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Which told him everything he needed to do now.

32

TIME TO DECIDE

“Colson told me you were coming for dinner last minute,” Bella said. “I didn’t even have time to plan anything good.”

“It’s fine,” she said, moving into the living room.

Marly hadn’t knocked. Hadn’t rung the bell.

It didn’t feel as if it was needed at this point in her relationship.

Colson just needed her here as support.

As the days went on, she thought for sure he’d continue to hold off letting Bella know the truth. Knowing what was going on in the dark quiet of her life that Colson wanted to protect the teenager from.

And maybe there was a part of her that felt it was the safe thing to do.

But doing the safe thing wasn’t the right thing.

Then she had to remind herself that it wasn’t really her call. Not her life. Though she wanted it to be.

She wanted to be next to him while he told Bella, but knew enough that she couldn’t push more than she had.

He’d opened up with her once.

Then she’d found out he’d done the same with her father and brother today.

Did she know what had been said? Not all of it.

Her father had called her, gave her a small summary, but she knew deep down that what her father was doing was supporting Colson.

Being there for him the way she’d said her family would.

The way she said she’d be there.

And it worked because Colson called and said he was ready to let Bella know, so she dropped everything she had planned for the night, which was a shit ton of work, but told herself she’d catch up later.

Later, when Bella and Colson didn’t need her.

This was more important than work.

More important than her career.

Sometimes, you just had to prioritize and it was exactly what she was doing.

“I made veggie and chicken stir-fry over rice,” Bella said. “I hope you like it.”

“Smells great,” she said, forcing a smile.

She met Colson’s eyes, saw the nervousness in them. The anxiety of wanting to get this conversation over with but letting it play out.

The problem was, there wasn’t ever going to be a good time.

But the three of them sat at the table, ate the meal that Bella cooked, complimented her on it, got bright smiles in return and Marly tried to push down as much food as she could knowing that the girl’s smile would be gone soon enough.

She tried to put herself in Bella’s shoes.