Page 89 of The One Who Never Left: Colter

As they headed for the door, Aiden called after them. “Bring him back tired and happy.”

Lynlee beamed. “We will!”

Outside, Walter paused, lifted his face to the sun, and breathed like he’d been holding it in for a long time.

Sutton watched him, something familiar and aching settling in her chest. Just for the day, she thought. Just enough time to belong somewhere.

Lynlee slipped her hand into Sutton’s. “Mommy?”

“Yeah, pumpkin?”

“I think he picked us too.”

Sutton squeezed her hand. “I think you’re right.”

CHAPTER 34

Sutton sat at a corner table at Tomato Time, the warm, garlic-scented air of the Italian restaurant wrapping around her like a cozy blanket she wasn’t sure she wanted. Plates clattered and glasses chimed all around, waiters weaving expertly between tables, the hum of conversation and laughter filling every corner.

Jo and Vivi were across from her, gossiping softly over their wine, leaning in like they always did when plotting, scheming, or trying to get Sutton to admit the truth she usually kept buried.

Then the door opened and well…

Fuck me.

It was Colter. With Cheryl.

The sight of him stepping inside, tall, confident, the faint glint of amusement in his eyes as he leaned slightly toward his polished, poised date, made Sutton’s stomach collapse. Her chest constricted with a heat she hadn’t expected to feel this strong.

Vivi scooched closer, voice soft but teasing. “Uh-oh. That’s not the look of a casual observer.”

Sutton’s gaze stayed glued to him, watching as he laughed easily, that grin she knew too well lighting up his face, leaning just close enough to Cheryl that it made Sutton’s stomach knot with jealousy and regret.

“It’s nothing,” she muttered, forcing the words through a tight throat.

“Nothing? Sutton, be honest. Has it shifted?” Vivi asked.

Startled, Sutton looked at her friends. “Has what shifted?”

“The way you feel, dumb ass,” Jo said as blunt as a beer bottle to the head.

Sutton let out a reluctant sigh, knowing she couldn’t lie—not even to herself. Plus, if she stood a chance at a full life here, she needed to stop with the lying. And that started with the two women who had become so important in her life.

Sutton hadn’t had many friends growing up. Moving from school to school, foster home to foster home, had taught her how to adapt, not how to put down roots. Just when she’d started to build something in her adult life, she’d gotten pregnant, and survival had taken priority over social circles.

Aside from Nicole—her friend from vet tech school—Sutton had never really had people she trusted like sisters. Until now. And the realization settled deep, part comfort and part terror, because it meant she finally had something worth being honest about.

“Yes,” she admitted quietly. “I like him.”

Jo let out a low whistle. “And here I thought you were going to fight me on that one.”

Sutton shot her a pointed look, but her attention was already back on Colter. “I’m not looking for a relationship. Not now. Not with everything I have to focus on as a mom.”

Vivi rested a hand lightly on hers. “Just don’t lie to yourself, Sutton. Feelings aren’t a crime, even if the timing is tricky.”

Her heart ached, tugged between desire and responsibility, and she knew Vivi was right—she couldn’t ignore how much seeing him like this hurt, how much she wanted, and yet couldn’t have.

Across the room, Colter laughed again, unaware of her eyes following him, the subtle heat of jealousy prickling with every gesture he made toward Cheryl. Sutton took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay seated, to pretend the knot in her stomach didn’t exist.