32. Dorian - September
THIRTY-TWO
Dorian - September
HEAR YOU ME - JIMMY EAT WORLD
The Lodge was the same as ever. Warm, noisy, and packed with locals. It wasn’t fancy, but it was the kind of place everyone in Woodstone Falls came to for a decent burger and a break from their day. Gracie was already bouncing up and down as Colt and I followed the hostess to a booth near the back.
“She’s excited,” Colt commented dryly, watching Gracie practically vibrate in place.
“Food always does that to her,” I replied, sliding into the booth, while Colt and Gracie sat across from me. Gracie started coloring on her kids’ menu.
“I’m not like that!” Gracie protested, her little face scrunched up in mock offense. I shot her a teasing grin.
“You literally asked for snacks five minutes ago.” Colt shook his head, smirking as he opened his menu.
“But I was hungry,” she whined.
The door swung open, and a group of teachers strolled in. I recognized a few faces. Miss Lane walked in with a relaxed confidence, even as her eyes darted to Colt the moment they walked in.
“Great,” Colt muttered under his breath, catching sight of his ex. “That’s exactly what I needed tonight.”
She caught our eyes and offered a polite, albeit strained, smile as she made her way toward us. Mr. Harris trailed behind her. I’d never got a good read on the guy and wasn’t sure if I liked him or not.
But I didn’t really like most people, so…
“Well, look who it is,” she said as she approached, her tone chipper but tight. “Dorian.” She nodded at us. “And Gracie!”
Gracie smiled up at her, shy but polite.
“Hi, Miss Lane.”
Colt gave a curt nod, leaning back in his seat, clearly not thrilled by the sudden reunion. “Lana.”
“Colt.” She looked at him for a beat longer, her eyes moving away as Harris caught up. He glanced from me to Colt with a slow, deliberate gaze.
“Mr. Harris,” I greeted, trying to sound casual.
“Dr. James.” He nodded once, then turned to Colt, his eyes lingering a second too long. “Detective.” He nodded.
“We’re just here for dinner,” Colt grunted, clearly not in the mood for small talk.
Lana shifted awkwardly, her smile not quite reaching her eyes as she glanced between us. “Well, don’t let us interrupt. Just wanted to say hi.”
“Right,” Colt said, clearing his throat, visibly uncomfortable.
“Enjoy your night.”
There was a beat of silence that stretched just a little too long before Lane gave a tight nod and tugged on Harris’s sleeve.
“Come on, we should go grab our table.”
“See you around,” he finally said, a little too calmly as Lana dragged him away.
After the waitress came by and took our orders, Gracie look to me.
“Miss Lane and Noah are friends now. They eat lunch together sometimes,” Gracie said, looking up at me innocently before returning her focus to coloring.
Colt groaned at her name.
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “Come on, man. Don’t tell me you’re still sore over her.”
Colt shot me a deadpan look. “She cheated on me with a guy who owns a beekeeping business. I don’t exactly have fond memories.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Fair enough.” I smirked at Colt’s grumpy response. I leaned back in the booth, crossing my arms. “But are you ever gonna tell me what really happened with her?”
Colt grunted, clearly not thrilled about diving into that particular conversation. He stared hard at the menu, like it held the answers to life’s mysteries. “Nothing to tell. She cheated. End of story.”
I remember several years ago, Colt letting it slip that a girl had gotten under his skin, and ever since, he’s never been the same. I wasn’t sure if that girl was Lana or not, but whoever it was, I was curious about who had been able to crack through his exterior.
“Come on, man. It can’t just be that simple.”
He shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tightening around the edge of the menu before he set it down. “It’s that simple. People don’t change. They do what they’re gonna do, and you move on.” His jaw clenched.
Gracie glanced up at Colt with wide eyes. “Uncle Colt, why are you mad?”
The hard lines in his face eased as he turned to her. “I’m not mad, G. Just… talking.”
Gracie gave him a little frown, clearly not buying it. “I don’t like it when you’re mad. You look all scary and grumpy.”
Colt let out a low chuckle and ruffled her hair. “I’m not scary, kiddo. I’m your favorite uncle, remember?”
Gracie giggled—her mood instantly brightened. “You’re my favorite… today. And you’re not scary to me. You’re just like Dad. He can be grumpy sometimes too.”
“Hey!” I protested but couldn’t help smiling at the way Colt’s entire demeanor shifted.
It was always like this with Gracie—he could be closed off with everyone else, but the second she entered the picture, his guard came down. She was one of the few people that could reach him, and I loved seeing that from my grumpy brother.
Gracie wriggled in her seat, her curiosity not satisfied. “But Uncle Colt, why did Miss Lane leave if she was your girlfriend? I thought girlfriends were supposed to stay.”
I saw Colt hesitate, his gaze flicking to me for a second before landing back on Gracie. He cleared his throat.
“Well, sometimes people leave, G. Even when you don’t want them to.”
Gracie’s brow furrowed, and her small face scrunched up in thought. “Like my mom?”
My heart sank and Colt sighed, running a hand through his hair. I started to speak, but Colt raised his hand gently, indicating he had it.
“Your mom didn’t leave you because she wanted to. She loved you a whole lot, but…” He paused. “Sometimes people get really sick or hurt, and their bodies can’t keep them here anymore.”
Gracie blinked, her eyes wide and searching his face. “But why didn’t the doctors make her better? Maybe she can come back?”
Colt swallowed hard. We’d had this conversation a handful of times, but she was getting to an age where these questions were coming up more and more.
“They tried, kiddo. They did everything they could. Sometimes, even doctors can’t fix things. Your mom’s body was too tired, and she had to go.”
Gracie was quiet for a moment, processing his words. “So, she didn’t leave because she didn’t love me?”
I spoke up, pushing down my emotions. “No, G,” I said. “She loved you more than anything.” My voice was hoarse, despite my efforts. “She didn’t want to go. It wasn’t her choice. I know if she could be here with you, she would.”
Gracie gave him a small, sad smile, her eyes wet but bright. “I miss her.”
I rubbed my chest in an attempt to dull the ache. Gracie had never even met her mother, so her statement was nothing short of devastating.
Colt gently pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her. “I know you do, G. But you’ve got a lot of people who love you, okay? We’re all here for you.”
Gracie snuggled into him, her small arms wrapped around his neck. “You’re the best, Uncle Colt. I don’t think anyone’s better than you.” The corner of Colt’s mouth twitched, a rare smile breaking through his broody exterior.
“Hey, what about me?” I teased, needing to lighten the mood.
Colt’s eyes fluttered shut as he held my daughter. After a moment, he shifted in his seat, letting her go.
He picked up his water and took a long sip before turning back to me.
“So, no Lana,” I said, watching his reaction carefully. I wasn’t going to let him get off the hook just because of change in subject. “Anyone else you’re interested in?” I teased.
His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening.
“No way… There is someone. Who?” I asked.
“Doesn’t matter. She’s not interested.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his rare admission. “I thought girls were into the man bun, beards, tattoos and broody exteriors these days?”
He groaned. “I have… baggage.” He gestured to Gracie, indicating he wasn’t going to say anything in front of her.
But we both know without her, he was not nearly as open, so it was a lose-lose situation if I ever wanted to know what the hell went on in his head.
“You don’t have baggage, Uncle Colt,” she said with a small pout, clearly confused by the term. “Wait, what’s baggage?”
Colt smiled faintly, shaking his head. “It’s nothing, G.”
Gracie seemed satisfied with that answer and went back to her menu, but I wasn’t letting it go so easily. I studied Colt for a second, noting the tension still lingering in his shoulders.
“So, this woman you think would never be interested in you,” I said, keeping my tone casual, “have you maybe asked her?”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “Trust me. She knows.”
“Well,” I said slowly, leaning back in my seat, “maybe you should give yourself more credit. Despite the whole grumpy thing, you’re not as much of a jackass as you think.”
Colt let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, thanks for that, Doc.”
Gracie suddenly perked up, her eyes wide as the waitress approached with our food.
“Ooh, food’s here!” she chirped, bouncing in her seat again. Colt helped make sure she didn’t knock over her drink in her excitement.
“What about you? You’re the one with googly eyes lately.” He raised a brow at me.
I scoffed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.”
“Not at all.”
Gracie, who seemed too engrossed in her food to notice our conversation, suddenly perked up. “Uncle Colt, are you talking about Noah? I mean, Miss Reid? I think my daddy likes her too!”
I let out a groan as Colt burst into laughter. I quickly ignored the turn in conversation, unsure of how to respond.
The truth was, I didn’t even know what Noah and I were, if we were anything at all.
But I wasn’t ready to talk about that, especially to my brother.