Rough Terrain (Vista Falls #1) (18 page)

“At least consider splitting your time,” Wes said, hoping they could reach some compromise. After working side-by-side for so many years, imagining not seeing Colt every day was tough for Wes.

“We’ve still got the flagship store and a small office there,” Colt said. “And since we haven’t found a new operations manager yet, I could take care of things until we find someone.”

“Then you’re talking about a temporary move?” That made Wes feel marginally better, but he still didn’t want to see Colt go. Their phenomenal growth over the past thirteen years had been due to the fact they were an unstoppable team. Wes didn’t want to think about what might happen if they went their separate ways.

“I don’t know yet. I just know I need to get out of here.” He sighed, tipping his head back. “I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch like this, buddy. If there was another way…”

“Hey, you deserve to take some time. You’ve barely taken any personal time in a decade. Maybe that’s what this is—you’re burnt out. Could be some time off will give you some perspective.”

“I’m not talking about taking time off,” Colt argued. “That’s the last thing I need. I’d go crazy if I didn’t have anything to do.”

Wes was guilty of working too much too, but he was beginning to realize how important balance was, especially now that he had Sage and Nick in his life. “Well, maybe think about cutting back on your hours some if you plan on going back for a while. I’m all for you being the one to interview and hire the new manager. In fact, I think that’s a great idea. Just don’t take on too much.”

“It’ll be okay, you know,” Colt assured him, as though he sensed Wes’s apprehension. “We can video chat every day, deal with any issues that come up. Maybe this arrangement will work even better. Think about it. We still have the building in Houston. We haven’t sold it yet. Maybe we could ramp up production again, bring a lot of our employees back.”

“What are you talking about?” Wes asked, shaking his head. “They’ve all got other jobs now. Besides, it sounds to me like you’re talking about making this thing permanent, and I can’t see how that’s going to work. We can’t run this business from separate states indefinitely, Colt. You know that.”

“Whatever, we’ll work it out. I just know I need to get out of here.”

“Do you plan to let Gabby know you’re leaving town?”

“I was hoping you could tell her.”

“You’re not a coward, Colt. Quit acting like one.” Knowing this could be the last time he saw him for months, the last thing Wes wanted was to argue with him, but he’d always been the one to give Colt a slap upside the head when he needed some sense knocked into him.

Colt’s jaw tensed as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans and withdrew his keys. “I gotta go.”

Wes stood and clasped Colt’s hand while pulling him into a half hug. “Anything I can do. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, sure.” He cleared his throat before he muttered, “I’ll call you later. Say bye to Sage for me.”

Wes was grateful he had a few minutes to collect himself before his brother approached. He still couldn’t believe Colt was leaving.

“You look like you just lost your best friend,” Rush joked, grabbing a clean mug off the table next to them before he sat down and poured himself a coffee.

“I fear I may have.” But Wes knew it would never come to that. Even if Colt never set foot in Vista Falls again, they would always be business partners and friends.

“What’re you talking about? Did something happen between you and Sage? I hope I wasn’t out of line suggesting you guys stay here last night. I was just trying to help.”

“You did, man. Thanks.” If not for his brother’s meddling, it may have taken months for Wes and Sage to get to where they were now.

“If it’s not Sage, what’s the problem? And don’t tell me nothing. I can read you better than that.”

“Colt’s headed back to Texas. I really hoped we could work it out here. I thought it was only a matter of time before he’d be as happy to be home as I am.”

“What happened to make him change his mind?” Rush asked. “We were talking yesterday, and he didn’t say anything about heading out. In fact, I got the impression he didn’t really mind being back. Course, I think that might have something to do with Gabby.”

Wes would never have betrayed his friend’s confidence, but his silence must have spoken for him.

Rush nodded slowly. “I get it. Whatever happened between him and Gabby last night is the reason he’s so anxious to get out of town all of a sudden, huh?”

“Those two have a lot of history,” Wes said, trying to remain noncommittal.

“They’re not the only ones.” Rush smirked. “You gonna tell me what went down between you and Sage last night, or are you gonna let me guess?”

Wes had never been one to kiss and tell, not even in high school, and he sure as hell wouldn’t disrespect Sage now by talking to his brother or his buddies about what had gone on behind closed doors. “Let’s just say we’re on the right track.”

Rush smiled. “Mama’s gonna be real happy to hear that. You know she loves that girl.”

“She’s not the only one.”

“So it’s like that, is it?” Rush asked, looking at Wes intently.

“It’s always been like that.”

Rush nodded. “Yeah, I guess it has. I’m happy for you, man. For both of you. You and Sage are good together. I’ve never seen you two happier than you are when you’re together.”

“Hopefully we’ll be together from here on out.”

“Then you talked about the future last night?” Rush brought his coffee cup to his lips to hide his smile. “Or did you have time to talk?”

“Shut up, dumbass.” Wes was used to his little brother busting his chops, but when it came to Sage, he was still sensitive.

“Hey, there,” Sage said, wrapping her arms around Wes’s neck from behind. “Is that any way to talk to your brother?”

“Thank you for jumping to my defense, beautiful,” Rush said, standing. He bowed gallantly before pulling out Sage’s chair. “I’m counting on you to teach this heathen some manners.”

Sage giggled when Rush kissed her cheek after tucking in her chair. “What was that for?”

“Putting that smile back on my brother’s face. It’s been too long.”

Whenever Wes thought about levelling Rush because he’d said or done something to piss him off, he reminded Wes why he put up with his BS—because he loved him. “Would you get out of here and give me some time alone with my lady?”

“Sure,” Rush said, winking at Sage. “Just let me know if he gives you a hard time. I’ve got no problem kicking him out on his ass.”

“Really?” Wes made a point of looking around the expansive room. “You got some three-hundred-pound security guard around here? ‘Cause I know you’re not pretending you could do it.”

Rush chuckled as he gripped Wes’s shoulder. “With one hand tied behind my back, big man.”

Rush strolled off whistling, but not before Wes promised to put his theory to the test sometime. Sage was still smiling when Wes rolled his eyes as he leaned in to grab her hand.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“You and your brother still going at it like teenagers. I guess some things never change, huh?”

Wes would have liked nothing more than to engage in small talk all morning, but he had to tell Sage about Colt sooner or later. “So, um, have you heard from Gabby yet this morning?”

“Yeah, she texted me just as I was getting out of the shower. She said she had to leave early, something about a big order at the shop. I told her not to worry, I could catch a ride home with you. I hope that’s okay?”

“Of course.”

“Is everything okay?” Sage asked, leaning back as she withdrew her hand from his. “It looks like you’ve got something on your mind. You’re not having second thoughts about last night, are you?”

“You think if I were, I would have repeated it this morning?” When she blushed, he smiled, thinking how cute it was that she still got embarrassed talking about sex. “No, this isn’t about us. It’s about Colt. He’s decided to leave town, and it looks like I’m going to have to be the one to tell Gabby. I’m not looking forward to that. Especially after…” Wes didn’t like keeping secrets from Sage and he knew she’d hear all about last night from her best friend, but he wasn’t sure he should be the one to tell her.

“Did they sleep together?” she whispered, wide-eyed. When Wes didn’t confirm or deny her assumption, she said, “Wow. I can’t believe it. Gabby’s not the type to rush into something like that. She hasn’t been with anyone since her divorce. I mean, I know it’s not like she’s never been with Colt, but still.”

“Still, it sucks. Mainly because he’s leaving town and I’m the one who gets to tell her.”

“That doesn’t sound like Colt.”

“You’re right.” Which gave Wes some indication of how much last night had messed with Colt’s mind. He was definitely acting out of character by making an impulsive decision to leave town without talking to Gabby first. “I think he’s scared.”

“Of what?”

“The way he feels about her. The way she feels about him. Hurting her. Not being good enough. Making the same mistakes his old man did. Getting tied down. Getting stuck in Vista Falls forever. Making a commitment. Take your pick.”

“Do you feel stuck here?”

“I came back willingly, sweetheart. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

She smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“You want to grab some breakfast?”

“In a minute.” She glanced at her phone, which she’d set on the table when she sat down. “I got another text from Gabby. She wants me to pass by her place later.”

“Maybe I can drop you off there? That would give me a chance to talk to her about Colt leaving town.”

“Would you mind if I told her about that?”

Wes didn’t think letting Sage break the news to her was fair. “Baby, you don’t have to do that. I told Colt I’d tell her—”

“I just think it would be easier coming from me.”

After thinking about it for a minute, Wes said, “You’re probably right.” The last thing Wes wanted was to make this any more difficult for Gabby than it was bound to be.

***

“So how was your night?” Gabby asked Sage when they’d settled on her back porch, each with a cup of coffee.

“I was about to ask you that.”

As happy as Sage was about how well things were going for her and Wes, she wouldn’t rub her friend’s nose in it, especially since she had to be reeling from what happened with Colt. Sage still didn’t have all the details, but if they’d slept together and he’d decided to leave town the very next day, Gabby was bound to be upset.

“Not much to tell,” Gabby said, shrugging.

Sage wondered if Gabby was going to keep her in the dark, which hurt since she’d always shared the good, the bad, and the ugly with her best friend. “Are you sure about that?”

“We slept together.” Gabby sipped her coffee. “Correction—we hooked up. That’s all it was—a hookup. I’m done with it, done with him. I’m glad I got him out of my system finally. It’s obvious that’s not going anywhere, and now I can move on, right?” She faked a smile. “On to bigger and better things, right?” Her smile slipped when she said, “Okay, maybe not bigger. That might be impossible. But hopefully better.”

Sage smiled at Gabby’s attempt at humor, hating herself for the news she was about to impart. But not half as much as she hated Colt for bailing on a woman who could make his life so much better if only he wasn’t too stubborn to see it. “I want to tell you that you’re better off without him because you know I’d say or do anything to make you feel better.”

“But you don’t believe that, do you?”

“I think you and I are a lot alike.” Sage watched a robin land on one of the bird feeders Gabby’s dad had made for her and scattered around the property. “I never really got over Wes, though my pride would never let me admit it. And I don’t think you ever
really
got over Colt.”

“Please,” Gabby said, rolling her eyes. “Have you forgotten I was married for five years? If you’re questioning whether I’m over anyone, shouldn’t it be my ex-husband?”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Sage knew she was venturing onto shaky ground. The warning look in Gabby’s eyes almost prompted her to retreat, but she knew Gabby would have had the guts to be honest with her no matter how hard it was, and she had to be willing to do the same. For the sake of their friendship. “But I’m not so sure you ever loved Kyle as much as you loved Colt.”

Gabby looked shocked before she choked back a sob. She set her cup on the side table between them before leaning over, her hand covering her mouth. “God, why did I let him back into my life? Why did I give him the power to hurt me again? What the hell was I thinking?”

Sage inched her chair closer, curling her arm around Gabby’s slender shoulders as she thought about all the ways she’d have liked to castrate her lover’s best friend. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry. If I’d thought there was a chance he’d pull a stunt like this and bail—”

“What are you talking about?” Gabby asked, tears streaking her cheeks as her eyes searched Sage’s. “Where did he go?”

Then Sage realized she still hadn’t told her friend the worst part—Colt was gone. “Back to Houston.”

“For good?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even think Wes knows.”

Gabby jumped up, looking furious as she curled her arms around her midsection. “That’s just like him, isn’t it? That’s exactly what he did the last time! Things were getting serious, and instead of staying and trying to make it work, he ran like the rat-bastard he is!”

Sage was glad Gabby lived on a corner and her next-door neighbor, a little old lady, had said good-bye as she left for the market. With the way Gabby’s voice carried, everyone in Vista Falls would know her business by sundown if she kept this up.

“Honey, calm down.” She put her arm around Gabby and steered her inside the house, making a mental note to come back for the cups later. “I know you’re upset. But if Colt wasn’t in this for the long haul, better you find that out now, right?”

“It’s not like he said anything to lead me to believe he was.” Gabby sniffled as she sank onto one of the benches flanking her kitchen table. “But I just thought…” She shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter what I thought. I had no right to make assumptions. We’re both consenting adults. I could have stopped it at any time, or asked him about where he saw things going, before I jumped into bed with him.”