Page 35 of One Little Kiss

“Colt?”

With a fortifying breath, I turn to face my older brother.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Wish to fuck I knew.” Closing my eyes, I don’t open them again until I hear Halton curse.

I glance out the window to where he’s peering down. At least fifteen news vans crowd the mountain road near our private entrance with cameras pointed to the sky. We basically just announced my arrival.

CHAPTER10

COLTON

“Really got yaself in a pickle this time, didn’t ya, Pan?”

“Jesus, GG. Can you let him walk in the door before you give him shit?” Ash scolds.

At least someone’s on my side.

“Hey, GG.” Even with the shitstorm happening around me, I can’t bring myself to be mad at the crazy, old lady. She tells it like she sees it, and that’s never going to change. “Yeah, I think it’s pretty bad.”

“Bad, Colt. Bad? It’s a clusterfuck of epic proportions,” my brother, Easton, barks from the kitchen.

Groaning, I drop my bag. “Is everyone here?”

“Unfortunately,” Ash grumbles.

“Great. Let me have it,” I say to no one in particular.

East takes a menacing step forward and tosses magazine after magazine on the coffee table between us. There are at least forty of them, and I recognize the last one that came out six or seven months ago declaring me the bad boy Westbrook. He throws another one down and it says the Westbrook player of uptown.

Interview after interview given by people who’ve never met me. Finally, he tosses the latest edition.US Magazinewith my naked ass front and center.

My jaw clenches when I realize he’s not even allowing me to explain. He’s already made up his mind.

“You come here every damn weekend and hang out with my kids. We left them in your care because we trusted you.”

The past tense of his statement makes bile rise in my stomach, and a bitter, cold rage form in my heart.

“Easton,” Ash’s tone carries a warning East ignores.

“But it’s not just your niece and nephew you’ve fucked over with your carelessness, Colton.” My name sounds like daggers flying from his mouth. “We could have helped hundreds of families here. We could have made a real difference for this entire fucking state, and all you cared about was getting your dick wet?”

“East, we think they drugged him.” Halton attempts to ease the tension, but East chooses a side just like Preston. And it’s not mine.

“Do you have anything to say? Anything at all?” Easton yells, but I’m done. I’ve never felt more betrayed by my family than I do right now.

Turning to Ash, I try to control my tone. “Do you care which room I take?”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Just not Sadie’s. She’ll be here tomorrow for a pizza and movie night.”

Nodding, I hope he can see the appreciation in my expression, because I don’t trust myself to say much else.

“That’s it?” East bellows. “You’re always going on about how our family needs to communicate, and you’re just going to walk away? Preston and Emory had to change their plans to come here and help fix your shit, and you’re going to walk away?” His rage heats the entire house.

I’m in front of him, toe to toe, before I can stop myself. “Why would I say anything when you’ve so obviously already made up your mind?” I hiss. “I’ve never given any of you a goddamn reason to think I’m incompetent, yet you’ve riddled me with the title of black sheep for years now. Why? Because I try to lighten the heavy fucking shit our family has been through over the years? Because I like to laugh and have a good time? Because I’m trying to be like dad?” That last part slips out and pisses me off even more.

Easton’s eyes go wide just before regret flashes in them.