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“What? No. I mean we were in different schools, but I never worried about him cheating. He was one of the good ones, ya know?”
“Yeah.” I did know.
“Why are you asking about Colton?”
“He’s a police officer now. We had some trouble at the store, and he’s been helping out with the investigation.” It wasn’t the entire truth, but I hoped to slowly work up to what was really happening.
“What’s going on?”
I went through the break-ins and the graffiti.
“I’m worried about you. Have you talked to Mom and Dad?”
“No. I don’t want them to worry.” They didn’t pay attention to local goings-on, living out of town. I needed to visit with them, but I was worried about what they’d think of me dating Colton.
“I’m planning to come home soon.”
“We’re holding a town fundraiser to raise money for kids in the foster system. Maybe you could come home for that.”
“Send me the date, and I’ll see what I can do.”
It sounded like she wanted to get off the phone, but I needed to tell her. “Listen, I have to tell you something.”
I hadn’t been worried because what I felt for Colton was real, but would Delilah see it the same way? If we were so wrong, why did it feel so right?
“Did something happen?”
I chewed my lower lip, wondering if I was making a mistake by telling her. “I’m kind of seeing him.”
“Who? Are you talking about Colton?”
I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “Yes. I’m seeing Colton.”
When she was silent, I rushed to add, “I’m sorry, I should have told you as soon as I suspected there was something between us. I know it’s wrong to date your ex, it’s just—”
“It’s a little weird, but our relationship was good—young love, you know? But we weren’t passionate about each other. He wasn’t the guy who got away. He was good for me at the time, and we grew apart. No hard feelings. So, yeah, is it a little weird? Sure. But I don’t have any strong feelings about you seeing each other. Unless he does?”
“I don’t think so, although I suspect he’s hiding something.”
“You thought it had something to do with me?”
“Yeah, like maybe he cheated on you, or it was a bad breakup.”
“Definitely not. I know there was some scandal at his college right before he enlisted. But it’s a huge state school. The odds of him being involved in that were slim.”
“What kind of scandal?”
“Frat hazing? Some party-related accident? I’m not sure. The only person I knew there was Colton, and we weren’t talking then.”
I’d have to wait and hear whatever the issue was from him.
“Thanks for telling me, but don’t feel like I have a problem with you dating him.”
“Were you guys serious?” I wasn’t sure what I was asking. I didn’t want to know the intimate details of their relationship, did I?
“We dated exclusively, but we never sealed the deal if that’s what you’re asking.”
Relief flowed through me. I paid close attention to my intuition, and everything in me told me what I shared with Colton was real and pure. That it wasn’t tainted because he’d dated my sister. Maybe frowned upon by outsiders, but what was between us was nice.
“Does that help?”
“It does. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“We were young. He was a nice guy. I think we were waiting for college, and then we—or, at least, I got caught up in the social life. I felt like I was missing out by having a boyfriend so far away. We were in two different places then.”
“I get it. Thanks for telling me.” Ending the call, I felt better about dating Colton, but I still wondered what he was so reluctant to share.
