“He’s opened doors you never knew were there.”
“Yeah. I’m just irritated he couldn’t have left me details.”
“Sometimes notes get misunderstood. He likely wanted to tell you in person instead, and that’s not a bad thing.”
My phone buzzes then in my pocket, and I’ve never whipped a device out of my shirt so fast in my life.
“Ethan?”
“Hi, Colt. Are you at the fly shop?”
I glance at Chris. “I am.”
“I’m home.”
The unspoken words hang, and my heart thunders in my chest. “I’ll be right there.”
Turning to Chris, he’s already shooing me toward the exit. “I hope new doors open, Colt. Go talk.”
“Thanks, Chris!”
I don’t walk. I jog the short distance to my apartment and sprint up the stairs. Ethan greets me at the door, and I freeze for a moment, wondering if I want to hear something I might not like.
Instead of greeting him properly, or even hugging him, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.
“You should’ve called me. I’ve been worried all day, and the note didn’t help.”
Ethan reaches for my hand and squeezes it.
“I’m sorry, but it was all so fast. I didn’t want to say anything until I got the details.”
“Don’t keep me hanging, Ethan.”
“How would you feel about leaving Chance? Truthfully.”
Chapter 18
Ethan
Colt stares at me, and the longer he stays silent, the more I feel like I’ve just fucked this all up.
“Can you tell me more? What did Jesse tell you?”
“Right. Let me start at the beginning. Can we sit?”
We’re both still standing at the door, our hands clasped together like we’re afraid to let go. Colt pulls off his boots, quickly grabs my hand again, and we sit together on his sofa. Colt’s gaze is soft for me, but I notice the way he grips my hand tighter and how his chest rises faster. Before I launch into the whirlwind of today, I have to say something else first.
“I’m sorry for leaving you vague notes and not calling. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and not have any good news. I just wanted to let you know I didn’t disappear.” There was no way I could relay anything by paper without writing a damn novel. This kind of news needs a discussion. Face to face.
“I’ve had to stay occupied to stop thinking our time is over and falling into a pit of self-pity. I didn’t want to call you in case I interrupted, or…fuck, I think I was afraid to hear anything while wanting you to call at the same time.” Colt’s admission hurts, and I wish I had handled it differently.
We’re both a bit of a mess over this, and I know it’s my fault.
“I didn’t mean to cause you stress.” My voice cracks. “I really want this to work, Colt.”
“It’s okay.” Colt leans over and kisses me quickly. “Tell me how I might have to leave Chance and still have you.”
My smile grows, and I try not to talk too fast in my excitement. For once, I have a solid plan that satisfies both of our needs. Neither of us gives up too much. Well, mostly. Colt definitely has the hardest part, but I think he’ll warm to the possibilities it gives us both.
