Page 80 of One Little Lie
Standing in a tiny, outdated jailhouse, I’m happy.
“I’d forgotten what this feels like,” I admit as we walk outside into the rising sun.
“What’s that?” Rylan and Colt ask at the same time.
“Being happy.”
Colton stutter steps, then places a hand on his hip and stares between Rylan and me.
“Yeah, this is weird.”
My chest seizes. Is he going to say he can’t handle us together? After all that?
“I’d almost forgotten what your smile looked like. Happy to have you back, brother. Now come on. I’ll drop you delinquents off. You still need to find Pacen. Ash is … well, Ash is losing his damn mind.”
Guilt punches me in the face, but I don’t dwell on it. With Rylan by my side, we’ll find Pacen.I hope.
“We’ll never live this down, will we?” Rylan slaps a hand over her forehead, and I tuck her into my side as we follow Colt to his golf cart.
“Oh, Ryguy. Never. This is going to be fodder for years. I mean, you got arrested for …” He laughs so hard he can’t finish.
“Yeah, yeah. Fornicating in public. Can we not tell our parents, though? Geez,” she groans.
“Technically, you did not get arrested. You were just detained. No cuffs were used, and Officer Jacobs didn’t even file the paperwork.”
“Really?” She glances up at me with those green eyes, and my heart skips a beat.
I’m happy.
Pulling the golf cart onto the road, Colt fills in the details of our bail. “Yeah, I talked to Jacobs this morning. Apparently, Blake Kingston put in a good word for you. What the hell was he doing here, anyway?”
“Struggling, I think.”
“Hmm. I’ll have to call Lochlan. He was closer to Blake than any of us were. Speaking of, did you submit your portfolio to his sister, Nova?” Colt calls over his shoulder so Rylan can hear him from the back seat.
“I did. Just before we left Burke. I haven’t heard anything yet, though.”
Colt takes the turn into the driveway at full speed and almost flips the golf cart.
“Jesus, Colty. What the hell?”
“Just having a little fun,” he laughs, but it dies on his lips as the lean-to comes into view.
Sitting on the edge with her feet dangling below her is Pacen Macomb.
Chapter 26
Rylan
As soon as the golf cart comes to a stop, I jump out.
“Freaking hell, Colty. You’re a menace sometimes, you know that?” Stomping my foot, I turn toward the lean-to and stop mid-stride. “Pacen? Geez, we’ve been looking for you.”
“I figured. How’s Ash?” She sounds sad, and the closer I get, the more I notice the void in her eyes. There’s no emotion there.
“He’s struggling,” Hatty replies. He must notice her vacant stare, too. “Pacen? Are you okay?”
Colton steps forward and wraps her in a hug. He’s either oblivious to her state or ignoring it. With him it’s hard to tell. Hatty and I stand back and watch as he wraps her up with her arms hanging listlessly to her side.
