Page 114 of Wright Together

“Of course I did. I wouldn’t leave you to deal with this alone, and I understand not wanting your dad here for it in front of everyone. But look at this place, Colt. Really look at it. How are you going to fix the window without him knowing?”

Colton put his head in his hands. His voice was strained when he said, “He’s going to keep me here.”

“He might,” I acknowledged.

“I can’t stay.”

“You knew that was a possibility if you did this.”

“Yeah, but…”

I waited. He’d known. He’d risked it anyway. I’d help him, but I wouldn’t hide this from Jensen. I respected him too much for that.

“Can’tyoujust tell him?” Colton asked.

I laughed. “You wantmeto face off with Jensen? Not a chance.”

Colton scowled. “Great.”

I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “He’ll appreciate all of this more if you take responsibility for what you did. You did the right thing in the end. That’s what matters.”

“He won’t think so,” he said softly.

West and Harley came back inside then.

“All clear,” West said. “Where should we start with cleanup?”

“Leave it,” I said. “Colton is going to come back up here to deal with it later. Aren’t you?”

“Yeah, boss. I’ll take care of it.” Colton straightened. He pushed his shoulders back, and I saw a hint of the man he was going to be. “First, I have to talk to my dad.”

Jensen answered after I rang the Ring doorbell a few times. He was bleary-eyed as he yanked the door open and looked at me. Then, he became immediately wide awake at Colton’s appearance.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Jensen asked.

“I’m fine, Dad,” Colton said.

He glanced up at me. “Why are you dropping him off at home?” Then down at Colton. “Why aren’t you in your room?”

Colton took a breath and then released it. “Monk and Chet wanted to throw me a going-away party. So, they picked me up, and we went to the lake house.”

“What?” Jensen snarled.

“I swear we were just going to hang out. But they invited all of their friends.” Colton straightened. “I called Whitt when things got out of hand.”

Jensen looked up at me and then to his son. “But you didn’t call me.”

“I thought you’d freak the fuck out.”

“Is there a reason that I shouldn’t?”

“Look, I fucked up,” Colton said. “I knew it when I called Whitt, and I hoped that he’d get me out of it. But I realize now, that was the second way I fucked up. I shouldn’t have thrown that party.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Jensen said. “Though I appreciate you admitting to that.”

“Yes, sir,” Colton said.

“Get inside. We’ll discuss what we do from here,” Jensen said. He shook his head as Colton scurried past him and into the safety of the house. He clenched his hand into a fist and then released it, sticking his hand out to me. I put mine in his.