Ari: Colton! Come get them or tell them to come home.
Me: If I come there, it won’t be Matt in your bed…
Shit. I hadn’t meant to actually type that. I fired out a quick text to Matt.
Me: Is he gone?
Matt: Yeah
Me: Are you sure?
Matt: Def. He texted her about ten minutes ago, she ignored him
Good girl.
Me: Come home
I got another text from Ari.
Ari: Colton…?
Me: You’re safe Ari, I texted Matt, they’re leaving.
I waited.
Ari: Oh. Thank you
Hope rose within me, that ‘Oh’ said a lot.
Matt: Be back soon, just making sure Bit’s ok
Me: Good
I laid my head back against the sofa, had I played that right? Only time will tell. Another text from Matt to say they were heading home.
Ari: I wouldn’t have been complaining if it was you in my bed…
Shit, Ari. I read the message three times. Fuck, I wanted to go there, take her to bed and make her forget that long-haired idiot. Do not reply, I warned myself, you’re going to say something stupid. Put the phone down. Reluctantly, I put the phone face down and closed my eyes as I urged myself to refrain from rushing over there.
I was still in the TV room when Matt and Theo returned from Ari’s apartment. They were both smiling. It was a relief to see them so carefree again, the last few months had been taking its toll on all of us.
“How is she?” I enquired as Matt dropped down onto the other sofa.
“She’s fine. We got rid of the dick and then watched a movie.” He caught the soda Theo tossed him.
“Yeah, she seemed too distracted through the movie though,” Theo’s grin was knowing and I flipped him the finger. “Were you sexting?”
Matt started laughing as I stared at them both. “That was exactly Bit’s reaction. I think they were Theo.” Matt winked at Theo and they both turned to me expectantly.
“No,” I found my voice. “Jesus, you two are like kids sometimes.”
“We are well practiced in how to make kids,” Theo waggled his eyebrows at me. “You need pointers?”
“Shut the fuck up.” I laughed at him. “Trust me I don’t need any pointers from you or anyone else.”
“I dunno Cole, it’s been so long for you, I don’t know if you know how to use it.” Theo was grinning at me, while Matt was doubled over laughing.
“You’re a dick.” I switched the movie off. “You didn’t tell me you were going there or that Jay was going to be there.”
They both sobered and Matt shrugged. “Would it have helped?”
“I would have ripped his head off,” I admitted as I shook my head in despair.
“Which is why we didn’t tell you. Although you may have had competition tonight, Matt wasn’t doing so well with him either.” Theo poked his elbow into Matt’s side.
“He was pushing it tonight,” Matt scowled in remembrance. “Glad he got the message and left.” Theo grunted in agreement as he relaxed into his seat more.
“How did you know he was going to be there?” I didn’t miss the quick glance shared between the two of them. “What?”
“Lil Bit mentioned it to me, that was all.” Theo kicked his boots off. “Are we watching something or not?”
“She mentioned she had invited him to her place for a date?”
“Not exactly. Look it doesn’t matter the specifics,” Theo said as he looked at me. “It’s done, he left, her and you texting made her happier than he did. It was obvious.” He looked at Matt for backup, but he was already nodding in agreement. “She’s Lil Bit, she’ll realise she’s with the wrong guy all by herself.”
I thought back to the last text she had sent, now I really wish I had gone over.
“It’ll work out, can we watch a movie now?” Theo reached over and grabbed the remote.
“Sure.” I listened to their banter through the film, but all I could think was, had I just blown my chance when I didn’t answer her?
“Cole! Get up!”
I lifted my head from the pillows, I felt like I had just gone to sleep. What time was it? Fumbling for my phone, I saw it was 8:30 and closed my eyes. I had lain in bed most of the night rereading the text conversation with Ari and trying to convince myself I did the right thing by not answering.
“Colton!”
“Shut up!” I yelled back. I heard the answering laughter and grinned despite myself.
My bedroom door opened. “Why the hell are you still in bed, we have a mountain to climb,” Theo protested.
“Ah fuck, today?” I groaned.
“Yes, today. Get up. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
We were all active, did exercise, but Theo was a serious health nut. He was constantly active and had been ecstatic at all the hiking trails he could go on when he learned he was moving to Boulder. Usually I was happy to go with him, but this morning, I would be happier under my blankets.
“Can I take a raincheck?”
“Fuck off. Get up.” He left my room, shouting down the stairs to Matt to make more coffee for ‘lazy ass’.
Asshat. Grinning, I flipped the covers back; ten minutes, I had enough time for a shower. When I was ready I jogged down to meet them. Matt stood with a travel mug of coffee ready for me as Theo loaded the 4Runner.
“He’s extra enthused this morning,” Matt groaned. “We need to make sure he gets laid on Friday nights so we don’t have to deal with all his extra energy.”
I snorted out a laugh as I inhaled my coffee, Ari wasn’t the only caffeine junkie in this relationship.
“Why are you standing there?” Theo demanded.
“Maybe a threesome for him on Fridays?” I whispered to Matt as we left the house. Matt followed me chuckling as Theo watched us with narrowed eyes.
“What’s funny?” he demanded.
“Nothing, lead the way trail finder.” I climbed into the passenger seat and closed my eyes. “Wake me when we get there.”
Theo stared at me and then nodded. Closing my eyes, I leaned back. Rise Against came blaring out the speakers, their song ‘Bullshit’ jerking me upright. Theo winked at me as he put the car into drive. Fucking ass. Turning I looked at Matt, who was on his phone nodding his head along with the chorus.
I should have gone to Ari’s last night…
“How long does the hike take?” I asked over the music.
“Five hours.” He grinned at me. Fuck my life.
“What’s your plans for tonight?” I asked Matt as I made a coffee. We’d been back from the South Boulder Peak for a while and had all showered and freshened up. The hike had been exactly what I needed. Theo was a genius sometimes.
“Not sure, thinking I may stay in.” Matt was peeling a pear into a bowl of yogurt. I hadn’t been hungry but his food looked good as he sprinkled some granola over it. “You want some?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “Sorry.”
“All good, you take this one.”
Theo came in as I started eating and claimed the second bowl. Matt shook his head and started making his third bowl.
“What you doing tonight?” I asked Theo.
“Freshmen,” he answered around a mouthful of pear. Matt snorted out a laugh.
“Any particular one, or are you just going prowling?” I mocked him.
“Nah, got this one’s number. Fucked if I remember her name though.” He shrugged and dug his spoon into his food.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“So they tell me.” He winked as he snagged my coffee.
“Theo…” I gave up. He was a giant toddler sometimes.
“What about you?” Matt asked as he passed me a fresh coffee.
“Nothing, staying in,” I admitted.
“How can you be pussy whipped when you’re not even in a relationship,” Theo shook his head in despair. “Seriously, she’s got no problem seeing someone else,
you should be too.”
He would never understand. The idea of touching anyone who wasn’t Ari didn’t interest me. Plus, I had hope from last night that she wouldn’t be ‘seeing’ Jay for much longer.
“Leave him alone, you know what he’s like,” Matt grumbled from the other side of the counter. Theo muttered into his bowl but dropped the subject.
“I’m going to do some studying,” I said to Matt. “Then maybe a movie later?”
“Sounds good.” I ignored Theo rolling his eyes at both of us.
Not long after, Connor and Corey came in. I caught up with my brother while Corey took advantage of the empty pool. “How you doing?” I pushed my books to the side. I always did my studying in the kitchen; it was closest to the fridge and the coffee pot.
“I’m good.” He glanced out to the pool. “I told Corey.”
“Everything?” I didn’t manage to hide my surprise.
“Yeah, I think she deserves to know.” Connor ran his hand through his dark hair. His hair was slightly darker than mine, he kept it longer too, but despite the darker colouring, you would still know he was my brother. “I mean, how can I be serious about us if I’m not honest with her?”
“I didn’t realise you were so committed,” I said carefully, while pushing away the wild surge of elation. If he was truly serious about Corey, then he may be alright about Ari and me?
“Yeah.” He was watching her as she swam. “I told her all about Lil Bit and how I acted. How I’ve always been. She was amazing.” He turned back to me. “I couldn’t ask for more support, she isn’t even jealous of Lil Bit, I mean, I don’t know girls well, but aren’t they supposed to hate the ex?” He laughed.
“Do you want her to hate Ari?”
“No! Christ no, how could anyone hate Ari? She’s perfect.”
“Perfect?” My moment of elation was slipping away from me.
“You know what I mean.” He threw his hands up. “Ari’s…Ari,” he finished lamely.
“You still care for her?” Say no.
“Not that way. I’ll always care for her.” He smiled as he looked at me. “She’s Ari.”
“You keep telling me that, you aren’t actually answering though.”
“C’mon Cole, don’t go all big brother on me.” Connor laughed. “I love Corey, I will always care for Ari, but Corey’s who I want to be with.”
Thank God. “Okay.” Did I believe him?
“Corey isn’t like Ari, she needs me.” He looked at his hands. “Ari never needed me. She was always in her own world, her head in a book. Half the time I wasn’t sure if she even realised, I was there.” Connor looked at me. “Which she proved by how easily she kissed you.”
Here we go. “Dad explained that to you,” I answered carefully.
“Yeah, but—you know—that’s just not her.” Connor was watching me closely.
“What do you mean?” Don’t give anything away.
“Ari made a move on you. You?”
“I’m almost offended at your tone little brother, what are you trying to say? What’s wrong with me?”
“Absolutely nothing,” his tone was slightly scathing. “But I know you. You’re the most in control bastard I ever met.” I winced. “You would never have let Ari make a move unless you wanted it.”
There it is. We sat and stared at each other for a moment, now was my chance to tell him. Tell him everything, I took a deep breath, not entirely sure where to start.
“Well that water was divine. I say divine with a capital D.” Corey closed the patio doors behind her.
Connor held my stare for a moment longer and then turned with a smile to his girlfriend. “You enjoy that babe?”
I dipped my head to the table, hiding my relief at Corey’s intrusion, relief and equal disappointment. That may have been the best chance I was going to get.
“Was a great swim.” Corey glanced at me. “How are you today Colton?”
I glanced at her. “Good. You?”
“Great.” Her smile was sad as she tuned to kiss Connor’s cheek. “I’m going upstairs to change.”
“I’m right behind you,” he promised, pulling her into him. I looked away from the display of affection. Corey passed me and headed up the stairs. “She thinks you don’t like her.”
“What?” I looked over my shoulder. “Why? I’ve been nothing but pleasant to her.”
“Yeah, exactly.” He patted his hand on my shoulder as he passed to follow Corey. “Good talk bro.”
What did I miss? Why did I feel like I had just lied to him all over again? I was still frowning when Matt came back into the kitchen.
“Just saw the lovebirds, wanna head down to the TV room now, put as many floors between us as we can?”
“Ha! How about we sit outside in the sun?”
“Sounds good. You want a soda?” he asked me as he rummaged in the fridge.
“Sure.”
I was in my room later that evening. Theo was in his room, getting ready to go out. Matt had invited Connor and Corey to watch a film with us, and they were in the TV room. I’d run upstairs to change my clothes into something more comfortable than jeans.
My phone rang and I scowled as I saw Aaron’s name.
“Aaron?” I answered.
“Your girl’s in trouble again.”
I was convinced my heart stopped. I listened as Aaron rattled off an address and told me to head there now. I ran out of the room banging on Theo’s door as I passed on the way down the stairs.
“Matt, I need you, let’s go.” I burst into the TV room. Matt was on his feet instantly.
“Woah, what’s going on?” Connor jumped to his feet.
Shit. Fuck it, no time like the present.
“Aaron called me; Ari’s in trouble.”
“Why is he calling you?” Connor asked me shrewdly.
“I don’t have time for this, let’s go,” I urged Matt.
“I’m coming too.”
I glanced at my brother, his eyes were fixed on me. “Thanks, I may need the help.”
“Why would he need help?” Connor asked Matt as I hurried up the stairs.
“Because he already pounded one of them, there may be more,” Matt answered grimly.
Theo was in the kitchen, waiting. “What’s going on?”
“Ari,” I answered as I headed to the door.
“We’ll take two cars,” Matt called as I crossed the driveway.
“I’ll text you the address,” I called.
“I have it.” I stopped and looked at Corey in surprise, I hadn’t noticed her follow us. “Elle texted me earlier and said if she needed to, could I send Matt for her.” Corey shifted her feet nervously.
“That’s why you wanted to stay in, when Matt asked?” Connor questioned.
“I told her I would be on hand all night. She said it was probably nothing but just in case, if I didn’t hear from her every half hour, I was to send Matt.”
“Thank you.” They all looked at me, Corey with surprise. “You go with Matt, Theo with me.” I got in the 4Runner and then we were heading to a part of Boulder I didn’t know at all.
“If she didn’t feel right about it, why the fuck would she go?” Theo snapped when he got in quickly after me.
“Because she sees the good in everyone,” I answered grimly. “Always so willing to give the benefit of the doubt.”
Theo cursed again, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk and thankfully we drove the rest of the way in silence. The street was lined with cars and I identified the house by the loud music coming out of it as we walked up to it.
“Stay together,” I cautioned as I opened the front door and entered. I paused and looked back at Corey. “Don’t take anything already opened.” She paled but nodded. “Actually, all of us, take nothing that isn’t sealed.”
A few people looked at us, but no one asked us who we were. We had walked straight into the main living room it seemed, but looking around, I didn’t see Ari or Jay. I walked through the ro
om and headed to the next most populated room; the kitchen.
“What have we here?” I turned expecting a confrontation, instead I was met with a thin guy, quite obviously stoned, screwing his eyes at us all. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to focus. “You’ve no beer?” He shook his head sadly.
“No dude, just got here,” Theo said, slipping in front of me. “Can you hook us up?”
I scanned the room while Theo accepted bottles of beer from the guy. She wasn’t here either. I went to move to the next room when Corey’s hand on my arm stopped me. She moved up beside Theo.
“My friend’s here, but I can’t see her,” her smile was wide and her expression empty. “She’s with Jay?”
What the fuck Corey?
“Oh the stunner? Yeah, I think she’s in the bathroom. Been in there for ages.” He snorted. “Maybe Jay’s in with her?” His eyes ran over Corey. “Maybe we should go check?”
“Back off, she’s taken,” Connor growled from behind me. The guy took one look at Connor and backed off.
“I’ll go to the bathroom, see if I can find Elle,” Corey said to all of us. “You should wait back in the living room.”
“We’ll go with you,” Connor protested.
“You’ve already got attention,” Corey’s eyes flicked passed us quickly. “Back in the main room. Trust me, I can find her.”
“You’ve five minutes, if you’re not back, we’re coming for you both,” Theo told her quietly. She looked at him in alarm and then nodded.
“I’ll be quicker than that.” She turned and headed down a hallway.
“I don’t like it,” Connor muttered.
“Keep your phone handy,” I told him. “C’mon back in the main room, better room for fighting.” Matt and Theo headed back in; Connor looked at me in alarm. “If we have to,” I tried to appease him. A couple of minutes later, Corey texted Connor. I was standing against a wall, casually watching the room. Connor angled his phone so we could all see her message, without being too obvious.
Corey: Got her, she’s ok
Connor typed out a quick message telling them to come back.
Corey: Wait. Something to take care of first…don’t leave that room
I caught Matt’s eye seeing he was as edgy as I was.
Cole: A Boulder Series Novella Page 11
