Page 119 of One Little Lie
“Give me a word, Hatty?”
“Ebullience.”
Rylan turns toward the camera and rolls her forest green eyes that seem to glow on screen.
Fast forwarding the video, I find the next clip.
“Give me a word, Hatty?”
The camera follows her around the gardens of my childhood home. I remember telling her I was capturing nature, but we both knew it was a lie. I zoom in on her face, and it brings her freckles into view, but it’s her smile that takes my breath away. I fucking miss her smile. I miss her.
“For fuck’s sake. You’re as bad off as she is.”
Colton’s words startle me, and I nearly fall out of my chair. It’s after ten p.m. I thought the office was empty. The lid of my laptop slams closed. Again. I’m going to break the damn thing at this rate.
“What do you need, Colt?”
I don’t have the energy to fight with him.
“You look pathetic.”
“Thanks for the observation,brother. Do you need something, or are you just here to give me shit?”
He waltzes into my office and takes a seat across from me.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but you might look even worse than she does.”
My spine stiffens, and I hate that he’s spoken to her while I’m getting the silent treatment. “Is she okay?”
“No.”
I’m out of my chair before I know what I want to do. “What do you mean? Is she hurt? Sick? Is that why she isn’t answering my calls? Where is she? Why are you here? What do I need to do?”
His laughter pisses me off, and I’m close to punching the asshole. I have to take a step away so he can use his fucking words. Then I’ll punch him.
“I guess that answers my question.”
“What question?” If I grind my teeth anymore, they’re going to whittle down to nubs.
“If you love her.”
“Of course I love her. I told you I did.”
“And yet, she’s in New York, as miserable as I’ve ever seen her. Then there’s you.”
“What about me? I’m not in the mood for games, Colton. Just tell me what you have to say.”
“You’re here, angry at the world and taking it out on our employees. Why aren’t you in New York fighting for her?”
I’ve been asking myself the same question all damn day.
“Listen, I don’t know what happened between the two of you that had her jetting out of Vermont like her ass was on fire, but she’s miserable. You’re miserable. Get your head out of your ass and fix it.”
“Fix your shit,” I grumble. “Fuck, Colt. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to fix at this point.”
“Good thing I brought back up then.”
Lifting my head, I close my eyes and shake my head as Dexter saunters into my office, dragging a large whiteboard on wheels. As Preston’s best friend, he’s the OG of my adoptive brothers. He’s also slightly obsessive about happily ever after.
