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“I can’t stay here.” He ripped the hat off his head and threw it on the floor. “I have to get out of here.”
“I get the feeling it’s not because they let you go.”
“No.” His voice was gravel. “I can’t be here. My buddy’s sister—” He broke off, struggling hard, fingers biting into the phone he gripped.
“I think I see.” Ross’s tone edged into Colton’s psyche.
It cut.
It injured.
He didn’t like being judged by someone he respected. He didn’t like looking like a failure. Hell, he didn’t even know Ross well enough to share, yet right now, he needed a listening ear.
His throat worked. “I have feelings for Meadow that I shouldn’t. Forest…he didn’t want this.”
“Nox. I hear what you’re saying, but did it ever occur to you that Forest wanted you to be with Meadow?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “No way. I’m going to leave as soon as possible. But first, I have to tell her father.”
* * * * *
Meadow let out a low groan as pain stabbed her temples. This time she wasn’t going to be so lucky, getting off without a hangover. She knew better than to drink tequila.
The heavy throb behind her eyes exaggerated the sick knot in her stomach.
She deserved whatever she got. Colton was right—she should act like the woman Forest expected her to be.
So what was the matter with her? She could blame her behavior in her teen years on losing her mother young. But a decade had passed, and it was time to grow up and act accordingly.
Slowly, she cracked open an eye. Luckily, her blinds were closed against the bright rays of sun that would shoot directly into the back of her skull. Long minutes ticked by as she replayed the events of the previous night.
Seeing the man she wanted with Gabby had set her off.
No, that was no excuse either.
She had to get her life together. For Forest, for her baby sister Ivy who couldn’t bring herself to even come home to this broken godforsaken family with a brother who was dead, a father who’d hidden his emotions behind a mask for the past decade…and a fucked-up sister.
What was Meadow doing with her life? She didn’t contribute to the ranch at all. She’d taken off far too many days from training horses. That didn’t help the ranch’s bottom line when they depended on getting top dollar at auction.
At some point, she began seeking attention—negative attention was better than no attention. She knew she wasn’t the person she portrayed. The girl who drank too much and put herself in dangerous situations.
Forest had been concerned about her. That both stung and left her heart weeping even more for his loss. Out of anybody in the world, she only had her brother.
That didn’t excuse her behavior. Her family had a reputation to uphold—three generations’ worth—and she was dragging it down each time she stepped foot in Badlands with a bad attitude and worse behavior.
She never should have gone there last night. Looking for Colton had led to even more trouble. Now the man only saw her as an immature kid who needed punished…when all she was looking for was love.
A tear leaked from the corner of her eye to wet her pillow. Another fell in rapid succession.
She had no one in this world. Her mother could never come into Meadow’s room and sit on the edge of her bed, talking for hours about these things. Her father cut himself off from a world of pain. Her little sister was on the run from life…and Forest…
Well, he’d brought Colton to her, hadn’t he?
Why? What was that man supposed to do to help them? He refused to even speak to Meadow unless she provoked him beyond reason. Even if he sat down with her, what were the chances that he’d actually talk about Forest?
She let out a sniffle and got out of bed. She was finished feeling so low. Done making mistakes. From this moment on, she would do better.
After a quick shower and slugging down a couple of pain pills with strong coffee, she donned her hat and boots and went outside to face the new day.
