Garrett shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. “When you stopped talking to her she didn’t exactly sit around and wait for you, Colton. She dated. Went out. Tried to move on.”
My jaw tightened. I knew. In the far back of my mind, I knew. What did I expect her to do? Become a nun? But actuallyhearingit, hearing Garrett say it so casually, twisted something ugly in my gut. For the past ten years, I had opportunities, but I never acted on them. Never. The thought of her had been my constant. My inner voice told me that I was doing the right thing by staying away, but deep down, there was always the arrogant assumption that she’d be waiting for me. The reality of her living her life, trying to move on, was a punch to the gut.
“And?” I practically growled.
He laughed. The fucker actually stood there laughing, while I wanted to go out and find the assholes she’d “dated” and tear them apart.
When he saw how pissed I was getting he held up his hands. “Hey man, I’m not saying she got serious with anyone. I’m just saying… she tried. And honestly? Sometimes, I think she should have. It would’ve served you right.”
He leaned forward, his eyes intense. “But she didn’t. Because she loves you, Colton. She always has. And I know, deep down, you still love her too.”
He straightened, a small, humorless laugh escaping his lips. “But you’ve got a lot of work to do, man. A lot of work to get her trust back. It won’t be easy. My baby sister lives up to her name. She’s a tough girl.”
Looking him straight in the eyes, I made him a promise I would definitely be keeping. “I’ll do anything to fix things with Ember.Anything. And I know it won’t be easy.”
He raised an eyebrow, a ghost of a smile playing on his face. “What’s your plan?”
“For starters,” I said, “I need to make things right with your folks. They mean a lot to me, and I know I hurt them.”
Garrett nodded in agreement, a sign of approval in his expression. “That’s a start.” He paused. “You know, originally, I was planning on coming over here and kicking your ass.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I figured as much.”
“Yeah, well,” he said as he started down the steps towards his truck but turning around just before getting in, “I prefer how things went. But,” his expression hardened, his eyes locking onto mine, “if you hurt her again, Colton, Iwillkick your ass. And I’m pretty sure Owen will want to join in.”
“I have no intention of hurting her again,” I said, my voice low and sincere. “Whether we can fix things between us or not, I won’t hurt her. But if I do, then I’ll gladly let you both beat the hell out of me.”
Chapter 9
Colton
As my truck rumbled to a stop at the end of the Carter’s long driveway, I breathed in the fresh air. Even though my family lived not far from hers, the air was different. Where I had the creek and trees, the Carters property was surrounded by fields and trees surrounded the edge of their property line.
Pulling to stop at the yard that stopped just before the porch and shutting the ignition off, memories hit me with a wave of nostalgia so intense it hurt. Looking at that front porch all I saw was the day I left here for basic training. The heat of that kiss we shared flooded my mind, and I had to grip the steering wheel to try to clear my mind and focus on why I was here.
Before I could gather myself, the front door of the house swung open, and Laura Carter stepped out onto the porch. She stood there, all five foot four inches, hands planted firmly on her hips, in a poseso undeniably like Ember it almost made me laugh. There was no denying this woman was Ember’s mom; from the shared cascade of blond hair and those piercing blue-gray eyes to the sheer, fiery attitude, they were mother and daughter, a matched set of stubborn determination. Her face was a mix of relief, like she’d been holding her breath for ten years, and also a mix of hurt and anger that made me wonder if she’d prefer to hug me or punch me.
“Well, are you just going to sit in that truck all day, boy?” she called out, her voice carrying across the yard. “Or are you going to get your ass over here and give me a hug?”
Climbing down from my truck, the gravel crunched beneath my boots as I made my way up the porch steps. As I approached she opened her arms and I stepped into her embrace. It was a warm, familiar hug, the kind that reminded me of home, of a time when things were simpler.
When she finally stepped back, she swatted me playfully with the dish towel she held. “Well, let me get a good look at you,” she said, her eyes scanning over me.
A wave of emotions washed over me. I felt relief finally being here, but there was also the regret for the years of silence and the hurt I’d caused. “It’s good to see you, Laura,” I said, my voice rough.
She nodded, her eyes softening. She gestured towards the porch swing. “Come on, sit down. Let’s talk.”
“It’s so good to see you, Colton,” Laura said, as we settled onto the swing. “Now if only Cade soon decides to retire from the Army and come home. Then this old lady can finally have some peace of mind knowing all her children are safe,” she paused to make sure I was looking at her before she continued, “and that includes you too, Colton.”
I didn’t know what to say to her. And before I had a chance she continued with a laugh, She chuckled, “You boys aged me before I was ready. Remember that time you tried to tie that rope to the old oak by the creek, thinking you could swing out over the water? That rope snapped, and Cade broke his arm.”
I found myself laughing at that memory. “Hey! That was all Cade’s idea, I swear.” I was lying because truthfully it was both of ours and I knew Laura knew it too.
She continued, “Or how about the time you decided to ski off the back roof. I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes and the next I know you two boys come flying down! I swear, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”
By the time she finished with that memory we were both laughing hard and had tears in our eyes.
Then her smile faded slightly. “Or the time when Cade decided to put Ember in that inner tube and roll her down the hill. Hit a bump, and she split her lip on that air spike. I think I have a picture somewhere from a few days after. She looked like she’d gone ten rounds with a prize fighter.”
