Page 34 of Came the Closest

Cheyenne: I went to see my dad.

Cheyenne: And you were right. Somehow choosing sad turned into choosing happy.

Cheyenne: *picture of a chocolate glazed donut with sprinkles*

Cheyenne: This also helped significantly on the happiness front.

Colton: I’m proud of you.

Colton: Insanely proud.

Cheyenne: Thank you ??

Cheyenne: I’m insanely proud of you too.

Colton: For??

Cheyenne: Milo.

Cheyenne: That’s you choosing hard, not sad or happy, and I’m insanely proud of you for it.

DELETED TEXT FROM COLTON TO CHEYENNE:

You’d be less proud if you knew how badly I wanted to kiss you in that kitchen this morning.

Chapter Eleven

Funny How Fast Things Change

Colton

“No. Absolutely not. No.”

Travis repeats himself when he’s riled up. His ire deeply amuses me, and even though he knows this, he can’t help it. Five years ago, when I played one song on repeat during all training sessions, he became so irritated he muttered Andy Grammar lyrics under his breath for two and a half weeks.

He probably hasn’t forgiven me for that.

I should tell him it’s unhealthy to hold grudges.

“You can’t just all of a sudden decide to adopt—”

“Not adopt,” I say.

“—a child when you’re in the throes of, quite frankly, press hell,” he continues. I’d bet my truck he’s not listening to a word I say. “I mean, think with your brain here, Colton. I know it’s difficult when it’s the size of a pea, but—”

“Maybe a mustard seed,” I say thoughtfully.

“—come on. No. The answer is no.”

“Thank you for the input, but I wasn’t asking. My decision has been made.” Which is why I’m having this conversation while sitting in my truck, parked in the driveway of the lake house. “I told my sister yes, and it goes into effect today.” My eyes shift to the dash clock. “In about ten minutes, actually, and if I know Indi, that’ll be three. So, either you continue scolding me about a decision I’ve already made, or you use that time to provide my schedule for the next three months. I need to let Cheyenne know when I’ll be around and when I’ll be gone.”

Silence.

The kind of silence like last Wednesday, when Indi looked from Milo to me, and what came next was something I didn’t want to hear. The kind of silence that makes me pull my phone from my ear to make sure we’re still connected.

“Travis?”

“You won’t be gone at all for the foreseeable future.”