"What are you girls gigglin' about back there?" Buddy calls from the front of the bar.
"Nothin'!" we call back at the same time. That makes us laugh even harder.
Shelby Rae walks towards the cooler, humming a country tune. I watch her walk away and frown. I'm really going to miss this place and the people who live in it. I'm not ready to go back to New York, back to a world that could care less if I'm in it or not. Alabama is my home, and I have friends and family here who love me and will miss me.
But one thing still holds true. I won't be able to sit idly by and watch Colton move on with his life. That would completely destroy me.
Shaking my head sadly, I start cutting up potatoes for the endless orders of fries we'll no doubt have tonight. Even though I'm going to miss it here, I need to start focusing on my needs and what's best for me in life. And the only solution is to get as far away from Willowbrook as possible…even if it's the only place that's ever felt like home.
* * * * *
THE NEXT MORNING I go to Colton's house. It's early, and I know he'll still be sleeping, so I let myself inside. I try my best to be extremely quiet as I gather all of my baking supplies from his kitchen. I'm about halfway done when Colton comes padding into the room. He's only wearing a loose fitting pair of dark gray sweatpants that hang way too low on his hips for me not to stare.
He rubs his sleepy eyes, and it takes him a moment to even realize I'm there. I tear my eyes away from his perfect abs and perfect V and mutter, "Good morning."
"Mornin'," he says groggily. He watches my actions for a few minutes before his eyes widen and he asks, "What are you doin', Penny?"
I sigh softly and then answer him. "Taking my baking supplies to my apartment." I really don't want to fight with him right now. We haven't spoken since our big argument, and I'm still not ready to talk about it.
"I thought your kitchen was too small," he points out.
"It is, but I'll make it work." I finish packing up the rest of my spatulas and a blender before attempting to lift the heavy box, which is way heavier than I expected it to be. I struggle to lift it from the counter, but my anger and stubbornness help me haul it up in my arms. I don't know if I'll make it to my apartment without dropping everything, but it will be worth the struggle if I can just get the hell out of here fast.
As I stumble past Colton, he reaches out and takes the box out of my arms with one hand as if it weighs nothing. I blow a piece of stray hair away from my forehead in frustration. I want to yell at him to give the box back, but I don't.
Colton's dark eyes focus on me, and I can see a sadness lingering behind his gaze. "You're welcome to use my kitchen anytime you need it, Penny."
I tear my gaze away from his and glance around the room, anywhere but at him. I feel like I'm slowly crumbling in front of him, and I can't let him see me like that ever again. I need to stay strong. "I just think it's better if I'm out of your way, Colt." What I really want to tell him is I need some much-needed space. After all that has happened, I don't know if my heart can take much more before I leave for New York. I feel broken and so damn tired.
I hold my arms out and say, "My box, please."
He sets it down on the counter and says, "I'll bring it up to your place so you don't have to carry it up the steps." He takes a step towards me, but I take a step back. He frowns and then asks, "Can we talk about what happened?"
"I'm not ready to talk," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"When will you be ready?"
"I don't know," I answer honestly.
He sighs and rakes his fingers through his hair. "Okay. Just…let me know when you are."
Nodding, I leave him standing in the kitchen as I hightail it out of his house. I make a promise to myself that that is the last time I'll ever step foot in there, but I know that's a promise I'll most likely break. As much as I want to stay away from Colton and as much as I want to hate him, I just can't. I love him even if he'll never love me again. I love him even if everything in this world is telling me not to. And that love I feel for him runs deeper than the deepest ocean. It knows no bounds. I just wish he felt the same way about me.
* * * * *
PENNY
IT'S LATER ON in the week when I see Tucker in the bar. I'm by myself, and it's a slow afternoon. "What can I get for you, Tuck?" I ask him with a forced smile. It's not that I'm not happy to see Tuck. In fact, I've been waiting to talk to him about New York. I've just been so miserable lately. Colton doesn't even come into the bar anymore. Buddy said he's drinking a lot more, and I'm worried about him. Even though we're not together, I don't want anything bad to happen to Colt.
"Just a glass of ice water would be fine, Penny," he says with a big grin. "Don't worry. I'll still tip."
"Don't be silly," I tell him while I grab a tall glass and fill it with ice. "How have your trips to New York been going?" He's been gone for several days, and I honestly can say I missed him.
"It's great to meet with my campaign staff and get the ball rolling on some things, but honestly I miss Alabama every time I go." He hesitates before he finally saying, "Well, actually I only miss one thing. You."
I set the glass of ice and a bottle of water down on the bar and glance up at Tucker. He has that serious look on his face again, and I know exactly what he's going to say before he says it.
"Have you given any more thought to New York?" He clears his throat and quickly adds, "I wouldn't keep asking, but my staff keeps hounding me about who's going to be my campaign manager. They just want to know what to expect, and I need to know if I should be looking for a manager elsewhere or not." His voice tapers off at the end as if he really didn't want to say the last part.
