Page 78 of One Little Lie
I squeeze her hand gently, a silent reassurance that we’ll be fine, and Colton raises his brow at the contact.
“Fine. But if I hear even one punch being thrown, I’m going to kick both of your asses. Where is Officer Jacobs? Am I allowed to just leave?”
Colton’s chuckle has me relaxing slightly. “Yeah, I posted bail while you two were sleeping. You’re all set.”
I stare at my brother. His posture says he is ready for a fight, but I don’t yet know what we’re going to fight about, so I stand guarded across from him. Rylan gives him a hug, whispers something that has my hands clenching at my sides, then leaves us alone.
The tension ratchets up tenfold as we stand, arms crossed over our similar build, staring, waiting for someone to make the first move.
“Did you take that bet?” Colt’s voice is even, but I see the muscles straining in his neck. The answer to this question will determine how we proceed, and, for once, I’m happy not to lie.
“I never would have done that, Colton.”
“But you told her you did. Why?”
“Colt, I-I’ve loved her my entire life—”
“Why?” he interrupts.
“Dad caught us coming into the house the next morning. He called me into his office.” Swallowing thickly, I sit back down on the cot, suddenly exhausted by eight years of lies. Resting my head in my hands, I tell him the truth, “Dad didn’t think I was good enough for her. He said I couldn’t do that to you either because you loved her first. We didn’t really fight about it. I was too weak to stand there and listen to him tell me how you were the better man for the girl my soul lived for. I yelled at him. I cut him off before he could finish, and when I got back, he … he had died.”
“So, you pushed her away … for me? Without ever talking to me about it? Allowing yourself to die a little more every day because your soul, as you call it, was halfway around the world with another man?”
Lifting my head, I find Colton tucking his sunglasses into the neck of his collared shirt.
He slowly crosses the room and sits beside me before continuing, “And you think it’s your fault Dad died.”
My head is swimming. For eight years, I’ve kept all my lies buried deep in my heart, and now within twelve hours, they’re being ripped from me for a second time.
“If I’d stayed … if I’d fought for her, I would have been there with him when he collapsed. I could have gotten him help, and maybe he would still be alive.”
“Shit. What the fuck is wrong with our family?”
Turning my head to the side, I stare at my brother in confusion.
“Halton, you weren’t the last person to see Dad. You weren’t even the last person to fight with him. Did you not listen to anything that night in the hospital?”
“I …”
Did I? I don’t remember much after seeing the pain I caused on Rylan’s face.
“I don’t remember being at the hospital at all,” I admit.
“Why does everyone in this goddamn family think they have to be a martyr? For Christ’s sake, Halton. Dad wasn’t your fault, but we’ll talk about that with everyone when we get home. These fucking secrets are killing us all. As for Rylan? I’m sorry.”
I’m so shocked I choke on a breath that gets lodged in my throat.
“You’re sorry? What the fuck for?”
Colton flashes a shy grin while gripping the back of his neck. “I never noticed. I wasn’t a very good friend to her when we were kids, and apparently, I was an even shittier brother. I missed what everyone else in our life saw. If I hadn’t been so selfish, I would have seen the love you guys had for each other, and I would have known to put an end to this bullshit before it ever happened.”
“What? What are you—”
“Halton. If I had paid attention, even once, to the relationship you guys had, I would have known when you hurt her that something was wrong. I’ve spent all this time thinking it was some faceless asshole from school. If I’d known it was you, I would have fucking killed you, then brought you back to life and told you to fix it. So, I’m sorry I’m so selfish. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for either of you the way I should have been.”
“Colt. No, this isn’t your—”
“No, it’s not all my fault, but I accept my piece in it. Do you love her?”
