Page 62 of One Little Kiss
“But aren’t you upset Colton moved strangers into his home?” I can’t help but ask the question. It’s been bothering me for days. What must his family think of me?
“Why would I? I admit, I was surprised, but not concerned or upset. I always knew when Colton fell in love, he’d fall hard, fast, and forever.”
“Oh, no. You’re mistaken. We’re not even dating.”
She pats my leg and smiles. “Oh, Winnie. I know my son. He’s never looked at anyone the way he does you. And Wes? That child is already a part of him.”
I swallow feelings and questions and so many emotions I’m surprised I don’t choke.
“It’s okay to go slow. And I commend you for putting your brother first. You’re a remarkable woman, Winnie. Your mother would be very proud. But I also see so much of myself in you.”
I snort. I actually snort because we couldn’t be more different.
“I’ll tell you my story someday, but I wasn’t always a Westbrook.” She winks, and I gape at her. “Once upon a time, I was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who thought she had to do everything herself. Clinton, that was my husband, he had to work hard to get through my walls, but when I realized he was a man of his word and I let him in? He changed me, Winnie. He opened my eyes to partnership. What a real relationship should be. When he broke down my barriers, I finally found myself. Colt is just like his father. If you can find it in your heart to let him in, I think you’ll find an army of people ready and willing to join your battles. Sometimes trusting others feels like an impossible feat, but nothing is as hard as trusting yourself after being knocked down so many times. Find a way to trust yourself again, and I think you’ll find my son on the other side waiting for you.”
“How? You don’t even know me. How can you be so sure? What if I’m not the one for Colton?”
“I know enough,” she says cryptically, then nods in GG’s direction. “Plus, I’m in the habit of trusting my boys and their decisions. Colton loves you, honey. The mess with our company will sort itself out. But I have a feeling he’s shown you who he is. Trust yourself enough to make your own judgments. Now, let’s get you out of here and something to eat before Colton comes looking for you, okay?”
They lead me to the family room where people mill about. Enough food to feed a stadium is on every available surface. Colton sits on the floor, leaning against the sofa with Wes at his side. My little brother runs a train up and down Colton’s leg as he feeds him bites of pasta.
I sit on the sofa just off to the side, and when I sink into the cushion, Colton turns to me, content but full of concern. “How are you doing?”
“I think I just got a pep talk from your mom.”
His brow shoots up to his hairline, but Lexi places a plate of food in my lap. He nods to her appreciatively.
“They’ll be leaving soon,” he whispers. “They just needed to make sure you were okay.”
“Why?” It slips from my lips, and I feel the heat rushing to my cheeks.
“Because you’re mine, which means you’re theirs,” he murmurs, leaning in to place a kiss on my open palm. “I’m so sorry about today, CC.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” It really wasn’t, but no part of me wants to have this conversation in front of his family. It feels too personal. Too intimate. Too … much.
Someone clears their throat, and we both glance up. Preston looms over us, and my throat goes dry. Colton shifts his weight and lifts both him and Wes to the sofa beside me with a hand on my knee.
“Winnie?” Preston hums.
A sound rumbles deep in Colton’s chest, and Preston lifts his hands with a smirk identical to Colton’s.
“I owe you an apology,” Preston continues. “I don’t think you’ve gotten a very good impression of me since you’ve been here. I’m not usually this …”
“Much of an asshat?” Colton supplies helpfully.
“I was going to say surly. But yes. Unfortunately, you’ve seen the worst side of me, and for that, I apologize. It has nothing to do with you specifically. It’s the situation we’re in and that I’m unable to fix it.”
Staring at him, I find a kindred spirit. Someone who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders but carries it alone.
“There’s no need to apologize,” I tell him, feeling more confident with each passing minute.
“Yes, there is,” Colton and Preston exclaim in unison.
“Anyway,” Preston smiles, “I will do better. But, Colt? I don’t accept your resignation. We’ll figure it out. We always do.”
“We do when you talk to us, Pres. We’re stronger together. We’ve always known that. We need to be a united front. Always.”
“I know.”
