Page 35 of The One Who Never Left: Colter

“Why a vet?”

“My mom had this way with animals. She could calm anything down, coax a scared dog out from under the porch, patch up a bird with a broken wing. Watching her, I learned patience and compassion. More importantly she showed me how to care without expecting anything in return.”

And wasn’t that the kind of man she’d always hoped would be in her daughter’s life? Committed and gentle, and someone who could love fiercely without needing applause, someone like Colter. The way he loved the people in his life, wholly and unconditionally, and the way he carried himself brought little flickers of confidence to her belly that maybe she had done the right thing coming to the barbecue.

“That’s a rare quality.”

“My mom was a rare person, in the best kind of way. When I was six, a wounded possum wandered into our yard. She was skinny, filthy, and hissing like she’d bite your face off. I thought, ‘No way I’m touching that thing.’ But Mom just knelt, talked to the little guy and, after about ten minutes, he let her pick him up. Puggle became another member of our family. Sleeping in my bed, riding on Boone’s head like he was her momma, eating the green M&Ms out of the bag.”

“Just green?”

“Yup, he knew what he liked,” he explained. “Now, every time I see a scared animal, I think about that day, about what she taught me. That’s why I do this. That’s why I became a vet.”

Sutton felt a tug in her chest she hadn’t expected—a mixture of awe and something sweeter. He wasn’t just telling a story—he was showing her the heart behind the man, the kind of gentleness that didn’t come from effort, but from instinct.

For an unguarded moment, she pictured Lynlee with someone like him in her life—steady and kind, and unshakably patient—then realized just how rare that kind of soul was. And maybe, just maybe, the truly terrifying part wasn’t how easily she could picture her daughter loving him, but also how badly she wanted a man like Colter Callahan for herself.

CHAPTER 13

Therapy in Session

Saturday 9:52 PM

Boone: How'd the harem treat you today?

Colter: Don't

Eli: Four women lined up around a fire pit for you and you spent the whole afternoon staring at a pool like it was the last one on earth

Colter: I was being a good host

Boone: To the pool

Colter: To all my guests

Boone: Cheryl said and I quote "He kept looking somewhere else." Those were her exact words to Vivi

Colter: Cheryl talks too much

Boone: Cheryl talks the normal amount, you're just easy to read

Colter: I hate this family

Boone: Heard Dream Girl's car won’t start. She’s inside calling a tow truck.

Eli: Let me guess, you’re going to strap on that cape of yours and come to the rescue. Truck of solitude becomes truck of chivalry real quick when Dream Girl is involved

Colter: …

Colter: …

Eli: He's typing

Boone: He's typing a lot

Colter:

Eli: And he’s gone