Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Taylor
T he bar was dark and silent. I was the only one here. Bailey had the night off, Cole had flown back to Nashville to handle something important, and all my other employees had gone home for the night.
I welcomed the quiet. It had been a long day, and I was still processing everything. Someone had made me a cash offer on my family's land for way more than the asking price, with the stipulation I would have seven days to collect all the belongings I wanted to keep. The buyer would deal with everything else, and they were willing to let my horses stay. It was a good deal.
My spine stiffened, and I held my breath when the floors creaked.
"It's just me," Bailey called out, and I blew out a sigh. "Don't shoot."
The door from the kitchen into the bar swung open, and Bailey appeared. "What are you doing here?" I frowned. "I told you to take the night off."
She shrugged. "I was bored."
"And this was your best option?"
She shrugged. "I like it here, plus I wanted to bring you this." She held out a white envelope, but I didn't move to grab it.
"What is it?" My gaze fixed on the white envelope, I narrowed my eyes.
"Take it," she ordered. "And open it."
Hesitantly, I took the envelope and opened it before pulling out a check.
$500,000
I already knew what it was, but I still couldn't help but ask. My confused gaze lifted, meeting hers. "What's this?"
"It's the money my mother took from you."
My eyes dropped back to the check. "I don't understand."
"Cole made her give it back."
I shook my head as I shoved the check back into the envelope. "I don't want this." I shoved the envelope to her. My mind flashed to River. "It should go to River."
She smiled. "Caleb left a large amount of money in a trust for River that Kylie can access if she needs it." I opened my mouth but snapped it shut when she cut me off. "And before you say it should go to Kylie, he also left her money." She pushed my hand away. "Keep it. Caleb wanted you to have this money, and honestly, it was the least he could do." I shook my head. "Buy yourself a small piece of land for you and Rodeo to make a home for yourself."
"Or maybe something near Nashville."
"Is that what you want? To leave Bridgewater."
I huffed out a humorless laugh. "I don't even know what I want anymore." I hadn't really had a moment to think about it. "But Cole is there." My gaze dropped to the envelope in my hand as I fidgeted with it. "It's just hard to make that decision to move where you have no one for something you're not sure will work out yet."
"You can't move to Nashville for him. You have to move to Nashville for you."
A knot twisted in my stomach. Bailey was right. Everything I'd done for the last few years was for someone else. Every decision I'd made, I considered everyone else before myself, and this time, I couldn't do that. This time, I had to choose myself, even if that meant saying goodbye.
"Do you miss him?" My brows pulled together, questioning her words. "I mean, he's spent the last two nights at your house, and you've spent pretty much every day together for the last couple of weeks. Do you miss him?"
I'd always missed Cole. From the day he left to the day I saw him again, I'd always missed him. I'd missed us and our friendship, but I'd never admitted it out loud.
"You don't have to answer me," she said as if she was reading my mind. "But you need to ask yourself that. When Cole leaves without you, will you miss him so much that you will have to go after him? If the answer is no, then maybe you and Cole's time has passed, and it's really time to move on."
I stared at her for a minute as I considered her words. "I do miss him, but me taking off after him doesn't do any good if he doesn't miss me, too."
She nodded. "Sounds like you two still have a lot to discuss."
"Yeah." I forced a smile.
"Why don't you head home, and I'll close up," Bailey suggested.
I opened my mouth to argue but shut it when my phone vibrated.
It was Cole.
My face split into a smile as I flipped open the message.
"I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time."
My gaze lifted to hers, and I nodded. "He makes me happy. I love being with him. I just wish I could have him and Bridgewater and my family's land back."
"Back?" Her face twisted. "What do you mean back?"
"I took an offer today. I have to be out in seven days."
"Where are you going to go?"
I raised my shoulders. "I don't know, but for now, I'll stay in the bar until I figure that out."
"You have the money," she said. "You could get it back."
I shook my head. "The maintenance on the house alone is more than I can afford or handle myself."
She nodded towards my phone, which was still in my hand, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes. Over the last two years, Bailey had become my best friend. She'd been the only person I had to talk to. She knew everything about me, including how much I loved my home. "You should answer Cole back. He'll get worried."
"I'm okay, Bailey." I smiled. "I promise." And I was going to be okay.
I strolled towards the exit as I typed out a text.
Taylor: Not yet. How was court?
The bubble popped as I pushed through the door and stepped out into the cool night air.
Cole: Better than expected. I got community service and some hefty fines.
Taylor: Hefty fines are better than jail time.
And considering he was filthy freaking rich, I was sure he could handle paying a fine.
Cole: Absolutely.
Cole: Are you still at the bar?
Taylor: Yep. Bailey and I are wrapping up now.
Cole: Text me when you get home.
I smiled at the phone and said a silent prayer I wasn't getting my hopes up for nothing. The saying you can't have your cake and eat it too rang loud and clear, but I was still hopeful that Cole and I were meant to be and that we'd find a way.