The Bookworm's Guide to Dating (The Bookworm's Guide 1)

I started the engine and pulled away. Kai was parked at the end of the street, and I pulled up alongside him with a grin and rolled down my window. “She needs rescuing.”

Smirking, he touched two fingers to his temples and saluted me. “On it. I’ll cite an emergency… Like the freezer broke and all the ice cream has melted.”

“Nailed it.”

“You left early. Going to find your brother?”

I nodded. “Have you spoken to him?”

“I headed over to his place last night. He was furious,” he warned me with a meaningful yet sympathetic look. “I told him I had no idea and was just as shocked as he was and he bought it, so don’t throw me under your betrayal bus.”

I flipped him the bird. “I appreciate you leaving him one friend.”

He nodded righteously, but his grin gave him away. “I know. Go easy on him.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to punch him as hard as he punched Josh.”

“He doesn’t regret that, by the way.”

“Yeah, well, Josh thinks he deserves it. They’re both weirdos.”

Kai laughed right as his phone rang. “It’s Ivy. Wanna go so I can get her?”

“Sure. I’ll text her later and let her know how it went.” With a wave, I pulled away from where I was parked against his truck and rejoined the right side of the road.

Whoops.

I hit the button to wind my window back up and turned onto the road that would take me in the direction of Colton’s place. My phone rang as I rolled up to an intersection, and Josh’s name flashed on the screen on my dash. I hit the green button to accept.

“Hey,” I answered. “What’s up?”

“I swear I just saw your car. Aren’t you supposed to be at the baby shower?”

I paused. He saw my car? “You saw my car?”

“Yeah, Grandma wanted some things from the store, and I took a detour to the liquor store because she asked for gin. Apparently, it was the least I could do as my relationship is the reason for her current entertainment.”

I groaned. “Yeah, I just left. I didn’t even notice you.”

“Are you going home?”

“No.” Another pause. “I’m going to Colt’s place.”

“Ah. Okay.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. Are you sure you want to go so soon?”

“Yeah.” I briefly relayed my conversation with Kai. “He’s my brother, Josh. I can’t eat, I can barely sleep—I need to say my piece whether he wants to hear it or not. He has to hear it and know it wasn’t meant maliciously.”

“I get that. Want to come over when you’re done?”

“I’ll text you. I don’t know how this is going to go.”

“All right, just make sure you do. We’re in this together, babe.”

“I know. I’m nearly there. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Talk to you later.” He hung up before I had a chance to, and I made the final turn onto Colt’s street.

I honestly had no idea if he was at home or not. Even if I’d called, I knew he wouldn’t pick up, so I had no choice but to just show up and hope for the best.

I pulled into the parking lot outside his building. His truck wasn’t there, and my heart sank.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t here, but I wasn’t going to keep coming back every hour to check.

I got out of my car and headed into the building. The stairs were a therapeutic hike up, and I turned off at his floor and stopped outside his door. No sounds came from within, and even though I was aware of the futility of the action, I knocked.

And knocked again.

And again.

Nothing.

I exhaled through my nostrils and leaned against the wall next to his door. Slowly, I slid down it until my butt hit the awful carpet floor of the hallway and I was staring at the plain, magnolia wall opposite.

I guess I was waiting.***“I should have fucking known you’d be here.”

I looked up at the sound of Colton’s voice and locked my phone. “I just want to talk to you.”

He grunted and put his key in the door. “I don’t know what you think you can say to me.”

I scrambled up to my feet and held my phone to my stomach. “Come on, Colton. Please.”

“I don’t owe you anything right now,” he said over his shoulder. “I don’t even want to look at you, Kinsley, but I saw Grandpa earlier, and he’s one persuasive bastard, so…” He shoved his front door open and stepped inside, leaving it there for me.

I hesitated for a moment before I followed him inside and pushed it closed behind me.

Colt walked into the kitchen and pulled a beer from the fridge. He didn’t offer me a drink, nor did I expect one. I was under no illusions that I was a wanted visitor.

The look in his eye as he turned and looked at me was nothing short of chilling.