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just a figure of speech, but I knew it was more.
    "There are so many great homes we can buy in this neighborhood. Why not start looking? I don't want to be a damn renter forever, Dallis." My gaze burned through him as he spoke. "I hate being the only guy not talking about home ownership, and honestly, it makes me feel…" he paused, trying to find the right words, "l--less than."
    I narrowed my eyes at him, but he didn't flinch. He didn't find anything wrong with what he was saying. "There is nothing wrong with renting, Colby. You manage rental properties for a living--luxury properties might I add," I snapped, feeling belittled and, as he had said, less than.
    "There is something wrong with it when you're me… when you're a Shaw. And when I make you a Shaw, I will not be a damn renter."
    Utter disgust shelled my face. Colby could be incredibly condescending and, at times, downright snooty, but I was caught off guard by his choice of words. "I love this place, Colby, and I'm not about to go throw money around just because you can. Learn to save money instead of frivolously spending it." I stood from the couch, pulling my shirt down over my sweat pants. "And if you need to run off and buy a new place, please don’t let me hold you back. I wouldn't want you to continue to feel less than. "
    "I'm sorry, Dallis. I didn't mean it like that."
    "You meant it just the way it came out," I said, running my fingers through my hair. My chest tirelessly moved up and down, causing me to expend extra energy to regain my composure. Colby had a way of setting me off, and right now he was pushing every button he could find.
     

Chapter 4
    Colby worked hard to right his wrongs over the next few days. There was no further talk of purchasing homes, or anything else that had led to our spat. He worked in true, Colby fashion to make things right, which basically meant that he tried to act like he'd done nothing wrong, while trying to fix things. It never made sense to me to work so hard to repair something that supposedly wasn't broken. His techniques always puzzled me, but he'd apologized, so I let it go. I still wasn't back to my regular self, but Miranda had promised to take me out and bring some sunshine back into my life and, after everything that had happened lately, I could use some.
    Unfortunately, as is customary for Seattle weather, the same day Miranda and I chose to meet up for lunch, a constant flow of rain filled the streets. I pulled up in front of a sandwich deli and found Miranda out on the covered patio, playing on her iPad. I snuck up behind her and grabbed her shoulder, making her jump. She turned and smiled, and I gave her a quick hug as I made my way to the other side of the table to take my seat. The rain had downgraded to a mild mist, so I pulled the hood of my State hoodie from my head and ran my fingers through my tangled hair.
    "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. How have you been, Dallis?" Miranda asked, motioning for the waiter.
    "I've been okay." I smiled lightly. "Just taking things one day at a time."
    The waiter made his way over. After ordering turkey and provolone paninis, we made small talk about the weather, the deli, and anything else except for the massive elephant in the room. Being that I have no patience for nonsense, I brought the small talk to an end, startling Miranda.
    "Why are you talking about bullshit?" I asked, catching Miranda off guard. "I know you didn't drag me out today to talk about this constant rain," I said, waving my hand to the side of me, "or this damn deli."
    "I just haven't seen you. I didn't want to immediately jump into your sorrows." She half smiled, half cringed at the word sorrow.
    "It's fine. I can't stay in perpetual hell, right?" She cocked her head to the side and just as she was about to speak, I continued. "I've been here before. I'll work myself out of it."
    "I know you have, I just worry. Is Colby helping? He was your rock after the passing of your dad."
    "He