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Colt cut me off, something he never did. “You used the spare key I trusted you with and put my business in jeopardy. That’s not okay, Scar.”
He rested his head in his hand, staring blankly at the bench in front of him.
“Do you have any idea what you have done?”
My stomach dropped. I couldn’t speak.
“Gods…” His voice cracked. “I hoped I was wrong.”
Shame washed over me. I stared at the floor. “I’m sorry. I’ve regretted it every day since. I’m also sorry it cost your business, and I’ll happily repay any loss of profit I’ve caused. But I was right. That tonic was suppressing our bond.”
Colt’s fist clenched before splaying open wide again. He remained eerily still, fixated on the bench between us. When he spoke, it was low, with an urgency to it.
“You don’t understand.” Disappointment filtered through his words like air would his lungs.
I eyed his posture, the way his shoulders caved in on his torso.
“Then please explain.”
He held my gaze this time, exposing the worry scoured into his pale blue irises. Lines of concern traced his forehead, a telltale sign that again, there was more going on here than he was letting on. “If he doesn’t have that tonic... ” His hands pitched a tent over his nose, his eyes sliding shut. “Do you have any idea where he may have gone?”
More secrets.
If he would not tell me, I would find out for myself. We just needed to find Reid first if I had any chance of doing that. Figuring Colt had already tried the usual places, I remembered where we first met. “I think I know where he might be,” I offered.
He finally looked up. “Yeah?”
I nodded.
Grabbing my jacket from the back room, I pulled out my keys to the shop from the pocket. Making my way to the door, I turned, throwing Colt a raised brow. “Are you coming?”
He stood, nodding, but the wary look in his eye made me think he questioned me tagging along with him.
I sighed. “Look, whatever is going on here, I can help. If I caused this, I need to fix it.”
Colt’s jaw flexed in a way I’d never seen it do before. He motioned to the front door, making his way outside. Locking the shop, I turned on my heel and headed for my car.
“Jump in with me,” he said.
So I climbed in his pickup, and he pulled away from the curb. Directing him to head for the field, I lost myself in thoughts of that night, where Reid told me the dickhead who dumped me on my birthday wasn’t worth my time. He had been right. I smiled at the memory.
Colt side eyed me. “You really think he’s there?”
“No, but it’s worth a shot. It’s where we first met.”
He stole a quick glance my way. “I thought I introduced you to him?”
I laughed lightly. “You thought wrong.”
The vehicle slowed to a stop, and I opened the door, stepping outside. Cool air wrapped around me, and I inhaled it, chasing the memory of that night. How handsome the stranger was that I shared a cherry cola with. Little did I know that, years later, Reid would become my fated mate, and I’d be subject to that witty banter for the rest of my life.
“He’s not here,” sounded Colt’s voice, bringing me back to reality.
Although his wagon wasn’t in sight, I needed to be doubly sure and made my way over to the bleachers. Rounding the corner, I stared up at the empty stand, remembering the smirk on Reid’s face as he’d offered to fuck me. The lick of cheek in his tone had won over my heart, even when I’d feigned unbothered. Warmth swarmed in my chest at the memory. Smiling, I climbed to my favorite spot, sitting down just as I’d done that night. Memories flooded back to me, and the mate bond stirred in my heart. Because I’d fallen hard. His banter, the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes when he smiled. His quiet chuckle somehow made me feel like I could trust a complete stranger.
My feelings for him had only grown stronger every day over the last while. And since finding out he was my fated mate, it had become more. A knowing that he was mine, and I was his. Always.
I jumped down, making my way back to where Colt stood, when the unmistakable sound of drums broke through the silent parking lot. Strange.
