His promise pools like hot liquid seduction between my thighs. Quickly composing myself, I stare over at the most beautiful sight. Buddy and Shelby Rae are walking towards us with Lillian in between. Buddy and Shelby are intermittently raising their arms while Lilly sails through the air with squeals and laughter. They look like the perfect little family, and I couldn't be happier for all three of them. I hope with all of my heart that they make it. Shelby and Lilly deserve happiness after all that heartbreak.
"Had enough of the Ferris wheel?" Buddy asks with a shit-eating grin.
I cross my arms in front of me and shake my head. "I'll get you back someday, Buddy."
"That's what you said last time, but you still haven't gone through with that threat, Penny." I roll my eyes, and Buddy chuckles.
Through our friendly bantering, Lilly turns and shyly looks up at Colton. "Will you win me a stuffed animal? Please?" she asks with big brown eyes just like her daddy.
Colton taps the end of her cute button nose with his fingertip and says, "Sure thing, Lilly. I'm gonna win you the biggest stuffed animal we can find."
Lilly lights up with a super-sized grin and puts her small hand into Colton's much larger one. "Well, what are we waitin' for then? Time's a wastin'!" she exclaims, pulling him towards the game booths.
All three of us are laughing long after they walk away. I can't help but stare at Colton and Lilly together and picture our kids someday. I know it's way too soon to think about the future since Colton and I are just now finding each other again, but a girl can dream, can't she?
"So, you and Colt, huh?" Shelby Rae says, breaking me out of my reverie.
I bite my lower lip and nod emphatically. I'm practically bursting with happiness, and it's been so long since I've felt that way. I just want it to never end.
Shelby Rae smiles. "I told you it would all work out in the end. You and Colt have a special connection that no one else in this world shares. Doesn't matter if he can't remember you. His heart will show him the way." She hooks her hand around Buddy's arm. "Let's go get some cotton candy."
"How old are you? Ten?" Buddy jokes.
"Oh, Buddy. A girl is never too old for sweets," Shelby says, and I completely agree.
* * * * *
WE'RE ALL ENJOYING our bags of cotton candy when a gigantic panda bear comes waddling towards us with Colton close behind.
"She insisted on carryin' it," he says with a chuckle.
Buddy looks around and jokingly asks, "Where's Lilly? All I see is this giant panda."
Lilly sets the bear down on the grass and hops out from behind it. "Here I am!"
Buddy grabs his chest as if she scared him half to death. "Oh, there you are!" He reaches down and gives her a little tickle, making her giggle out loud.
I smile at the two of them interacting. It's clear that Buddy would make a wonderful dad to Lillian. And when Shelby Rae glances at me with a raised brow, I know she's thinking the same exact thing.
Buddy lowers the bag of cotton candy so that Lilly can grab a huge handful. "Not so much!" Shelby scolds, but it's too late. Lilly takes a big bite out of the giant cotton candy ball. Shelby rolls her eyes and mutters, "Looks like we're not goin' to bed anytime soon."
Colton walks over to me with a shy smile on his face, one that I haven't seen for a long time. I glance at the panda and back to him. "Didn't they have anything bigger?"
"I told her I'd win her the biggest one. I always keep my promises." He leans down and kisses my sweet lips. "Mmm," he hums against my mouth. "Cotton candy kisses are the best."
I smile at him for what seems like the umpteenth time tonight. In fact, I've been smiling so much that my face will probably hurt tomorrow. It's so nice to have Colton back. It's beyond words how I feel right now. It's like a dream.
Buddy is sneaking another handful of cotton candy to Lilly when she suddenly asks Buddy, "Did you know my daddy?"
I can hear Shelby Rae's sudden intake of breath at Lilly's question. Buddy slowly kneels down to Lilly's level. "Yeah, I did. We were friends in high school. Your daddy was a great man."
Lilly's big brown eyes sparkle in the bright lights. "Yeah. He was pretty great." She looks down at the ground. "I sure do miss him a lot."
Buddy puts his finger under her chin and gently raises it. "I'm sure there's no other place he'd rather be than right here with you." He points up to the sky above us. "See those twinklin' stars up there?"
Lilly follows his gaze and nods.
"Your daddy's up there watchin' over you."
