CHAPTER 11.33

                                    

                                          
My boots crunched over the dried leaves as I made my way closer to the woods, the sound somehow too loud against the backdrop of distant laughter and the crackling bonfire. The night air had a bite to it, sharp and cold, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to fend off the chill creeping into my bones.
But as soon as I stepped away from the crowd, the casual mask fell. I glanced over my shoulder, making sure no one was watching, before I quickened my pace toward the woods. The air grew cooler the closer I got, the scent of pine and earth stronger than the smoke from the fire. The path Caleb had pointed out was barely visible, just a narrow strip of dirt that disappeared into the trees, swallowed by the shadows.
"Colt?" I called out softly, more to myself than anything, my voice barely carrying in the thickening darkness. The trees loomed around me, their branches whispering secrets I couldn't quite catch. I hesitated at the edge of the woods, my feet wanting to move forward but my mind urging me to turn back. What if he didn't want to be found? What if he was with someone else?
I told myself that I was being ridiculous, that there was nothing to worry about. Colt was just out here somewhere, probably having a moment to himself. And it wasn't like we were anything more than friends, anyway. Just two people who had spent a lot of time together lately.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before taking a step into the woods. The ground was uneven, roots and rocks jutting out, making it difficult to walk without tripping. The deeper I went, the more isolated I felt, the sounds of the bonfire fading into a distant murmur, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.
I had almost convinced myself that Colt had just wandered off to clear his head when I heard it—a soft laugh, feminine, followed by a low murmur of voices. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, straining to hear more. The voices were coming from just up ahead, around the bend in the path, and I knew without a doubt that one of them was Colt's.
I bit my lip, feeling a sharp sting of something I didn't want to name. He wasn't mine. I repeated the thought in my head like a mantra, trying to convince myself that I had no reason to be upset. But the more I told myself that, the more it felt like a lie.
I took a step forward, the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. The voices became clearer as I approached, and I recognized the low, easy drawl of Colt's voice mingling with the soft, lilting tones of a woman. They weren't talking loudly, but the intimacy in their exchange was unmistakable.
My chest tightened, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. This was exactly what I had feared, the reason I had hesitated to follow him out here. I could turn back now, save myself the heartache, but something deep inside pushed me forward. I had to see for myself, even if it hurt.
Rounding the bend, I spotted them—Colt leaning casually against a tree, his cowboy hat tipped low over his eyes, and a woman standing close, too close, her hand resting on his arm as she laughed at something he said. Her giggle was soft, almost a whisper, and she leaned in, her face near his neck, her lips brushing against his skin.
A sharp pang shot through me, but I swallowed it down, trying to keep my emotions in check. They weren't doing anything wrong, not really. Colt wasn't mine, and I had no right to be jealous. But that knowledge did nothing to ease the ache in my chest, the gnawing feeling of betrayal even though no promises had been broken.
I took a step back, ready to retreat before they noticed me, but my foot caught on a root, snapping a twig beneath me. Colt's head snapped up, his cobalt blue eyes locking onto mine, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The easy smile he had been wearing slipped away, replaced by something I couldn't quite read—guilt, surprise, maybe even regret. The girl turned, too, her expression shifting from flirtatious to defensive as she realized they weren't alone.