“He’s fucking gay. Or, I guess, bisexual, asexual, pansexual? Hell if I know which, but he’s not straight,” I gush, unable to contain my excitement.
She shoots me a look that would make most men crumble. “Colton Lee Dawson…what the hell did you do to him?”
The accusation makes my blood boil, and I fix her with a wild look. “No, Halle. You didn’t hear me. He’s not straight. Okay? We were flirting all night, and when I cornered him in the hallway, not only was he rock fucking hard, but I felt the outline of his dick. The look on his face made me want to devour him whole. Halle, he’s meant to be mine. I fucking know it as well as I know my own goddamn name.”
My heart thrashes wildly in my chest from being able to say it out loud.
Her eyes soften, and something like pity crosses her face. “Colt, babe, if you’re meant to be then why didn’t you go home together? Or better yet, why did I see him practically bolt out of here, like the devil himself was on his heels?”
Reaching across the bar, she takes my hand in hers, squeezing gently. “I love you, but now I know what devil was at his heels.” Pausing, her features soften. “Why are you chasing a man who clearly isn’t interested? Don’t you want someone who wants you back? You’re chasing after the idea of you and the town’s Golden Boy, for what…? Retaliation? Or maybe a summer fling?”
Jerking my hand out of hers, my temper flares. “Halle, I’m not just fucking chasing someone who doesn’t want me. Did you miss the part where I felt his very hard erection? We had been flirtingallnight. Maybe he ran because he’s scared. This is a small town, and last I checked, he still has a girlfriend. People are allowed to be unsure of their sexuality or not ready for everyone to know. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t want me. He does. Iknowhe does.”
Halle sets down the glass she’s drying and looks at me. “Do you know, or do youwantto know? Because those aren’t the same thing, and you’re smart enough to know the difference.”
I open my mouth, then stop myself. The truth is, I’m not completely sure…but I haven’t wanted to be this sure about something in a long time.
“Both,” I say finally. “I want it to be true,andI also think it is. I’m aware that’s not a great foundation, but, Halle…” I meet her gaze. “I didn’t imagine what happened in that hallway. Whatever else is uncertain, that part isn’t.”
Throwing her hands up in mock surrender, she continues washing the glasses. “Okay, Colt. Say I do believe you—you and Rhett Thornwood want each other. What’s the plan? Like you said, he still has a girlfriend. He’s nothing if not a loyal man.”
Who gives a fuck about Molly. They break up, end of story.
“Obviously he’s going to break up with her. I mean…hehasto break up with her. Honestly, if you listen to Cash, he’s needed to break up with her for some time now.”
“I’m sure Cash did. That’s also coming from the man who has slept with most of the girls in this town and wants a crack at that one, too.”
“Maybe so, but I saw them together at the bonfire. I have more passion in my fucking pinky toe than they do that relationship.”
We both chuckle.
“Okay, so they break up. Then what? Workplace romance? Sneaking around the farm only for Eli or Grandpa Ben to catch you. I don’t think so.”
“No, work is work, and those men scare the shit out of me. We aren’t something you’d read in your little romance books. Well, maybe a tiny bit like your romance books, but nothing major.”
We settle into a comfortable silence for a little bit, the events replaying in my head with Halle’s words.
Breaking the silence, my voice comes out smaller than intended. “Halle, you could see the pool tables from the bar. Tell me it wasn’t flirting and tiptoeing at the edge of more? I know I can be bullheaded and don’t listen well, but, Halle girl …” My eyes plead with her to give me some confirmation that I didn’t imagine it all. “I have never experienced an attraction to a man like this in my life. I have always had a small crush on Rhett, we both know that, but this isn’t some childhood crush, or me trying to force something to get back at him for high school. Once you get past the shell of who he’s built himself to be in his own head, his smile could light up the whole room. Not that I’d tell him that shit.”
I huff out a laugh, nervous about what’s going to come out of her mouth next. Halle is nine years older than me, but she’s wise beyond that. When the world feels like it’s going to close in on me, I know I have her.
“Colt, I did see it. I caught it the moment he saw you and walked in the door tonight. Something was off, but I don’t want you chasing someone that isn’t ready to be out in the open like you are.”
Her words soothe me, breathing life and validation into mine and Rhett’s relationship.
Rhett Thornwood is meant to be mine, and I can’t wait to break down his walls.
RHETT
Colt is already in the feed shed when I get to the barn in the morning. I don’t know how he beat me here, and I don’t ask. He’s got his back to me, reading the feed ratios I’ve got taped to the wall, a thermos in one hand.
“Morning,” I say.
He turns. “Hey.” Then he turns swiftly back around.
That’s how it’s been since the other night at The Bar. Minimal words, maximum distance. It should feel tense, but honestly it’s been the easiest the summer has felt so far. Turns out Colt Dawson is a man who figures things out for himself—reads the signs I’ve got taped up all over the ranch, watches how I do something once and doesn’t ask twice. Which is more than I can say for my brothers, who, between the two of them, can’t retain a single piece of information unless it’s delivered in person with visual aids.
So the silence works. For both of us, apparently.
