Page 40 of Wreckage of Me
“I’m fine,” I wave him off, then it registers what he actually said to me. “What the hell are you saying?”
“What?” He takes a couple of steps back, looking a bit intimidated in spite of his size compared to mine.
“You don’t think I’m in good shape?” I mean, I could work out more, but hell, I work all the time, I don’t feel like working out too. I thought I was in decent shape.
“You look great,” Colt throws his hands out, pointing at me. “Doesn’t she look great?” He turns to Dylan, begging for help.
“Pretty damn hot, if you ask me,” Dylan runs his eyes up and down my body, making me feel completely uncomfortable. This cannot be happening in front of my little brother.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I turn my eyes back to Colton. “I thought you had two more days of training.”
“Something came up,” he hesitates, not for long, but I notice it. “Coach said I should head home.”
“Everything okay?” I start playing with the hem of my scrubs, worried that something happened and I need a plan to help him fix it.
“Yeah, totally,” Colt nods, but he refuses to meet my eyes.
“Is all that still on?” I ask in a tentative voice. I mean, if he lost the full scholarship to play ball, I’ll figure out a way to pay for his college. He has money in his account, and I’ll work more overtime, I can even sell this house if needed…
“It’s all good, sis.” He grabs me in a tight hug, almost lifting me off the ground.
“Put me down, you little asshole,” I burst into laughter. “That’s enough, Colt,” I try in a sterner voice when he instead starts tickling my sides.
He finally puts me down. I almost lose my balance when I take a step back, only to run into Dylan, who is suddenly at my back.
“Easy there, baby,” he whispers right before he drops a kiss on the top of my head.
“Hey,” my brother notices the move and is back to looking pissed. He then turns his eyes to me. “Is this the guy? And he better be since I already punched him in the face.”
“What guy?” I really hope he’s not going to create a scene.
“The guy who made you cry before.” He looks at Dylan with fire in his eyes. “She cried for weeks, asshole.”
“Colton, that’s enough.” I am so embarrassed right now, and I really don’t want Dylan to know how heartbroken I was after our last encounter.
“No, Becky, he needs to know,” Colt insists. “If you followed her here just to hurt her again, then you can go back to Texas or wherever the hell you came from. Leave my sister alone.” He takes a menacing step forward, which puts me on high alert.
“Colt, I’m fine, I swear.” I then look at Dylan. “I was fine then too, promise. Just maybe a little upset. But fine.”
I continue rambling on, hearing myself talking and wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. How did I end up in this situation?
“Colton,” Dylan finally cuts into my mumbling a bunch of nothings. “Thank you for taking such good care of your sister, man.” He stretches his hand out to my brother again, and I pray that, unlike earlier, Colton will actually go ahead and act like he’s got manners.
I let out a huge sigh of relief when my brother slaps his hand against Dylan’s, maybe a little too forcefully.
“I just wanted to surprise you by coming home early,” he turns to me to say. “I’m sorry if I interrupted something important.” His eyes move from me to Dylan and back. I start calming down a bit.
“You’re good, Colt. I’m so happy to have you home,” I assure him. “This is your home too,” I remind him with a teasing tone.
“I’ll go to my room.” He is about to walk out of the room when I stop him.
“Colt, wait. I need to go change… My pants…” I feel myself blushing furiously. He makes me laugh when he averts his eyes from my bottom half and blushes as well.
“Yeah, go.”
I walk to him to give him a quick hug. “Be nice,” I whisper in his ear. “I’ll be right back,” I call to Dylan as I rush up the stairs to my room.
As soon as I’m in my room, I slam the door shut and rest against it. “Jesus,” I whisper to myself.
