He nods, taking another drag. “Please. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you. Sterling and Shooter were here earlier, which helped.”
I breathe out a laugh. “Yeah, we all kind of came up with a schedule to come see him before we have to hit the road tomorrow. Daisy and Jessie should be by later this evening with dinner for you guys, and Clem is stopping by tomorrow. We talked it over with Trish, but I’m guessing you may not have heard.”
“You guessed right.” He chuckles. “She’s been a wreck the last few days, but I think it helps now that he’s home from the hospital and we know he’s going to be okay.”
The house is warm and smells like baked goods as I walk in the front door. Banana bread and something else. If I had to guess, Colt’s mom, Trish, is baking to calm her nerves. Growing up, our group of friends always had an abundance of cookies, cakes, and muffins because it’s how she dealt with her feelings. If she was happy, she baked. If she was stressed, she baked.
Speaking of Trish, she pops her head from around the corner that leads to the kitchen. A smile spreads on her face when we make eye contact, and she enters the room, wiping her hands on the tea towel attached to her apron. “Hey, Boone,” she mutters as she pulls me in for a hug. “It’s nice to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you too,” I reply.
“Daddy, look!” Suzy rounds the corner, a huge smile on her face as she shows me the apron she’s wearing that’s perfectly her size but matches the one Trish is wearing. “Look what Nana got for me!”
“Denise made that for her,” Trish says, grinning. “Isn’t it cute?”
“It is,” I agree. “Did you say thank you?”
“Of course, she did,” Trish mutters. “She knows her manners.” She winks at Suzy, and then Suzy giggles.
Nodding toward the kitchen, I say, “Smells good, whatever you’re baking.”
“I’ll fix a plate for you to take home when you leave.” Gesturing toward the staircase, she says, “Colt’s up in his room.”
“Thanks.” I smile before taking off up the stairs. I’ve been inside this house almost as much as my own, so I know it like the back of my hand. Despite the age difference between Colt and I, we were still pretty close growing up, especially as teenagers. Mostly because our parents are such good friends, too.
Colt’s childhood home is very welcoming and traditional. Photos of Colt and his twin sister, Cora, line the halls, there’re trophies and awards from all their achievements growing up. You can feel the love between these four walls. Second door down on the right-hand side is Colt’s. Bringing a fist up, I rap on the wood softly, waiting for the muffled consent to enter. He’s propped up on his bed, half sitting, half lying down, when I walk in, and the TV on his dresser is on, playing some movie I don’t think I’ve ever seen.
“Hey, man.” Shutting the door behind me, I cross the space, and sit down in the desk chair that’s beside his bed. “How you feeling?”
“Like I got stepped on by a bull.” Colt chuckles deeply, then immediately winces. “Ow, fuck, that hurts.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Colt.”
“Eh, hazards of the job, right?”
I nod, because,yeah, it really is. We all know the risks going in. “Do you know how long you’re staying here?”
“Probably just until I can move around and do basic things without being in excruciating pain. It was the best solution we could come up with that didn’t involve one or both of my parents stuck staying at my place.” He turns off the movie, tossing the remote aside. “You guys leaving tomorrow?”
Now it’s my turn to wince. Colt’s out for the rest of the season, which was to be expected, but I still feel like shit talking about it. “Yeah, in the morning. Do they think you’ll be better by next season?”
“Who knows.” He blows out a breath. “I’ll have to do a ton of physical therapy as soon as I can. Hopefully, since it’s so far away, I’ll be fine.”
Meeting his gaze, I say, “I know you’re disappointed that your season is over, but I’m really fucking glad you’re okay, man.It could’ve been so much worse, and I know that doesn’t make anything easier right now, but I’m glad you’re here.”
His lips are pressed into a tight line, eyebrows crushed together, and his eyes are bloodshot and a little glossy. My heart aches for him and what he’s going through. “Fucking sucks,” he mutters. “Not gonna lie. I was having a great season, was on track to smoke your ass.”
“Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far,” I tease, breathing out a laugh.
He flips me off with his good hand. “Tell me something juicy to get my mind off this shit.”
I spend the next little while filling him in on everything that’s gone on with Grady and I since the last time we talked about it. His eyes are wide with surprise the entire time as he listens intently. When I’m finished, it feels like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to get it all out there until just now.
“Damn,” he breathes. “You really know how to deliver when a man is down and needs distraction.”
“Glad I can be of service,” I deadpan.
“But for real, what are you going to do?”
