“Language.” My mothertsk’dand I shot my freehand toward her husband. My father just bellowed another loud laugh, throwing his head back as it rocked his entire body.
“The whole reason I had you put Derek up for the summer was because I was hoping you two would end up together. Ever since I met the boy, I knew he’d be good for you! I said ‘That man would be perfect for Colton’, so when he’d agreed to work for me, I got him out here as soon as possible. I wasn’t sure the timing would end up working out, but the good Lord was on my side yet again! Oh, my papa heart couldn’t be fuller!” He snickered, putting a hand over his chest and sounding far too much like some elderly women here in town.
My conversation with Bailey came rushing back to me, and I groaned realizing how blind I’d been to all of my father’s meddling.
“I’m just so happy!” My mother practically bounced out of her seat and had me looking over. “You two are just so sweet together. We were wondering when you’d be coming to see us, especially after all the dates you’ve had.”
“Dates?!” I squawked.
She flapped a hand, “Yes, dates. You can’t tell me your little basketball games were just games. Plus, we all heard about you skipping out on work early to take him out to Darby’s Wish for that meteor shower. It sounded very romantic!”
“I’m sorry, are you having me followed?” I felt like my eyeswere bugging out of my head as they bounced between my parents.
“No, of course not!” My mother seemed scandalized at the idea but I wouldn’t put it past them at this point. “Mrs. Anderson saw you picking him up and said he looked very nice that night. Leigh-Anne Adams, from my gardening club, you know her son Steven was in your grade? Anyway, she apparently went out to Darby’s Wish that night thinking it would be a good spot for watching the meteor shower and had heard y’all’s music. She said she saw y’all dancing and decided to turn back.”
I’d been surprised the swimming pool had been so devoid of people that night, but I’d figured it was a stroke of luck no one else had come by. Groaning, I pinched the bridge of my nose. All this sneaking around, and for what?
“Can I just point out that Derek thought he was straight when he moved here?” I said, a little annoyed my father thought he had just gay fairy god-mothered us into a relationship.
My father scoffed, “Well, he was wrong, wasn’t he?”
I wanted to argue and defend that the whole thing was fucked up but, beside me, Derek was chuckling lowly, putting my mind at ease that he wasn’t horrified by any of this. Taking a slow sigh, I shook my head, and smiled at my parents.
“You had me convinced you were firing Derek on the spot when we first came in. Just for that, I’m taking all the cookies with me.” My father shot forward, fumbling with his glass to snag a cookie off the tray, making a truly happy laugh bubble up from me.
“I wouldn’t be firing him over something like this, even if it wasn’t my idea. This town is too small for you not to be involved with someone that’s related to someone else. One way or another, it’d all tie back.” He shrugged, stuffing his mouth.
After that, we sat around talking for a while until all thecookies on the tray were gone. Neither Derek nor I touched the whiskey, so my father ended up tossing them back himself. By the time we were walking out the door, he was practically sobbing about how happy he was that his ‘baby boy was in love with a good man’.
“Fuck, he is a mess and a half.” I muttered once the door was shut and we were on the way to Derek’s car. “Are you sure you want to put up with that?”
He looked so intensely beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight, his hands in his pockets as he looked back at me. He let out a slow chuckle, “For you? I’d do anything.”
My heart swelled, love threatening to burst the organ open at the seams. I didn’t know how I’d lucked out having this man feel the same as me, but I was never going to take it for granted. Closing the distance between us in a few short strides, I cupped his jaw to press a firm kiss against his lips. I used it to convey every emotion I’d never be able to properly express out loud. His lips pressing back against mine felt like a promise. One filled with a future we’d both share in this town. Because in our kiss, I saw it all—marriage, a bigger house, kids, growing old together. It was like my future was laid out before me and I saw all the summer days and winter nights, loving this man with every cell in my body.
CHAPTER 25
Derek
My phone satbefore me on the kitchen table, my eyes locked on it as if it were an instrument of mass destruction. Running a hand over my jaw, I let out a weary sigh. In a way, the device would be causing mayhem, but it would only affect a few lives.
I had yet to call Cecilia regarding canceling my trip to North Carolina, despite every part of me not wanting to go. Logically, I could recognize that our relationship since the divorce had hardly been a healthy one. The best course of action should be to cut things off. So why did the idea of going no contact with her twist my stomach into knots? Drumming my fingers against the table, I released a slow breath through my nose, my chest squeezing painfully as I finally allowed myself to admit the truth.
Somewhere deep inside me, I was still desperately searching for some semblance of the woman who had cared for me growing up. The one who had fed me, clothed me, and comforted me when I was sick. I clung to the hope that maybe, one day, that spark of motherly affection would reignite in her. Because otherwise, what did that say about me?
“You don’t have to do this today if you don’t want to.”Colton’s voice from across the table was gentle and pulled me from my heavy thoughts. I sent him a loving, but small smile.
“I know. But I want to. I’m just… struggling to pull off the band-aid.” I admitted.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek, nodding his head slowly. “You take all the time you need, baby. I’ll be right here regardless of what you decide.”
I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the sense of security I felt from having Colton near me. His love was a safety net I could always rely on, and the knowledge he’d be there to catch me after the fall almost chased away the unease. There was a quiet strength to him that I knew I would be leaning on for this conversation.
When I opened my eyes again, I took a fortifying breath before reaching for my phone. My heart slammed against my sternum as I pulled up Cecilia’s contact, my finger hesitating briefly before pressing the call button. The first sound of ringing had nervous energy coursing through me.
“Please be quick, Derek, I only have a few moments,” Cecilia said by way of greeting.
Her shrill tone had my eyes locking onto the green ones across from me, the clear affection dancing within them feeling like a soothing balm. “That’s fine. I’ll be brief.” I said, my voice sounding steadier than I felt. “I’m not coming to North Carolina anymore.”
