Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(103)

“Tell Chass thanks for the muffins.”


Edgard and Trevor chatted with Cord and Colby for a few minutes before they disappeared up the driveway.


Colt stood his ground and waited, hating that he felt nervous.


Colby climbed out first. “Mornin’ Colt.”


“Mornin’. What brings you guys by?”


The truck door slammed in response.


“Didja need something?” Did I do something wrong again?


“No. Gotta say, it’s sad the only time we show up at your place is when we need something.”


“A damn shame,” Cord added.


“You’re both welcome here any time.”


“Good to know.”


Both men leaned against the truck. Colby still favored the leg he’d busted up rodeoing, and had taken up a cockeyed position.


Cord crossed his arms and his legs, keeping his face shadowed beneath his hat brim.


“So why are you here?”


Colby tipped his head up and looked Colt square in the eye.


“To apologize for bein’ a prick to you.”


Whoa. Not what Colt expected.


“I ain’t gonna make excuses about what I said a few weeks back, ’cause it’s over and done. We both know it was wrong. We all know this situation has been buildin’ for a while. You’ve pissed me off so many times since I quit the circuit and started workin’ on the ranch that I’m surprised we ain’t come to blows before now.”


“Hell, I’ve been pissing you off since I was born,” Colt said.


Colby shot him a smile. “Ain’t that the truth.”


“And Colt, you and I did come to blows,” Cord added.


Just another blackout drunk moment Colt didn’t remember.


“So until Cam pointed it out a couple weeks back,” Colby continued, “I hadn’t considered I’d kept up that shitty attitude toward you even now that you’re clean. Because I was used to actin’ that way, I realized I didn’t know how not to be mad at you, bro.”


Silence.


“Then when you built this house, away from us, and up the road from Trev, who’d always been my best friend, I guess I was pissed and jealous. Makes me an immature f*ck to spout off the shit I did to you. You didn’t deserve none of it. Jesus. I don’t know if I can ever apologize enough.”


“You don’t hafta—”


“Lemme say my piece. I’m sorry I— we—didn’t kick your ass when we saw you losin’ the battle with booze. You shoulda been able to turn to us, Colt, instead we turned you against us. I don’t blame you for wantin’ to distance yourself. No wonder you prefer Kade and Buck to us, at least they had your back when you needed it.”


Colt glanced away.


“As long as we’re spillin’ our guts, I’m sorry I didn’t try harder to include you in my life with Channing either. All Gib could talk about on the way home from dinner last night was you.”


“He’s a great kid.”


“And I’m really f*ckin’ sorry you’ve borne the brunt of the work in your sobriety while I was workin’ banker’s hours because I’ve got a wife and kids to go home to.


“Bottom line is Cam was dead on and it pisses me off I was too stubborn to see it. I didn’t believe you could change, even when the proof was right in my face for the last three years. And it sucks that if Cam didn’t have the balls to speak the truth, we all probably would’ve gone on like this for years, huh?”