I hesitated, chewing my bottom lip.One date.It felt like such a small thing, and yet… it held the potential for so much. For more heartbreak, or… maybe… just maybe… a fresh start to a new beginning. Could I risk it?Could I open myself up to that kind of vulnerability again?
“Just one,” he repeated softly, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he added, his voice low and earnest, “Or even, Ember, we could just start as friends. Take our time. Reconnect. Get to know each other again, like we’re meeting for the first time, but with all our history in the background. No pressure. Just… us.”
A sigh escaped my lips, “Okay,” I whispered, the word barely audible. “Let’s… let’s start with that. As friends. But, Colton, you’re going to have to earn back the trust you shattered. You’re going to have to prove to me that you’re not the same man who walked out of my life without a word.” The lingering ache of my love for him warred with the bitter taste of abandonment, leaving me with uncertainty and hope.
Chapter 20
Colton
The next two days are a whirlwind. Between trying to get everything started for the horseback riding program I want to do, and working with Scott on the Habitat for Humanity site, I barely had time to breathe. But that was ok, it was the first step to getting my life back on track, and showing Ember I was serious about everything I said.
The riding program was coming together faster than I’d anticipated. Richard had several stables prepped for me and I was starting to map out some schedules that would work for different age groups and levels of riding. The thought of giving kids a chance to experience the joy and freedom of riding, the same joy I’d found as a kid, had me excited.
The Habitat site was a different kind of work, but equally rewarding. The Moore family deserved this. Mrs. Moore and her two children had lost everything in a fire. Seeing their faces light up with excitement atthe sight of their new home being built made the sweat and the aching muscles more than worth it.
I was just about to take a break for lunch when I felt a hand clap on my shoulder. I quickly turn to see Scott standing there, “How are you holding up, Colton? With everything…” he leaves the rest of his question hanging out there.
Trying to appear nonchalant, I shrug my shoulders. “I’m good, Scott. Trying to keep busy.” I really don’t want to get into things with him. Scott means well and he’s a nice guy, but I can only handle so much.
He raises an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. “Look, I don’t want to overstep, but you seem like you have a lot on your mind. I don’t know your story,” he quickly puts both hands up to stop me from saying anything, “and I’m not asking. It’s your story to tell when and if you want. Just know I’m here.”
He wasn’t wrong. The conversation with Ember had cracked something open, it was all swirling beneath the surface, threatening to overwhelm me if I let it.
“Look,” Scott continued, his voice softer now, “I know someone. A guy named Alejandro. He served too. Went through a lot before he finally got help… and then decided to help others. He’s good, Colton. Really good. He gets it. I think you should call him.”
I hesitated. I know I promised Ember I was going to talk to someone, but the idea of opening up to a stranger still felt… daunting. But then the image of Ember’s tear-streaked face flashed in my mind. The fragile hope in her eyes when she’d agreed to that date… it was enough to push me.
“Okay,” I said, my voice gruff. “Give me his info. I’ll… I’ll set something up.”
Later that afternoon, while I was framing a window, I saw Ember’s car pull up. She spoke with Scott for a few minutes, her expression was serious and all business. When she turned to leave, I couldn’t stop myself.
Quickly walking over to her before she could get in her car and drive away, I lifted the bottom of my shirt to wipe the sweat from my brow. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or from working that had me sweating so bad. “Hey,” I said, keeping my voice casual, though my heart was pounding. “How… how are you doing?”
She looked at me, her gaze searching, still a little wary. “I’m… okay. I had to talk to Scott about donations for the house.” She paused, hanging her head. I watched as Ember pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before saying, “I’ve been thinking. A lot.”
“About us?” I asked hopefully.
She nodded slowly and looked up at me. “Yeah. About us. And everything you told me.”
I took a deep breath, the scent of sawdust and fresh lumber filling my lungs. “Me too. I’ve been trying to keep busy during the day, but at night, you’re the last thing I think about and the first thing on my mind when I wake up.”
A small, hesitant smile touched her lips. That made me smile too. “Ember… about that date… how does Friday sound?”
“Friday sounds… good,” she replied, still smiling.
Relief washed over me, so potent it almost made me weak. “Alright. How does seven sound?”
She nodded. “Seven sounds good. What should I wear?”
I hesitated, picturing her in that dress at the bar, the way it huggedher curves and made her ass look good enough to kiss and how it pushed her tits up. I had to shake my head to clear my thoughts of her sexy body. Now wasn’t the time. Besides, that wasn’t what I wanted. Not for this. “Casual,” I replied. “Nothing fancy. No heels.” I wanted her to be comfortable for what I was thinking.
She nodded again, a hint of a real smile finally reaching her eyes. “Okay. Casual it is.” She turned to leave, then paused, looking back at me. “See you Friday, Colton.”
I watched her drive away, the dust blowing up behind her as her car disappeared down the road. Scott came up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Things will work out, son,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet confidence. “You just gotta keep moving forward.”
When Scott tells me to hang up my hammer for the day I don’t object. It’s been awhile since I’ve done this kind of hard labor, and while I’m not that out of shape, I’m definitely feeling the day’s work in my muscles. There’s a dull throb radiating from the scar on my side, and the scars on my back feel tight and itchy from the burns I suffered in the blast.
The sun was beginning to set as I made the short drive over to the other side of the mountain to Rose Valley Country Store. I’d called Mom earlier and told her not to worry about dinner tonight. It felt like a lifetime ago since I had one of Rose Valley’s pizzas. I already called ahead and placed my order for a pepperoni and a classic supreme. Just the thought had my mouth watering.
