Page 92 of One Little Lie
“What are you talking about?”
“On the mountain? You might as well decorate it. Halton has no style, and since it’ll be yours, too, you might as well get in on the décor. These houses are going to go up quickly.”
“We just fucked, Colt. You have us moving in together already? I haven’t even asked her out!”
My eyes close painfully, Hatty’s words slicing like barbed wire.
“Fuck. That’s … That’s not what I meant. Rylan, that’s—”
I hold up a hand to keep him from spiraling. “It’s fine.”
“The hell it is,” Colton barks. “Halton, we talked about this. You need to get your shit sorted. If you’re doing this,” he gestures between Hatty and me, “then you’re all in. I won’t let you hurt her again.”
“I don’t plan to,” Hatty grinds out.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t plan to break my arm in fifth grade either, but I did. You’re not going to break her again.”
Placing my fingers between my lips, I let out a loud, ear-piercing whistle.
My two favorite Westbrooks slowly turn their stormy gazes my way.
“I’m right here. You’re talking about me as if I’m not, and I don’t appreciate it. Hatty, Colton’s right. We do need to talk about what’s going on before anyone gets hurt. Colton, I know you’re trying to protect me, but this isn’t your fight. You have to let us go at our own pace. Marrying us off tomorrow isn’t the path we’re on, so you need to back up at least twenty steps.”
Both men bow their heads but nod in silent agreement.
“This is going to suck.” Colton pouts. “I’m going to be the third wheel now. Will you still let me snuggle during movie nights?”
“You snuggle him during movie nights?” Hatty growls, and I know Colty is going to have a field day riling him up.
“No, I don’t snuggle him.”
“Will I have to sit on the opposite booth by myself, or can I squeeze in with you guys?”
Hatty raises his head, finally realizing Colton is fucking with him, and they both laugh.
“Listen, Halt. You seriously need to figure this out, okay? Don’t ruin a good thing. I’m sorry about how everything went down.”
Hatty grabs the back of his neck with a rough squeeze.
“Have you talked to Ash?”
Colton shakes his head. “Dillon said Ash sent him home today. Wouldn’t even let him into the trailer to get his laptop. But …”
Hatty and I both raise our gaze in concern at Colton’s tone.
“What?” Hatty barks.
“Dillon said he thinks Ash isn’t in a good place.”
“No shit.”
“No, you don’t understand. Dillon said as he was leaving, things started crashing. Like, smashing and breaking. He couldn’t see anything, but he could hear it. He thinks Ash went ape shit about an hour ago.”
“Well, did anyone go check on him?” Hatty sounds panicked, and I don’t blame him. That doesn’t sound like Ashton at all.
“I tried. He wouldn’t let me in. He told me to go away.”
Hatty glances at his watch. “It’s late. What was going on when you went up there?”
