Page 74 of Oathbreaker

That’s why she was so upset.

West dumped her—what a dumbass.

But that’s okay.

Because I’m right here to pick up the necessary pieces to put both our lives back together.

Twenty-Three

Briar

My eyes are so swollen from crying, I can barely read the words on my kindle screen.

But even if I could, the romance novel I’ve been reading in my spare time isn’t making me feel better.

For once, getting lost in the fantasy of a man falling at my feet isn’t what I want.

Because in the last couple of hours, I’ve hurt two good ones.

West because…well, he’s not Colt.

And Colt because…he’s Colt.

The Colt of my dreams, my fantasies, my heartbreak…and a different Colt who I’m still learning, who’s told me things that shatter my heart all over again and then piece it back together.

And I told him to go.

When he has nowhere to go.

My lungs hitch and I slam my eyes closed, trying to breathe deeply. I need to stop crying. I’ve shed so many damned tears I should be a shriveled up skeleton by now.

But I can’t seem to get them to stop.

And now I can’t read, not from my swollen eyes or because it’s painful watching the main characters move toward their happily ever after, but because my vision has gone blurry.

“Ugh,” I whisper, dashing away the offending tears.

I need to go to sleep.

Frankie will be up bright and early, and I’ve got to get ready to tell her that I…kicked her father out.

Great.

That’ll be fun. Can’t wait?—

The door to my bedroom flies open.

I gasp, thinking that Frankie’s sick or some maniac has broken into the house. But even as those thoughts are crossing my mind, I’m freezing.

Because a big hand is catching it, stopping the wooden panel from slamming into the opposite wall…

And Colt is striding into my bedroom.

I can’t ignore the thrill that brings.

I just don’t have all that long to process it…

Because the next second, he’s swinging the door shut.