"Did he hurt his mouth too?" Buddy asks with a smirk. "Because it looked like you were givin' him CPR." Colton glares at him, and Buddy puts his hands up in defense. "Okay. Sorry, Colt. I don't want you to kick my ass, too." He hooks his thumb and motions out the door. "If you two are done, I could really use your help runnin' this thing."
I let the two of them leave while I linger in the bar just a moment longer. My knees feel weak as my fingertips graze my lips, reliving what just happened in my mind. That kiss with Colton was…incredible. It almost felt like all the time we had apart had vanished in that moment. If only it were that easy to make the past five years disappear.
Running my fingers through my hair and taking a deep breath, I slowly walk out the door. I return to the dunk tank, expecting to see the blond-haired blue-eyed stranger, but he's no longer in line. My eyes scour the crowd for him, feeling bad that he paid money and lost his turn because of me. When I don't see him, I continue my climb to the top of the ladder and sit on the platform.
The sun feels even worse this time around since I was just in the cool air conditioning in the bar. After about twenty minutes and no one hitting the target just the right way, I see Buddy approaching.
He stands to the side of the tank and grins up at me. "So what happened in there?" he asks.
I shrug. "You tell me. You were watching," I say with a sarcastic tone.
He chuckles. "Well, it was quite the show," he quips.
I roll my eyes. "I've been sitting here all day, Buddy, and no one has dunked me."
"You actuallywantto be dunked?" he asks.
"Yeah. Haven't you noticed it's like two-hundred degrees out today?"
"Well, darlin', all you had to do was ask."
I watch in horror as Buddy goes over to the target and hits it with his fist. The platform collapses under me, and I immediately go down into the cool water. I stand up, sputtering and glaring at Buddy. "You know, I kind of hate you and love you at the same time right now."
Buddy fluffs the collar on his shirt and grins. "All the ladies love to hate me, baby."
Giggling, I climb back onto the platform, finally feeling cooled off. A few men in line whistle as I realize my little yellow bikini is suddenly wet and clinging to me. Embarrassed, I hurry up and sit down on the platform, crossing my arms in front of me to cover as much as I can.
My eyes catch a glimpse of Colton off to the side. He's staring at the men who whistled, looking like he's fixin' to kick some ass again. Yeah, maybe a little of the old Coltonisfinally coming back to me. The notion sets my heart sailing.
Suddenly, things are starting to look up.
* * * * *
COLTON
I KISSED PENNY, and it felt…incredible. It feltright. She fit so perfectly in my arms, and I couldn't think of anything else in that moment that we shared together. It was as if the past didn't matter, nor did the future. I just wanted to feel her with me in that span of time with no distractions. Of course, the moment was ruined when Buddy interrupted. I wonder how things would have progressed if he hadn't walked in the room. Would she have let me keep kissin' her? Would she have let things go further?
The thoughts of what could have been crowd my mind, and I have trouble concentratin' on takin' money at the baked goods table. Mrs. Benfield has to correct me five times before I finally give her the right change for the twenty she handed me ten minutes ago for a pie and a couple of cookies.
"It's all right, dear," the old woman coos with a knowin' look.
She probably thinks I can't count worth a damn because of the accident. I'm surprised myself really that I have any sense with all the swellin' I had on my brain. The doctors didn't even think I was gonna walk again, but that gave me even more incentive to prove them wrong. I did everything they said I wouldn't…and then some. It was a long, hard road; but now that I look back on it, it was worth it.
After the line for baked goods has dwindled down, my eyes immediately stray over to the dunk tank. I watch as Buddy and Penny talk. Then Buddy walks over and hits the target, dunkin' Penny into the water. She spits and sputters as she comes up, lookin' madder than an old, wet hen. But she quickly starts to laugh and joke around with Buddy all over again. He's easily forgiven. For some reason, I have a feelin' that Penny doesn't hold grudges all that well. That's a good thing for me, because I'm usually a grade-A dick with her. I'm sure I'll need that easygoin' forgiveness sooner or later, because I'm bound to fuck up a time or two…or ten.
Penny resumes her place on the platform with that tiny yellow bikini…which is now wet and showin' off her pert, little nipples. Some men in the line catcall, and it takes everything in me not to march over there and punch them in the throat.
I glance back to Penny, and she's starin' at me with a dreamy look on her face. My eyes dart down to that tiny bikini, and I turn away with a growl.
Looks like I'll be takin' another cold shower tonight.
CHAPTER 7
PENNY
IT'S THE NIGHT of Colton's birthday, and Buddy and I have organized quite the birthday bash at the bar. I made a giant four-tiered cake for the hundred or so guests, and Buddy hired a DJ. It took us almost four hours to decorate the bar with streamers, balloons and confetti, but it was all worth it to see the look on Colton's face. Buddy said he hasn't celebrated his birthday in years, so it was the perfect surprise party. Colton didn't seem like he was too keen on the idea of celebrating at first; but once his friends started pouring in and the beer started flowing, he seemed to lighten up and actually start to enjoy himself.
"Another shot for the birthday boy!" Buddy calls to me.
