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I don’t know what time I fell asleep, but I tossed and turned all night until finally succumbing to exhaustion. There’s so much I need to get a handle on, few of which I have the desire to face. I need to talk to Jett. There’s a huge hole in my memory where whatever happened at his place is supposed to be. All I remember is him saying I needed to sleep with him in order for him to forgive me. The next thing I knew, I was at Blake’s.
There’s no way I would have slept with him. But what happened next? Why can’t I remember? He was so vile in his voicemails. I’ve never seen that side of him, but there’s a lot I didn’t think was possible when it came to him. Apparently, he’s full of surprises. Damn surprises.
Then there is returning one of my mom’s seven calls. I know what it’s all about, but I really have no desire to delve into my ruined proposal. Especially since it’s not like she wants to talk about it because she cares about me. She just wants to feed off the details. Yeah, I’ll put that one off a little while longer.
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. The only way out is through. Time to start the day so I can get it over with. I head toward the living room, but stop in the hallway when I overhear Blake and Ty talking.
“I have to get back. Coach will kill me if I practice.” Ty is awful at whispering, but I can tell he’s trying. He and Colt stayed at Blake's apartment last night since it was so late. Tyson took Blake's bed, and she slept with me, leaving Colt on the couch. I have no idea how he could have gotten good sleep on that tiny couch with his large frame, but that's not really my problem.
“I know. And I need to go see mom or she’s going to kill me. She already paid for my tickets, I can’t not go.” They’re talking about me like I’m their child and they’re trying to figure out who is going to stay home with the sick kid. Great, I’m officially a pity friend.
I lean my head back against the wall. In for four, out for four.
“Hey Libs.” Colt’s voice is quiet, but it's loud enough to make my body light up from the inside.
I roll my head to the side and look up at him, leaning against the wall a few feet away from me. “Hey.” His lips curl up in the corners. “What?” I ask, fighting the urge to smile back. His energy is infectious.
“Nothing.” He crosses his arms over his chest, causing his muscles to flex under the shirt he was wearing last night. My mind starts to wander, wondering what his muscles would look like flexing above me. But I sober as soon as I remember the shirt I’m wearing, which happens to be the same moment his eyes trail down my body. At the shirt I never changed out of after my shower. His shirt.
“It doesn’t feel like nothing.” I counter, feeling a confidence boost from the way he’s taking me in. What the hell has gotten into me?
Colt’s gaze narrow. “What does it feel like?”
Holy shit. My insides stir. He’s so blunt it makes me dizzy, but this time it’s not from anxiety. Colt is so blunt… and it feels… “Dangerous.”
His eyes darken to a tempting onyx. “You think I’m dangerous, Libby?”
“Yes.” In the most delicious way. A way that is too risky to taste. My life is in shambles, I’m on the brink of a breakdown every minute of every day, and I have no idea how I’m going to get my footing back.
Colt pushes off the wall, taking one slow step toward me. My heart beats faster and a wave of warmth rushes through my body, settling at my core. Keeping eye contact, he takes another step, now only inches from my face and puts his hands in his pockets. He's so close I can feel the heat from his body. A small gasp escapes me and his gaze goes straight to my mouth.
“I pride myself on being a gentleman, Libs. But unless you want me to claim that mouth of yours right now, I’m going to need you to stop doing that.” Whiskey eyes bore into mine again. “I’m hanging by a thread here.”
I quickly snap my mouth shut.
“Thank you.” The raspy sound of his voice fills my veins with electricity. Towering over me, a playful smile ghosts his lips. “Are you scared of me, Libby?”
“No.” The word escapes before I even think of the answer, but it’s honest. Being around Colt puts me on edge, but it's not the edge I'm used to. This edge promises a beautiful fall. But what happens at the bottom is what keeps me from jumping over.
Colt studies me with an intensity that has me nervously tucking my bottom lip in. His eyes fall to mouth again, and I fight the urge to test him. But I know better than to play with fire. You only ever get burned.
“Good.” When his focus comes back to mine, the intensity is too much, but I can’t look away. With a small shake of his head, he walks past me.
My chest heaves from the loss of his presence. Everything feels lighter, almost blissful. What is it about that man that can make me feel so much and I forget all the bad that’s happening? I take a moment to gather myself before entering the living room.
Blake smiles at me from the kitchen. “Good morning! How’d you sleep?” She's always been a night owl and an early bird, so she went to bed after I had already fallen asleep, and was up before me. I don't know how the hell she does it. It's like she never runs out of energy.
“I slept okay.” It’s a lie, but I try my best to fake it.
“Good!” She’s extra peppy this morning, and it’s kind of annoying. Mostly because it’s probably for my benefit.
Colt walks up to me with a cup of coffee and holds it out. I smile and take it from him, careful to not let our hands touch in the process.
“So I have to go visit mom and Ty has to get back to Nola for practice, but he doesn’t need to be there until later this afternoon, so he can probably hang out for a little longer if you’re up for the company.”
“You really don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine here by myself.” I hate that I feel like a burden to my friends.
“It’s no biggie, Little Bird. I’m looking forward to getting you to myself for a few hours.” Tyson winks at me and Colt mumbles something under his breath.
