Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(22)

“If you’re gonna hit me, Colt, just do it.”

He shook his head. “I’m not hotheaded like Luke. I just want to know one thing. Do you truly love her, Will?”

I smiled and nodded my head. “I love her more than anything, Colt. She’s my reason for breathing.”

He slowly nodded. “Did you make it special for her?”

“Yes. At least, I hope I did.”

“All right. I just want you to know, I love you like a brother. You’re my best friend, Will. But if you ever hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”

“I won’t, Colt. I promise you, I’ll never hurt her.”

Colt stuck out his hand, and we shook. He went to turn, and I grabbed his arm.

“Hey, I have something to say to you.”

He gave me a crooked-ass grin. “What’s that?”

“You hurt Lauren, I’ll hurt you.”

His smile faded. He turned and walked back toward everyone.

Libby and Lex both walked up to me.

Lex went right into my arms and whispered, “What did he say?”

“He told me that if I ever hurt you, he’d hurt me.”

She giggled. “I’m so sorry about Luke.”

I gently pushed her back from me, so I could look her in the face. “I would have done the same thing.”

I held out my arm for Libby, and she walked up next to Lex. I hugged them both. When I looked up at Luke, I could see the pain in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if it had more to do with Lex and him hitting me or with Libby breaking down and crying. If he cared at all about Libby like I did Lex, I knew that Libby’s tears had probably caused him pain.

Libby reached up and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Will.”

I smiled as I kissed her back on her cheek. “I love you, too, Lib.”

She turned and started to head to the house. Luke looked like he was going to say something to her, but he stopped. She walked right by him and followed Grace and Lauren into the house.

Luke ran his hands down his face and glanced back at me. “I’m going to bed. You working on the fence tomorrow?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah.”

“Fine. Be here at six in the morning, or we’re leaving without you.” He turned and stormed off into the house.

Lex let out a sigh as she watched him. She turned to me and said, “I’m so sorry. He had no right—”

I pulled her to me and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and let out a sweet moan.

“Thank you for tonight, Lex.”

She grinned from ear to ear. “Thank you. Thank you for my promise ring and for your promise. Thank you for making it the most amazing night of my life.”

“Let’s just hope your dad never finds out!”

We both started laughing.

Colt walked back out. “Alex, you ready to go home?”

Lex looked up at me and gave me a weak smile. “I love you, Will.”

I leaned down and kissed her gently. “I love you, too, Lex.”

Lex turned and made her way over to Colt’s truck. She paused for a second to turn back and look at me. She waved and blew me a kiss, and I smiled and waved back. I watched as Colt’s truck drove down the driveway.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded my head and turned to face my sister. “Yeah. You ready to go home, Lib? Mom and Dad decided to come home early.”

The look on Libby’s face turned to horror. She slowly moved her hands up and covered her mouth. “They didn’t…”

I laughed. “Nah, but they knew. Lex and I were in the kitchen when they walked in.”

Libby closed her eyes. “Shit, Will. Mom texted me earlier and asked what we were doing. I said we were all watching movies at Luke’s. She asked if you were here, and I said yes. Will, I’m so sorry. We’re both going to get in trouble now.”

I shrugged my shoulders as I walked up to her. I threw my arm around her and began walking her to my truck. “Nah, I don’t think so. Besides, nothing will ever be worse than both my parents knowing I just had sex for the first time with my girlfriend.”

I chuckled, but Libby stopped walking.

I stopped and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

A huge grin spread across her face. “Will, did you…oh my gosh. Did you wait for Alex?”

I felt my face turn fifty shades of red. I smiled slightly and whispered, “Yeah.”

She slowly shook her head. “William Hayes, you are the most romantic man I’ll ever know, and it really sucks you’re my brother.”

We both busted out laughing as I opened the passenger side door for her.

Before she got in, I took a hold of her arm. “Hey, Lib?”

“Yeah?”

I looked down and kicked the dirt. I wasn’t sure how to even ask her or if I even wanted to know. “Lib, do you, um…well…do you have feelings for Luke?”

Her smile instantly dropped. “It doesn’t really matter if I do.”

I tilted my head and stared at her. It was dark, but I swore I saw tears in her eyes.

“Sure it does, Libby. I know Luke had feelings for you at one time, and—”

She held up her hand and quickly shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. He made that perfectly clear this evening when he made out with Claire at the party.”