Dirty, Reckless Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 3)

Saturday, November 24th

“Don’t you have anything better to do this weekend than visit an addict?” Colton says as he steps into the dining room to greet me.

I shake my head. “Nothing comes to mind.”

He surprises me by pulling me into a tight hug. He’s staying at a small rehab clinic in eastern Wisconsin. He had himself admitted a month ago, shortly after being discharged from the hospital. When I decided to make the drive, I honestly wasn’t sure if he’d talk to me.

“You look good,” I say when he releases me. He was so thin when I saw him in the hospital, and now his cheeks are filled out again and I can tell he’s been spending his free time in the gym.

He shrugs. “Apparently not being strung out does wonders for a guy’s complexion.”

“Are they being good to you here?”

He nods. “It’s a nice place. Ava and Molly have visited a few times. Mom even made it up once.” He pauses a beat then adds, “And Ellie.”

My chest feels a little tight at the mention of her name. “That’s good.”

“I’m coming home next week.”

My throat goes thick with that news. Colton’s been my best friend my whole life, and even though things haven’t been the same between us in years, I miss him.

“I hear you’re not doing motocross anymore,” he says. “You took some sort of suit-and-tie job working for Brayden?”

“Something like that.” I grin, thinking of my new position with the family company. “It’s actually kind of awesome. They pay me to talk to people about beer and I don’t have to tear up my body on the bike. Less money but fewer bruised ribs. Seems like an okay

trade-off.”

“Sounds like you’ve gone soft.”

I shrug. “Maybe I was too hard before.”

“Me too.” He studies me for a beat. “How’s Ellie?”

“Good, I think.”

“You think?”

“You two didn’t talk about me when she visited?” I sound like a teenager digging for information on the girl he likes.

He grunts. “Nah. I didn’t bring up the asshole who stole my girl. My bad.” I look away, staring out the dining room window at the cold November day and the bare trees that line the complex. Colton punches my shoulder. “I’m just giving you grief. I’m fine about it. Mostly.”

“It’s not that.” I’d like to celebrate that Colton just said he’s fine with Ellie and I being together, but I can’t because she still hasn’t come back to me. “She wanted some space.”

“And you gave it to her?” He shakes his head. “Damn. After all this time, I would’ve expected you to fight harder.”

I look at my shoes. I don’t want to explain myself to Colton, even if that isn’t fair. “I wanted to.” Watching her walk away from me the last time hurt like hell, but it was different than before. This time, I believed she’d come back. She wasn’t saying goodbye forever. She was asking me to let her go so she could find something, and I had to let her, even knowing she already has what she’s looking for. “I love her.”

“I know,” he says. “You have for a long time, and I . . .” He turns toward the window and folds his arms across his chest. “I think I’ve known you were better for her from the start. I just want her to be happy.” He flashes me a look over his shoulder. “And you too, I guess.”

I laugh. “Thanks, I think.”

“Did you have a good Thanksgiving? I’m not gonna lie, I about busted out of here to go get some of Jake’s cooking. The shit they served here . . .” He shakes his head and lowers his voice. “It was a disgrace.”

“You would have been welcome,” I say. “Ava would’ve loved to have you there.”

He nods. “I’ll be there next time. Things are going to be different when I get back. Colton 2.0 is gonna blow your mind.”

“I can’t wait,” I say, and I mean it.