Letting Go (Vista Falls #3)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “Honestly?” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking tortured, as though thinking about the possibility made him sick. “I don’t know. I do know that I can’t imagine my life without her, so I guess we’d have to find a way to get past it somehow.”

  “Then I guess you’re a bigger person than I am,” Gabby said, trying to swallow her bitterness. “Because I can’t figure out how to get past it. Every night when I fall asleep, I imagine him in bed with her, and it’s…” She cleared her throat when her voice broke. “It’s killing me, Wes.”

  “I know, sweetheart,” he said, his voice gentle and soothing. “And there’s no doubt he did a really shitty thing, but he’s human. He was reeling. His dad just died. He was dealing with all that crap from his past, and he did what Colt always does. He got drunk. Unfortunately, there was someone there to take advantage of his vulnerability.”

  “You think this was Brenna’s fault?”

  “I believe Colt when he tells me he wanted nothing to do with her and she knew that.”

  “Does it really matter what he said? What matters is what he did.” Gabby knew there were extenuating circumstances, but that didn’t excuse his actions. “If he needed a warm body and someone to comfort him, he could have come to me.” That was what hurt the most—he’d turned to a stranger instead of her.

  “I know that.” Wes shook his head. “And he knows that. That’s what makes this whole thing so messed up. I can’t imagine him doing that, not when I know the way he feels about you.”

  “Yeah, well, he did do it. And I’m sorry, but I can’t get over it.” When Wes rolled his eyes, she said, “You can judge me all you want, but until you’ve been where I am, you don’t know how I feel!”

  “Fine, but—”

  “No, I’m not finished.” She’d been waiting a long time to get this off her chest. While she’d have rather been saying it to Colt than Wes, she had a feeling her ex would get the message through his friend. “It would be one thing if we’d been married for ten years and he’d always been a responsible and loving husband and father. If he’d proven to me that he was someone I could depend on, someone who’d made a mistake”—she raised her index finger—“one stupid mistake, not a series of mistakes, then maybe, just maybe I could forgive him for cheating on me one time. But we both know that’s not what we’re talking about here. Colt has never been someone I can count on. And I need that in my life, Wes. I need someone I can trust and believe in.”

  Wes seemed to consider her viewpoint for a minute before he rounded the counter and pulled her into his arms. “You’re right. I know you’re right, but I can’t shake the feeling that you and Colt belong together, honey. I can’t imagine either one of you being happy with anyone else.”

  “Neither can I,” she whispered, feeling even more miserable at the hopelessness of her situation. “Neither can I.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gabby had agreed to meet Dave for a pizza after work, but she was exhausted and texted him to cancel. Since they were just seeing each other as friends, she was sure he’d understand. She’d talked to him openly about what had happened with Colt—after he assured her it didn’t bother him—so he knew she was still having more bad days than good days.

  He texted back almost immediately.

  Can I stop by your place? We need to talk.

  Her fingers hovered over the screen as she considered her response. She wasn’t in the mood for company, but Dave had been a good friend to her since the breakup and she didn’t want to blow him off.

  Important?

  Very.

  Be home in 20.

  See you then.

  As soon as she got home, she poured herself a glass of wine and waited. She wasn’t a big drinker, but ever since the fiasco with Colt, she’d been indulging more and more. She knew that was a dangerous habit she would have to nip in the bud. Just not tonight.

  She took a deep breath when the doorbell rang.

  “Hey.” She forced a smile as she held up her wine. “Can I interest you in a glass?”

  “No thanks.” Dave hesitated for a beat as he looked at her glass as though he wanted to say something but thought better of it. “I know you’re tired. This won’t take long. I just had to tell you this tonight, before I backed out.”

  After her conversation with Wes, she was emotionally spent, and the last thing she wanted was another heavy talk, especially if it involved feelings. Dave had claimed he was fine with them being friends, but every once in a while, she caught him looking at her as though he was hoping for more, and that made her uneasy.

  “Let’s go into the living room,” she said, thinking of the last time someone had told her they wanted to have an important talk with her in that room. Colt had upended her life and stolen her dreams that day. She couldn’t imagine anything Dave might say that would have the same effect.

  She sat on the sofa, tucking her legs under her, while Dave sat on the chair, leaning forward.

  “So you know that me and Brenna went out a couple of times before you and I started dating, right?”

  “Ugh. Do we really have to talk about her?”

  “Yeah, we kind of do.” Dave let his hands hang between his bent knees and laced his fingers. “So she was kind of into me. In fact, she was pretty upset when I told her I couldn’t see her anymore.”

  Gabby forced a smile. “I can understand that. You’re a catch.”

  “Yeah, well, here’s the thing,” Dave said, running a hand through his hair. “I guess she, uh, kind of blamed you for me ending it with her.”

  “Me?” Gabby hadn’t asked Dave to end it with Brenna. He’d been free to see anyone he wanted, but she supposed she could understand why Brenna may have assumed Gabby was behind his decision.

  “Yeah, I didn’t realize it until I got to talking to one of her friends recently. Apparently she’s got a real mad on for you.”

  Gabby tipped her glass back, draining it. “Yeah, well. She’s not my favorite person either, so I guess we’re even.” She narrowed her eyes at Dave. “Is that why she slept with Colt, to get back at me for—”

  “She didn’t sleep with Colt.”

  “What?” Gabby set her empty glass down and leaned forward, clutching her arms. “What are you talking about? Of course she slept with him. Colt told me—”

  “What she led him to believe happened.”

  She rubbed her forehead, trying to make sense of what he was saying. Was it possible that Colt hadn’t cheated on her? And even if he hadn’t, was there any chance they could put their relationship back together after everything that had happened?

  “She had an agenda, Gabby. She’d set her sights on Colt long before that night. She was interested in him not only because he was yours but because he was rich and good-looking, according to her friend.”

  “I don’t believe this.” She was certain plenty of women would love to warm Colt’s bed, but to go to the lengths Brenna had was pathetic.

  “She saw her opportunity, and she took it,” Dave said, staring at his feet. “Colt was messed up because of his father. He’d had too much to drink, and she knew she could take advantage of the situation.”

  “That little bitch.” But as angry as she was with Brenna, she was grateful to Dave. If not for him, she would never have known the truth about what had happened that night. “Are you sure about all of this? Is there any doubt in your mind? I mean, maybe her friend could have been lying—”

  “I talked to Brenna myself. There was no way I would have come to you with this if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure.”

  “And she actually admitted it?”

  He curled one hand into the other when he said, “I, uh, may have given her the impression that I’d be willing to give her another chance, but I told her I couldn’t be with someone I didn’t trust. I told her if she’d be honest with me about what happened that night, I could look past it.”

  “And can you?”

  “Hell no!”

  Gabby rea
ched for his hand as tears blurred her vision. “So you did all this for me?”

  “I saw how much you were hurting. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t try to make you feel better?”

  “Thank you,” Gabby whispered, reaching across to hug him. “Thank you so much.”

  ***

  Gabby felt guilty for ringing Wes and Sage’s doorbell after ten o’clock at night, but this couldn’t wait ‘til morning.

  When Wes answered, looking confused, she pushed past him. “I need Colt’s address in Houston. You said that’s where he went, right?” She could have called to get it, but she had to see the look on their faces when she told them what she’d learned.

  “Uh, yeah. He went back to his house to—”

  “He didn’t sleep with her.” Gabby hadn’t intended to blurt it out like that, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She didn’t know what this news meant for her and Colt, but it felt so good to say it aloud.

  “What are you talking about?” Sage asked, walking into the room in a short white bathrobe.

  Then Gabby noticed Wes was shirtless, wearing only flannel bottoms. They had probably been getting busy working on that baby they both wanted. But Gabby didn’t feel too guilty. They’d have plenty of time to get back to that while she was on the red-eye to Houston.

  “Colt didn’t sleep with Brenna. She admitted it to Dave.”

  Sage tightened the sash on her robe, looking perplexed. “But why would she—”

  “She wanted to get back at me for ‘stealing’ Dave from her,” Gabby said, making air quotes around the word. “And she wanted Colt. She figured she could kill three birds if he believed he slept with her. It would hurt me, break us up, and she’d be on the fast track to being his next girlfriend.”

  “I can’t believe her!” Sage shouted. “She honestly thought Colt would want anything to do with her after—”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Gabby said, raising her hands as she shook her head. “I’m not going to waste any more energy on her. She’s already done enough damage.” She looked at Wes, who’d been suspiciously quiet. “Wes, I need to go to him, to explain, to…” She wasn’t sure if she owed Colt an apology for not giving him the benefit of the doubt, but they definitely needed to talk face-to-face. “I don’t know. I just need to see him.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He walked over to his phone on the coffee table in the adjoining living room. “I’ll text you the address.”

  Gabby watched him typing on his phone for a second before she said, “Tell me what you’re thinking. Is it a bad idea to go to him? Would he not want to see me?”

  “No, I wasn’t thinking that,” Wes said, setting his phone back down. “You two need to talk, no doubt about that.”

  “But?” She’d known Wes a long time, and he read like an open book when there was something on his mind he wasn’t sharing.

  “I just don’t know how he’ll react to this news. He could be really pissed, and I don’t want you to step into the crossfire. I’m wondering if maybe I should call and give him a heads-up before you get there. That way he’ll have a chance to react without you witnessing it.”

  “His temper doesn’t scare me, Wes.”

  “It should,” he replied, looking grim. “Especially now. He’s had a lot to deal with lately. He’s probably feeling overwhelmed, and finding out that someone intentionally screwed him over and broke you two up… well, let’s just say it’s not going to be pretty. For the last few weeks, he’s turned all that anger inward. Now he’s going to have another target.”

  Gabby got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “You don’t think he’d ever come after Brenna and try to hurt her, do you?”

  Wes and Sage both gaped at her before Wes said, “No. God, no. How can you even think that? He’s not his old man, Gabby.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “Look, I think you guys are good for each other,” Wes said, wrapping his arms around Sage from behind. “But you have some real issues to work through. You need to learn how to make a commitment and stick to it, give each other the benefit of the doubt, trust each other, and communicate. No matter how much he might want to cut and run, you’ve got to talk it out instead.”

  “You’re a relationship guru now?” Gabby pursed her lips to hide her amusement. She knew that Wes loved them both and only wanted what was best for them, so any advice he gave was coming from the heart. She couldn’t be mad at him for caring enough to voice his opinion.

  “No, I’m a guy who’s made mistakes.” He kissed Sage’s cheek. “And learned from them. If you love Colt enough, you won’t let anything or anyone come between you. That’s what making a real commitment is about. It’s for life. It’s knowing that things won’t always be easy, but you’ll figure out a way to get through it together.”

  “Wes is right,” Sage said, squeezing the forearm her husband had wrapped around her waist. “So you think you and Colt are ready to make that kind of commitment to each other?”

  “Are we ready for marriage?” she asked before taking a deep breath. “No, I don’t think we are. It’ll take a long time for both of us to sort through our baggage, but am I determined to work through it with him if he’ll have me? Absolutely.”

  Wes grinned. “Then why are standing here talking to us? Get to the airport. I’ll call and make your reservation while you’re on the way, and I’ll text you with the details.”

  “Thanks, guys,” Gabby said, giving them both a hug.

  “You need a ride to the airport?” Sage asked. “You can leave your car here.”

  “No, thanks. I’m good.” Or at least she hoped she would be after talking to Colt.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Colt couldn’t believe someone would be stupid enough to ring his doorbell at four in the morning. He’d just gotten to sleep for the first time in days when he heard the incessant ringing.

  He’d just cleared the last step when he realized his live-in housekeeper, Nora, had beaten him to it. She was wearing a short multicolored bathrobe, and her long black hair was sleep-mussed. He was ashamed to admit he’d hired her because she was gorgeous, but he’d kept her on for eight years because she’d become a good friend. And he’d really needed one of those lately.

  He was stunned when Nora opened the door to an adorably disheveled Gabby, who looked as though she’d been fighting sleep too.

  “Oh.” Gabby’s cheeks reddened as she looked from Nora to Colt, who was still standing by the foot of the stairs. “Oh, I’m sorry. I, uh, didn’t think you’d have company.”

  When she started to back down the stairs leading to the driveway, Colt finally snapped out of his stupor. “Gabby, wait! Nora’s not company. She lives here.”

  “She lives here?” Gabby gaped at the beautiful woman. “Since when?”

  “For the past eight years,” Nora said, looking amused as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m his housekeeper.”

  “Oh.” Gabby looked to Colt for confirmation. When he nodded, she offered Nora her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Nora. I’m Gabrielle. I’m sorry I woke you, but I really need to talk to Colt, if that’s okay?”

  Colt couldn’t imagine why Gabby was asking his housekeeper’s permission to talk to him, but it was obvious she was nervous. “Get in here, Gabby.” He sighed, wrestling with his annoyance. He should have been thrilled to see her, but after the hell he’d put himself through over the past month, he wasn’t sure he wanted to relive it through another conversation with the woman he’d wronged. “What the hell are you thinking, wandering the streets in a strange city at this hour? What are you even doing here?”

  “I’m sorry.” Gabby dipped her head. “I know I shouldn’t have just shown up at your doorstep in the middle of the night.” She sneaked a peek at Nora. “But I honestly thought you’d be alone. I didn’t think I’d be disturbing anyone else.”

  “It’s fine,” Nora said when Colt didn’t respond. “I, for one, am happy you’re here. I’ve been dying to meet
you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Colt frowned at his housekeeper. The last thing he needed was for Gabby to think he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her even if it was true. “Nora, will you excuse us, please? I’d like to find out what the hell possessed Gabby to fly here in the middle of the night to see me.”

  “Of course.” Nora stepped aside so Gabby could enter then closed the door. “I could make a pot of coffee or—”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Colt said. “Just go back to bed.” Her suite was at the opposite end of the large house, so they would still have their privacy.

  “Of course,” Nora said, backing out of the room. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

  Gabby waited until Nora had walked down the long hall and they’d heard her door close before she said, “I can see now this was a really bad idea. I should have waited ‘til morning.” When he didn’t respond, she bit her lip and asked, “Um, you and Nora, did you ever… I mean, were you two…?”

  He thrust his hands into his hair, barely resisting the urge to yank on it. “She’s my housekeeper and my friend. That’s all she’s ever been.”

  “I’m sorry. I had to ask. I just wanted to make sure that you’re… still available.”

  His heart rate kicked up at her implication, but he refused to get too excited. Even if she said she could forgive him for cheating, he wasn’t sure that was even possible. “Speaking of being available, how does your boyfriend feel about you being here? Or does he know?”

  She curled her hand around her neck as she frowned. “My boyfriend?”

  “Dave. I saw you two together. Are you saying you’re not seeing him again?”

  “Only as a friend.”

  “Does he know that?”

  “Of course he does. I wouldn’t lead him on like that.”

  The last thing he wanted was to have a conversation with his ex about her ex. “Let’s go into the living room. I need to sit down.”