To Catch A Star

Chapter Twenty-One

Colby slowly walked through the complex. They had just gotten back and he was still feeling the effects of the short phone call with his ex. Renee and Jon had managed to get him to calm down and he fell asleep on the sofa with Renee petting his hair, waking up to a steaming mug of coffee that Jon had made. The duo had stayed with him the entire time until they had to leave back to the programme.

He made is way to the gym, taking a deep shuddering breath before entering. As he suspected, Andi was there. She was on the treadmill doing a slow jog as she watched a PPV on her phone, the sound of cheering filling the room. She must have heard the door close, as she looked up and once spotting Colby, a smile graced her face. At least one of them had had a nice home visit.

He forced a smile and made his way over, getting on the machine next to her. He glanced over, she frowned and raised her eyebrow in question. It must have been obvious that something was off about him, so he reached over and squeezed her hand softly to try and reassure her. She let it go for a few minutes before asking if he wanted to talk about it. He responds by saying that they will talk later, which she accepts and carried on with her workout.

When they lay down on their makeshift bed that night, he lets the flood gates open. He tells her about the phone call, what his ex had said and how he has been feeling. About how he badly wants forgiveness, regrets what he did and how he feels like the worst person. She senses that he is struggling and cuddles into his side, trying to offer some kind of comfort, which he accepts. He squeezes her tightly as a few tears slip and just lays there letting her warmth seep into him. Once he calms down, he eases up on how tight he is holding her but neither move away.

He asks how her home visit went, which earns him a shrug as she states casually that she's getting a divorce. That wakes him up out of his own misery, he shoots up into sitting position and in the process seems to give her whiplash.

"What do you mean, you're getting a divorce? Why didn't you say anything? I've been moaning like an idiot for the last hour, and you didn't think to say anything?!"

She shrugs again, rubbing her neck. Damn that hurt!

"It's fine, Colby, honestly. Well, I'm not fine now. Goddamn it, that hurt! My neck!"

Colby shuffled to behind her, massaging her neck apologetically.

"Sorry but this is a big deal! Are you ok? What happened?"

"Really, it's fine! We just had a discussion when I got back. It's a relief really, we'd both been feeling the same way. We love each other but we're just not in love anymore. He's still my absolute best friend and I'm still his. He's moving out when I get back home after the programme's finished but we'll still spend time as a family with Rosalie..."

Andi told Colby the entire story as they moved to lay down again, everything from her sister-in-law's meddling to Rosalie's response. Colby listened with rapt attention as she continued until she eventually fell asleep. Colby didn't fall asleep quickly, however. This was big news for him too, she's single now. His heart skipped a beat before he stopped himself in his tracks. The woman wasn't even single for a few days and he was already wanting to pounce and steak claim. Idiot, it was way too soon. Plus, his inner demons reared their ugly heads, why would she want him? After what he had done and how publicly he was shamed, she wouldn't want to be seen with him, would she?