“Is everything okay?” I ask quietly after a couple of minutes, and her jaw clenches as she turns the laptop in my direction. Seeing the image frozen in time on the screen, my stomach drops. It’s the moment when Lisa pushed over the glasses, right before they landed on the floor.
“Colton asked me to have a look at the video tapes yesterday. He said you seemed freaked when he got back here after picking you two up some lunch. He’s been worried. He wanted to make sure that if someone was bothering you, we knew who they were so we could prevent it from happening again. I thought he was just being overprotective, so I didn’t check the tapes right away. I see now I should have checked them sooner.”
I didn’t know there were video cameras in the bar, but I should have guessed there were.
“I—”
“Why didn’t you tell us what happened?” I lift my eyes to hers, unsure of how to answer her question, unsure of what to tell her. “Gia, this is not okay.” She points at the computer. “Not even a little bit okay.”
“I know.” I wring my hands together in my lap, dropping my eyes to the tops of my thighs.
“Honey, why didn’t you at least talk to me?” she asks, sounding concerned.
“I should have said something, but I didn’t want to give her what she wanted.”
“What did she say to you?”
Lifting my eyes, I bite the inside of my cheek. “Nothing really.”
“I can tell by the look on your face in the video that whatever she said upset you, so don’t lie to me,” she scolds gently, closing the lid on her laptop. “And don’t say nothing happened, because there was one part during the video that I could tell you wanted to jump over the bar to get at her.”
“She talked about my grandma,” I admit, and anger fills her eyes.
“Is that all she did?”
Shrugging, I mutter, “She told me to stay away from Colton, that he’s hers. That you have been trying to get them back together.”
“Has Colton talked to you about what happened to him?” she questions, and I nod, watching her shoulders slump. “When she broke up with him, I got where she was coming from. I understood the future they planned was ripped apart and that she was scared of the unknown, scared of being with a man who would never walk again. I understood that, because I was suddenly faced with the reality that my baby boy might never walk and that things with him might not ever be the same.” She pulls in a breath then lets it out. “I should have realized what she did was wrong in a way that it would never be right. If she really loved my son the way she said she did, she would accept him whole or broken. Some of this is my fault,” she whispers the end, and I see tears gathering in her eyes. “I didn’t think about what it said to him when she left him during a time when she should have held on tighter. I just wanted everything to be back to the way it should have been. I wanted to know my boy could still have the future he had planned for himself.”
“Rose,” I whimper, seeing the tears now falling freely from her eyes and running down her cheeks.
“Colton’s dad was pissed at me for even trying to get them back together, but I didn’t understand why until you moved to town, when he asked m-me…” Her words end on a sob that kills me to hear. Pulling out a few Kleenexes from the box on the desk, I hand them to her then wrap my hand around her arm and rub, trying to comfort her in some way.
“He… he asked me what if it was me who was shot and lost use of my legs? How would I feel if he told me that he couldn’t be with me, because he couldn’t handle the idea of me never walking again? Then what would I do if I got use of my legs back, and he suddenly came around wanting things to go back to how they were?” she finishes on another sob, and I flinch in response. “When he explained it to me like that, I finally understood.” She sniffles, and I wonder what I should say, what I could possibly do to make this better for her. “I get it now, and I know I messed up by even talking to her.”
“You were doing what you thought was right for Colton,” I comfort quietly, and she shakes her head in denial.
“I was doing what was right for me. I didn’t want to remember what happened. I wanted to pretend like everything was the same.” She’s right about that, but I don’t say anything. I just wait for her crying to die down. “I’m sorry for dumping all of that on you.”
“It’s all right,” I assure her, then ask, “are you okay?”
“Better now.” She wipes under her eyes. “I think I needed to get that out of my system,” she says, giving me a watery smile. “I’ll make it clear to Lisa that she is not allowed here anymore from now on.”
“I don’t want to cause any problems,” I tell her honestly. “Lisa already has it out for me, so I don’t really want to give her more of a reason to hate me than she already does.”
“Her coming here and upsetting you is the problem, honey. And Colton has made it clear he doesn’t want to be around her either, so I’m not only doing this for you. I’m doing this for my son.”
“Okay,” I agree, even though a part of me doesn’t want to give Lisa the satisfaction of knowing she affected my life or Colton’s, in anyway.
Reaching over, she wraps her hands around the tops of mine in my lap. “My son cares a lot about you.”
“I—”
“I won’t tell him what I saw on the video, but I think you should talk to him about what happened,” she urges, and I swallow, lifting my chin and letting her know I heard her. “You can trust him.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I agree, thinking it’s not exactly a lie, since I will talk to him. I just don’t know when I will do that.
“Good.” She lets my hands go. “Go on. I’ll be out as soon as I finish up this order.”
With a nod, I get up and shut the door behind me as I leave her in the office. Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I mix in creamer and two spoons of sugar then lean with my elbows on the gleaming wood surface of the bar as I take a sip from the cup in my hands. I still have a little bit of cleaning to finish up, but nothing that can’t wait.
Taking another sip, I watch the door open and Colton come in, looking just as amazing as he looked this morning. His hair has grown out in the last couple of weeks, making it long enough to get a handful when he’s kissing me. And today makes three days since he’s shaved, so his jaw is covered in a thick, dark layer of stubble, which is my favorite look on him. The button-up plaid shirt he’s wearing in creams, reds, and browns accentuates his eyes and the ruggedly handsome look he has about him.
Straightening from the counter when I see the look in his eyes, I ask, “Is everything okay?”
He doesn’t answer my question. Instead, his eyes roam mine like he’s looking for something as he rounds to the back of the bar where I’m standing. Taking the coffee mug from my hands once he’s close, he sets it down then dips his head and kisses me. Hard. Deep. And very, very wet. Before he releases my mouth and adjusts me in his hold.
“What did I tell you about kissing me?” I ask breathlessly, looking up at him and regretting that question when I see he looks pissed. Actually, not pissed. He looks furious.
“I went to see Tide this morning. His ex is friends with Brittany,” he informs me quietly, and I stare up at him, wondering who Brittany is. “Brittany told Anna about coming here to confront you with Lisa.”
Oh shit.
“Yeah, baby,” he agrees to the look on my face, and his arms tighten around me. “You should have told me what happened, Gia.”
“I—”
“You should have talked to me,” he cuts me off. “I told you if that bitch comes around, you tell me.”
“I—” I try again, but stop when he gives me a squeeze that pushes the air from my lungs.
“You didn’t talk to me.”
“I—”
“That shit is not okay.” He cuts me of once more.
“Stop cutting me off and let me talk!” I snap, getting annoyed with him and pulling myself from his hold. “I didn’t want to tell you, bec
ause I knew that it was exactly what she wanted me to do. She wanted me to run to you so you would give her what she wanted, which is any kind of attention from you she could get. So yes, maybe I should have told you what happened, but I’m not sorry I didn’t. She doesn’t deserve to have anything more from you, not even you thinking about what a bitch she is.”
“You were trying to protect me?” he asks, and I shrug, watching his face get soft then his head dip toward mine.
“Your mom is here,” I warn him, and maybe myself too.
“I’m not going to kiss you, Gia.”
“Good,” I mumble, feeling slightly dejected.
Slipping his hand around my waist, he slides it up until his thumb is resting along my rib cage under my breast. “I’m not going to kiss you right now. I’m gonna wait until we get home to do that. Then I’m going to do a whole lot of other things to you,” he warns, and my whole body tingles while my breathing turns shallow.
“I think we need another rule,” I tell him, grabbing hold of his shirt so I don’t fall on my face.
“What’s that?”
“You can’t say things like that to me when we’re working.”
“Technically, I’m not on the clock.” His thumb sweeps higher, making my knees weak.
Dipping his head, his eyes lock with mine. “I have a rule of my own.”
“What’s that?” I ask breathlessly, wanting to wrap my arms around his shoulders and place my mouth on his.
“Every time you keep something from me, you earn yourself a spanking.”
Oh, God. The idea of him spanking me should not make me want to jump him, but that is exactly what I want to do.
“Colton,” I hiss, and he dips his face even closer to mine, causing his breath to whisper across my lips.
“What she did to you is not okay. What she said to you is not okay. You should have told me what happened so that I could—”
“What?” I ask, leaning away and cutting him off this time, the anger from earlier coming back quickly. “What would you have done? Would you have gone after her and confronted her?”
“I would have made it clear that you’re off-limits, exactly like I did this morning after I talked to Tide.”
“So you went and saw her?” I question, feeling nauseous suddenly. Jealousy is such a new emotion for me, but that’s exactly what I feel when I think about him getting anywhere near her—pure, ugly jealousy.
“I didn’t see her. I spoke to her father. I told him what’s been going on the past couple of weeks. I don’t know if it will help, but I know him telling her that he will cut her off might finally get through to her. He pays for her apartment and her car. He told me straight up that if she doesn’t stop what she’s been doing, he will make things uncomfortable for her until she pulls her head out of her ass.”
“Do you really think her dad would do that to her?” I ask doubtfully. My dad wouldn’t do that to me, and we didn’t even have the best relationship.
“As one of the only judges in town who is aiming to be elected for mayor next year, her dad has an image to uphold. I doubt he wants the news of his daughter’s latest theatrics to be out, especially when those theatrics have to do with her harassing me and you.”
“Why would it matter what she does to me?”
“That book club Nina’s a part of is full of women who have lived in this town for ages. Most of them are part of the city council. They have all spoken about you and the fact you came down here to take care of your sick grandmother. Because of that alone, they have a soft spot for you. Not to mention, most of them know my story and they know why Lisa and I are no longer together. They’re old school, stick by your man through thick or thin kind of women who already have it out for Lisa. If they catch wind she’s harassing you, Lisa’s father won’t get reelected for another term, and he definitely won’t become mayor, which is what he wants more than he wants to make his daughter happy by putting up with her bullshit.”
“Politics in a small town,” I say, wondering if maybe he was right to go to her father about what she’s done. Not that she’s done a lot to me, but with everything else that’s been going on, she’s only added to the stress and anxiety I have been feeling. “I hope it helps.”
His hand tightens around my rib cage.
“Hope what helps?” Rose asks, making me jump. I completely forgot she was here. Then again, I tend to forget the world exists outside of Colton when he is anywhere near me.
“I spoke with Lisa’s dad,” Colton tells her, and her eyes come to me.
“He knows.” I continue, “Someone named Brittany told someone named Anna who told Tide who told him.”
“I see,” Rose murmurs, looking from me to Colton. “What did William have to say about all of this?”
“Said he’d talk to Lisa and make sure she lays off.”
“That’s good news.”
“It is,” Colton agrees. “Let’s hope it sticks this time. If not, I’ll have Gia place a restraining order against her.”
“What?” I ask in horror, and he dips his head to look down at me.
“If she doesn’t stop, that’s our next move.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. She hasn’t harmed me or even really harassed me. She’s just trying to use me as a way to get to you.”
“That might be true, but I’m not taking any chances. If she doesn’t lay off after her dad talks to her, we’ll go to the police station and file a restraining order against her so she has no choice but to leave you the fuck alone.”
“Colton.” I shake my head at how ridiculous he’s being about this. “That’s absurd.”
“It’s not.”
“It is,” I disagree, pointing my finger at his chest while fighting the urge to stomp my foot to emphasize my point with him. “This isn’t that big of a deal, and she is not going to make me look like the crazy one, when she is the crazy one.”
“She is the crazy one, which is why I need to know you’re safe.”
Looking into his eyes, I wonder if something like this has ever happened before, but before I can ask him that question, I hear a loud “Yo!” rumbled through the bar.
Looking past Colton’s shoulder toward the door, I watch Tide come in wearing worn jeans that look dirty from work, a navy blue thermal under a beige-colored jean jacket, with his sunglasses pushed back on top of his head, pulling his blond hair away from his face as he carries a little girl on his hip. Without even asking if she’s his daughter, I know she’s his since they look so much alike, even if she’s only three. Her blonde hair, the same color as her dad’s, is up in two uneven pigtails, and her big blue eyes are the same shade as his. The first time I saw Tide, I thought he was handsome, but watching him come toward us holding his little girl so gently, he’s not handsome, he’s something else that even I can appreciate having all that is Colton.
“Uncle Colton.” The little girl waves her hand frantically, catching Tide in the chin twice before he captures her little wrist and kisses her palm. Saying something to her that I can’t hear, he stops halfway across the room to bend at the waist and set her down. Once she’s steady on her feet, she runs toward us, disappearing out of sight for a second when she goes around the edge of the bar. Then she reappears a moment later, still running right toward Colton.
“Hey, punkin,” Colton greets her, picking her up and kissing her cheek.
Okay, yes, Tide holding a little girl is definitely a sight to see. But Colton holding her and grinning like she’s the cutest thing he’s ever seen in his life is enough to make my ovaries explode on the spot. “What are you doing here?” he asks, and she smiles an adorable gap-toothed smile at him.
“Daddy had to bring me to work wif him,” she says, before looking at Rose and asking, “Can I hab a soda, Nana Rose?”
“Angel, you can’t drink soda,” Tide cuts in from across the counter, setting down a large bag with pink and purple daisies on it.
“Mama lets me,” she says with a frown, an
d Tide’s jaw tics.
“I know, angel, but you still can’t have a soda. How about some juice?”
“I want soda,” she whines, and I know what’s coming when I see her chin wobble and her tiny hands ball into fists. Having worked with kids her age before, I know if we don’t do something now, she will likely start to cry and possibly throw herself to the floor to get her way with a tantrum.
“Have you ever had mermaid juice?” I ask, and she looks from her dad to me. She shakes her head before resting it on Colton’s shoulder in that cute way kids do when they are shy. “Really?” I widen my eyes like I can’t believe she’s never tried it when, at this point, I don’t even know what the hell mermaid juice is or what I’m going to mix up for her, all I know is I don’t want her to cry. “You need to try it. It’s delicious and it’s magical.”
“Magical?” she squeaks, studying me, and I overemphasize my nod.
“Yes, magical.” I lean closer and get up on my tiptoes to whisper in her ear. “It makes you invisible.”
“Indavidsable?” she breathes with wide eyes filled with cute little girl wonder.
“Yep. Do you want to try some?”
“Okay.” She lifts her head to smile at me, and my heart melts on the spot.
“One mermaid juice coming right up.” I smile as I head to the small fridge under the bar, where I pray I’ll find something she can have. Grabbing the jug of pineapple juice, I pour some into a small glass, add ice and some water to dilute it, then grab a bottle of grenadine and add just enough to turn the top of the drink a reddish gold and the bottom a golden yellow. Once that’s done, I add a cherry. Turning once I’m finished, I find everyone looking at me funny.
Shit.
“Ugh… please tell me she’s not allergic to anything I put in here,” I whisper, looking at Tide.
“She’s not,” he mutters to me before looking at his girl. “Olivia, tell Gia thank you.”
“Thank you, Gia.” She beams at me as Colton lifts her high in the air, gaining a giggle from her as he hands her across the bar to her father, who takes her as he sits on one of the barstools, settling her on his lap.
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