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“If you feel like this is something you need to do, then I understand. Just come back to me.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “I will.”
I just hoped what Austin had to say didn’t make things worse. I wanted to believe that I was the man for Remi.
“We might have fallen back into each other’s lives because of chance, but I know we belong together. I love you, Colton.”
“I love you too. Go to sleep.” We hung up, and I hoped I’d be able to wake her in the morning with what she wanted to hear—I was the one for her.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to the address listed for Austin. It was a small home on the outskirts of the city. Taking a chance that he had the same number from college, I texted him.
If I didn’t hear back, I’d knock on the door. I wanted to get back to Annapolis, back to Remi. I wanted to slide into bed with her and hold her tight.
Then it hit me: maybe I wasn’t the one who needed to keep her safe. Maybe my role was to be her soft spot to land. Her safe space at the end of a long day and the beginning of another one. I’d lift her up and support her. Before I could fully flesh the idea out, my phone vibrated.
Austin: You in town?
Colton: I’m parked outside your house.
A few seconds later, the porch light came on, and the door opened. I got out of my car, crossing the street.
Austin stood there. His hair was shorter. He’d always been lean, but he was thinner. “What are you doing here?”
“I was hoping we could talk.” I hadn’t thought through what would happen if he didn’t want to talk.
He glanced at my truck, then at me. “Come in. You’re a cop now?”
I stepped inside. “I am.”
“I heard you enlisted.”
“I did. Did my four years, then went back home to be a police officer.”
He gestured for me to sit across from him on the couch. “Congratulations.”
“I didn’t come here to talk about me. I wanted to see how you were doing. I feel bad about not coming to see you sooner.”
Austin rested his elbows on his thighs. “I remember you stopping by the hospital.”
Surprised, I said, “I didn’t think you were awake.”
“I was in and out. I appreciated you coming by. What’s going on?” He wanted to know why I was here now.
I took a few seconds to gather my thoughts. “I felt responsible for what happened in college. Your partying and drinking. It got out of control, and I didn’t realize it. I wasn’t there for you.”
Austin’s brow furrowed.
“I should have been more involved. I should have gotten you help.”
“What college kid thinks that a friend’s partying was an addiction? You drink, party hard, and sleep through classes.”
“Not everyone does that.” I hadn’t. I was disciplined, even back then.
Austin shook his head. “We went to a party school. I was there to have fun. If it got out of control, it was on me.”
“You don’t—you don’t blame me for not seeing it?”
He shook his head. “No, man. That blame rests with me. I’ve been in rehab. I know the drill. I should be apologizing for not being a good friend to you.”
