I notice Buddy behind the bar watching us. "I can help show Shelby Rae the ropes if you'd like, Buddy," I tell him.
"Nah. I think I've got it covered," Buddy says with a sheepish grin.
I've never seen Buddy act like this. It's so unlike him. Buddy's usually calm, cool and collected when it comes to the ladies. This is a whole other side to Buddy, and I think I like it. It makes me smile thinking that maybe he'll be the one to heal Shelby Rae's broken heart. Buddy has been pining after her for a long time; but Shelby, much like myself, only had eyes for her high school sweetheart. Matt was one of the nicest guys I had ever met, and we all went out on quite a number of double dates with Shelby Rae, Matt, Colton and me.
It's a real tragedy that Matt's life ended so abruptly, and it makes me think of how many people have been lost in the past five years. It's almost unreal how much has changed in such a short time span.
Shelby Rae's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "We'll chat later?"
"Definitely," I tell her. Then I look at Buddy and say, "I'm going to go prep for the supper crowd. Let me now if you need anything." I wink at Buddy when Shelby Rae's back is turned before I disappear into the back.
The door to Colton's office is closed, and I wonder if he's in there. I decide that I don't care, but for the next hour or so I glance over at his door at least a thousand times. Colton and I need to talk. I don't like this animosity between us, especially if I'm going to continue working here. I'd like to clear the air, if nothing else. But I just don't know if he wants to hear me out. I'm thinking the answer to that question is no.
As I'm cutting tomatoes, I hear a commotion coming from the front of the bar.A fight? We never have fights in the bar…especially not on a Monday afternoon. Usually Buddy is able to break up any argument. He has a gift for creating harmony…especially between drunk people.
And then I hear Buddy yelling, "You can't go back there! Just because you're the mayor doesn't mean you own the place!"
My body stiffens as I turn to see my parents entering the room.
"Shit," I mutter to myself.
* * * * *
COLTON
I'M IN MY office going over some liquor orders when I hear yellin' comin' from the other room. I recognize Penny's voice right away, and she sounds upset. I go to the door, slowly open it just a crack and peer out. I see her talkin' to her parents. I've seen them around town enough times to recognize them.
"So you're slumming around in Crawford's Bar now?" her mom seethes.
"I'm not slumming around, Mama. I work here."
"You work here?" her mother scoffs. "Now I've heard everything. My God, Penelope, what is going on in that pretty little head of yours anyway? You have a life waiting for you up in New York."
"I told you I'm not going to New York."
"What about your future? Do you want to ruin that too?"
Penny's hands curl into fists at her sides. "It ismyfuture, isn't it? I think I can make my own decisions!"
"Oh, Penelope. Tell me you're not waiting forhim. Tell me you're not thinking about throwing everything away forhim."
My eyes zero in on Penny. For some reason, I know her mama is talking about me. And I desperately want to hear Penny's motive for staying in Willowbrook. A part of me hopes that I'm the motive, but I don't even know why I feel that way. I'm the one who's been pushing her away, after all. Fuck, my life is confusing.
"You're the reason we're not together, Mama. You and all of your lies. You told everyone I had a boyfriend, and that's why Colt stopped calling me. And when I asked you why he stopped calling, you told me it was because he had found someone else. I never came home after that because my heart was ripped out of my chest." Penny sticks out her chin defiantly. "My heart doesn't beat without Colton. Don't you understand that?"
My heart stutters in my chest from her words. Penny has never even talked about this with me. I had no idea how deep her feelings ran for me. She…loved me. And maybe still does. I don't know how I feel about that, but it doesn't make me angry or sad. It makes me…sort of happy.
"Oh, stop with the dramatics, Penelope. You were better off in New York and focusing on college and your studies. So I told a few white lies to keep you focused. So what?"
"So what? Oh, Mama, you just don't get it, do you? If I had known Colton was in an accident, I would have come home. I would have been here for him when he needed me the most. Maybe I could have helped him deal with things, and maybe he would have never forgotten me!"
"And maybe you would have left college, destroyed your life for that boy, and he still wouldn't have loved you or even remembered you!" her mother counters.
"Yeah. But I could've tried! I loved him, Mama." She stops and takes a deep breath before saying, "I still love him. I'll never stop loving Colt. Nothing's going to ever change that."
My grip on the doorknob tightens. She still loves me? It's almost like the missin' pieces of the puzzle are suddenly lockin' into place. No wonder she's been actin' the way she has.She's in love with me.
"Not even if he marries someone else? You know he has a girlfriend, don't you?"
