away the lump in my throat. My voice trembled. “I love you too, Colton. I shouldn’t have ever doubted you.”
Wolfie whinnied and stomped his hoof, as though he was telling us to get on with it. Colton chuckled, and the world disappeared around us as his lips found mine. I melted into his arms and could’ve stayed there for eternity, but Colton pulled back and tucked my tangled hair behind my ear. “Come on, Ali. Let’s get you warm.”
“I can’t wait to introduce you to my family.”
Colton chuckled. “Let’s just say I’ve already met your father and brother.”
“Oh—”
“It’s okay,” he interrupted. “Now.”
I smiled and put my foot in the stirrup.
“Hey, Alison. I have one favor to ask before we go back.”
Pausing, I tilted my head. “Shoot.”
“Can I ride the brown horse instead?” As if on cue, Wolfie reared up and let out his best Oscar-worthy whinny.”
I smiled and took the reins from him, giving him Daisy. “Try to keep up.” I winked.
It wasn’t sunset, but the two of us rode off together to start our new life.
Epilogue
Six MonthsLater
