Torn Between Tides

Chapter Sixteen

"Oh. Colt. Hi," Roman said, feeling startled as he gripped the photoframe tightly in his hand.

Trevor had dropped Colt a message letting him know that Roman had shown up and was at his house waiting for him. Colt couldn't check his phone until after the meeting was over, and once he did, he made his way home as fast as he could.

Even though he had seen Roman just a couple hours back, he was feeling excited to be with him again. A tad bit worried, too, as Roman had never come over unannounced, so Colt just hoped that everything was okay.

He didn't really expect to find Roman snooping around in his drawers, however. He wasn't pissed, not exactly. Had it been someone else, they probably would've faced the brunt of Colt's anger. But as his mate...what was Colt's was already Roman's.

Though when Colt saw the photoframe in Roman's hand...he couldn't help the displeasure that he automatically felt. He didn't like to speak or even think about his family anymore. He had buried them deep in his mind and he didn't appreciate any reminders, which was exactly why he had taken down all the photographs and stashed most of them in the attic.

"What are you doing?" Colt repeated, walking towards Roman who stood frozen at his spot.

"I, uh, I was just..."

"Going through my things?" Colt rose a questioning brow. He didn't mean to sound so accusatory, and he really wouldn't have cared had it not been for the item Roman was currently holding.

"Yeah," Roman muttered, admitting to his transgression. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, I know. I just— I just got curious and...yeah, it was wrong of me."

"I see," Colt mumbled, taking the frame from Roman's hand as he looked over it.

He remembered the day the picture was taken like it was just yesterday. It was his sixteenth birthday and his father had prepared the grandest meal possible with all of Colt's favorites. He got his first car that day and his mom, who was usually always at work, took the day off to spend it with him too.

"What happened? To them?" Roman asked, his voice soft as he noticed the shift in Colt's expression from annoyed to dismal.

"Dead. Dead," Colt stated, pointing at his mom and brother. He kept his finger on top of his dad, pausing for a moment before he continued. "Left us. Possibly missing."

"I'm sorry," Roman spoke, keeping his hand on Colt's shoulder as he leaned against the man in an attempt to comfort him. "How did they die? If you don't mind me asking."

"They were...betrayed by someone they shouldn't have trusted," Colt replied, not knowing any other better way to explain it.

"I know a thing or two about that," Roman mumbled.

"Enough about this," Colt said, keeping the frame back in the drawer before closing it shut. He inhaled sharply as he looked at Roman, passing him a tight lipped smile which he was sure seemed as fake as it felt. "Not that I mind you coming over, because I truly don't, but...this was rather unexpected. Is everything okay?"

"Dunno," Roman grumbled, shrugging as he walked to go sit down on the couch. Colt followed, taking place next to the man.

"Talk to me. What happened?" Colt asked. "Anybody I need to go beat up?"

"Oh hell no," Roman chuckled as he shook his head. "My brother wouldn't survive a single punch by you."

"Your brother? What did he do?" Colt questioned again, suddenly at high alert. He hated the idea that not just something, but someone was troubling his mate.

"Just typical sibling stuff, honestly. It's no big deal," Roman tried to wave it off, but Colt wasn't having it.

"Roman..."