——————
I saw Colt again today. We went swimming. And I am here to admit that I am seeing Colt in a different light.
His laugh.
His smile.
The way his eyes sparkle in the sun.
The way he listens to me and clings to every word that leaves my lips.
We made the most of today and had a lot of fun. I enjoy every moment being with him. Every interaction throughout the day made my feelings grow stronger, but I wasn’t ready to tell him.
Our connection is still growing, and all I want is to know if he feels the way I do.
He asked me if we would always come here, and I told him I hope so. That spot is special. Being with Colt is special. I want to keep doing things with Colt that we have always done. I always want to be in his life.
The last thing I told him was that I couldn’t imagine summer without him, and that is true.
——————
I finished eating while Daisy read through the page. Each entry in her journal was filled with memories and moments. Each entry was filled with details and feelings about me. When she finished reading, she looked up at me and we smiled at one another. Daisy needed my soft side right now.
“Looks like we ended up spending summers without each other.” She nodded, and I could see tears forming in her eyes. Oh, no. I hated seeing her cry more than anything in this world. It hurt when we were kids, and it hurts now.
I stood up from my seat and made my way over to her. I got down in front of her and placed a reassuring hand on her leg. I put my other hand on her chin and moved her head up so she would look at me.
“Daisy, it’s alright. I don’t want you to cry. It was never my intention to make you upset by giving your journal back.” I felt so bad and guilty for causing her to cry. I didn’t want to cause her any pain. I never wanted to do that. Flashbacks of not telling her about my promise to my dad came back, and I couldn’t stand the thought of hurting her anymore. I couldn’t handle it.
“I know.”
“Why are you crying?” I took my thumb and raked it across her cheek to get rid of her tears.
“Because it’s my fault.”
“What’s your fault?” I was unsure what she was talking about, but I would try to fix it if I could.
“Why did we spend all those years separated and never see each other. That is my fault.” She wiped her face, making the tears disappear. “I’m sorry.”
“Daisy, it’s okay.” She put her head on my chest. “You needed time and space. I understand. You don’t have to apologize to me for how you needed to heal. We all deal with things our own way. It’s okay.” She sniffed.
“So, you read it all?”
“Every word.” I watched her look down at her journal. I took it gently from her hands and turned to another page. “I’ve had a really nice time with you today, darlin’, but I am worn out. I will see you in the morning. Don’t worry about the dishes. I will get them in the morning.” I gave the journal back to her and placed a kiss on her forehead before going down the hall.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Daisy
We pulled back up to the house and all the thoughts that had been clouding my mind on the drive washed away. I looked at thebeautiful colors in the sky that the setting sun was creating as I stepped out of the truck. Colt had opened the door for me, just as he always has. Again, he is a gentleman. Some would say a lost art. Colt followed behind me as we made our way to the house and opened the door for me. I looked down, taking in his backside, and I let my inner thoughts win.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, cowboy. I just couldn’t help myself.” I really couldn’t. It was like a reflex, and it happened so quickly that there was no stopping me. I smacked him right on the butt with my hand, just playing around.
“Darlin’, are you admitting you’ve been checking out my butt?” I grinned and bit down on my lip. Of course, I was teasing him. It was fun to mess around with him like this, and his reactions always made it better.
“Sure am.” He pulled me inside and pushed me against theback of the door. I looked into his eyes as he towered over me, and all those thoughts about our future rushed back. This felt like a small glimpse into what afuture with Colt would look like. Finally, he placed a kiss on my lips. It was a soft, warm kiss that made me feel comforted and safe.
