Without You - Page 120/125

I grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. When I shut the door, I punched him in the chest.

“What the hell, Alex? Why are you hitting me?”

I shook my head. “Colt, I don’t know what Lauren said to you or why she all of sudden decided that she didn’t want to be with you, but that gives you no right, none, to walk up to her and basically call her a slut.”

Colt swallowed hard. “I didn’t call her that.”

I placed my hands on my hips and tilted my head. “Colt Hunter Mathews, you told her she was grabbing a guy’s dick and that you never pictured her to be that kind of girl. What, in your mind, does that sound like you’re saying?”

Colt sat down on the chair and dropped his head into his hands. He sat that way for a few minutes before he finally looked up at me. He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “I can’t do this, Alex. It is obvious Lauren doesn’t want the same thing I want.”

“You don’t know that,” I whispered as I sat down and took his hands in mine.

“If she wanted to be with me, she wouldn’t have been with him tonight.”

My heart hurt for my brother because I knew he was right. I dropped my head in a silent acknowledgment. “Colt, I’m so sorry.”

He let out a gruff laugh. “It’s not your fault, Alex. I’m just not the guy for her.”

I slowly shook my head, and I was about to talk when he pulled his hands from mine. He stood up and reached for me to help me stand.

“I guess this is a new beginning for me, huh, sis? I’ll be heading to school and meeting new people.” He nodded his head as if he was thinking of something and agreeing with it. “Football will occupy so much of my time. Dad’s right. It’s a whole new world.” He smiled slightly. “Who knows? I might get lucky enough and meet someone who loves me the way you love Will.”

“Oh no, Colt. I know Lauren has—”

He held up his hand to stop me. “I’m tired, Alex. I love you, sweetheart. I’m gonna go to bed.”

He kissed me on the forehead. Then, he turned and walked back inside. I wiped the tear from my face and closed my eyes.

“Why does love have to be so hard for some?” I whispered.

The feel of Will’s arms coming around me as he pulled me closer to him instantly warmed me. We stood in silence as we listened to the waves hit the shore.

“Is Colt okay?” Will finally asked.

I slowly shook my head. “I don’t think so. He will pretend he is, and he’ll move on, but I don’t think things will be the same anymore.”

Will rested his chin on top of my head. “How about you and I go on a sunset cruise tomorrow? Just us.”

I smiled and turned to face him. “Yeah? But it’s our last night. You don’t think everyone will want to go out to dinner together?”

Will shrugged his shoulders. “All I know is I want one evening with you before we have to head back. I’m sure the others will understand.”

I began to chew on my lower lip. It felt like our friendships were changing but growing stronger also. I wasn’t sure where Luke and Libby were heading, and honestly, I was tired of worrying about it. Now, I had to worry about Colt and Lauren.

Ugh.

I attempted to give Will a sexy smile, and he raised his one eyebrow and narrowed his eyes at me.

“Are you thinking yes?”

“I think tomorrow night with just you and me is exactly the thing I need.”

Will picked me up and spun me around. “Perfect. Leave all the details to me, and I’ll plan it all.”

I laughed and said, “Okay, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

He moved his lips to mine. “I’m going to make love to you now, Lex.”

My stomach fluttered as Will walked us both back inside. I looked around, and no one was downstairs.

I hadn’t seen Luke come outside, so I asked Will, “Where is Luke?”

“No clue.”

I started to say we should find him, but then I decided to push everyone else’s problems out of my mind and enjoy the rest of this trip.

Will pulled into a private parking lot and parked.

“I thought we were going on a sunset cruise?”

He turned off the truck and looked at me and said, “We are. You ready?”

He jumped out of the truck and walked to my side. When he opened the door and reached for my hand, I smiled.

“Um…are we taking out someone’s boat? Do you know how to take out someone’s boat?”

He winked at me, and we made our way down the ramp and onto the deck. An older gentleman with blond hair and a deep dark tan smiled as we approached him.