Page 2

Story: Duncan

“What’s he like?”

“Who?”

Colleen rolled her eyes at me and sighed like a teenager. “Justin. Mom told me he lives in the town she moved to.”

Shrugging, I eyed her back. “I don’t know. He’s a punk ass kid like his dad was.”

That wasn’t true. Micah seemed like a good kid.

“He’s got a woman, so don’t go getting any ideas,” I told her, my finger pointing in her direction for emphasis.

She rolled her eyes again, before adding, “I was just wondering. You hear about someone your whole life and then suddenly find out he’s actually alive, and it makes you curious.” She shrugged.

“Well, curiosity killed the cat,” I reminded her.

“Satisfaction brought it back,” she retorted with a smug grin.

“I thought you were seeing that Leering kid?”

“It’s O’Leary, and no, we broke up.” I followed her down the hall toward her spare room.

“Why?”

She gave me a shrug, but no answer. That shrug was another way for her to roll her eyes.

Grabbing her elbow, I spun her around. “What’d the little fucker do?”

“Nothing, we just weren’t compatible.”

“Bullshit. Your mom said you really liked him.”

“I thought I did, but I don’t.” She wrenched her arm free and continued down the hall.

“What the fuck did he do, Colleen?”

“I am not telling you,” she called over her shoulder.

“I’ll put Cian on it and find out. You may as well tell me.”

She stopped and dropped her head back, looking at the ceiling.

“Why can’t you let it go? The whole point of dating is to see how much you like someone. Not all of them work out.”

“What. Did. He. Do?”

Letting out a heavy sigh, she turned toward me and relented.

“He cheated on me, ok? Happy now?”

“No, I’m not fuckin’ happy.” I pulled her into my arms and whispered, “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.”

Pulling back, she scowled at me. “You will do no such thing.”

“No one hurts my Lollipop.”

“He didn’t hurt me. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t even cry when I found out. I was actually relieved. I had been trying to figure out how to break things off. He just made it easier.”

“He still gets punished.”