Chapter 25
The next day…?
POV: Abby
Luckily, I picked up a change of clothing, changed then went straight into work. With Cole, of course.
I knew I’d catch some flack from my dad about the whole Cole thing, but I didn’t care.
Because I was happy. I felt like my life was finally going how I wanted it to go, and it was all thanks to…him.
I felt giddy as I walked inside the bar, ignoring my dad’s heavy gaze and making my way straight behind the bar.
Cole had gone down the block to place an order for a delivery to the ranch tomorrow.
So now I was alone to catch my dad’s wrath.
I could feel my dad staring at me, burning a hole through me. “Abby, we need to talk.”
I let out a sigh as I put my purse down and turned to meet his gaze.
He looked pissed. Red face, intent eyes, not a smile in sight.
I played it off. “About?”
I knew I was pushing it but I couldn’t help myself.
“In the back,” he pointed towards the door.
“No, we can talk right here,” I stood there stubbornly.
He cocked an eyebrow.
“There’s barely anyone in the bar, you just opened—so say whatever you want to say and get it over with!”
He gave me a stern look. “Abby, this is serious.”
“Then say it already! Yell at me some more about my life choices!” I scoffed, angrily, not minding the two locals, Rick and Tom who sat at the end of the bar watching us. “And you two mind your business!” Rick and Tom looked away quickly and began talking amongst themselves.
“You need to end things with him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m an adult. You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do, dad.”
He slammed down a glass. “You are far from an adult, little girl! Running around like this with a man who has no intention of settling down!”
Something inside me dropped.
Oh wait, my heart.
Because the truth was, I always had feared that—that maybe Cole didn’t want to settle down. Ever. And maybe I was wasting my time. And maybe I’d break my own heart.
“You don’t know that!” I said, despite the concern bubbling in the pit of my stomach.
His eyes softened, as he took a step towards me. “I do, Abby, and that’s what breaks my heart—that my beautiful little girl is wasting her time with someone who is not good enough for her.”
The bell jingled as the door swung open, but I didn’t bother turning to see who had entered. I knew who it was.
I felt it.
I felt him there.
And my heart dropped even more.
My voice cracked as I found the words in my throat, “you’re wrong dad, you’re wrong.” I turned to look at Cole.
Our gazes met dead on and I couldn’t breathe for a second, because Cole did not look happy, in fact he didn’t look mad either, he just looked…torn. Completely torn, as if he didn’t believe he could give me the life I wanted, either.
“Cole..” I began.
Cole didn’t smile. He froze for a moment at the door, then spun on his heels and walked out of the bar without a word.
“You’re such a jerk,” I scoffed at my father, spinning away from him to go after Cole instead.
“Abby, wait!” He called after me.
“Don’t,” I warned him, without looking back.
“It’s not worth it, Abs.”
I ignored him.
Because everything inside of me screamed that it was worth it—-that he was worth it—that whatever we were doing, was in fact worth it.
“Cole!” I called out, jogging at a steady pace towards him.
He leaned against his truck, hand resting on the door, ready to leave but waiting for me to speak.
“I’m sorry about what my dad said—he didn’t mean it—”
Cole cut me off, “he did mean it.”
I let out a sigh. “You’re right. I’m sure he did but he doesn’t know you, Cole. He doesn’t know about us.”
He turned toward me, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “What about us, Abby?”
And the words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“What do you mean..what about us?” My voice broke.
“This—I don’t know,” Cole said, looking me over. “I don’t know what we’re doing here.”
I didn’t respond.
Because honestly, I didn’t know either—and that hurt more than I could put into words.
He turned away from me, looking down at his boots. Then he finally said, “You deserve more, Abby. You do.”
I scoffed, closing the distance between us so I could take my hand in his. But he pulled away. And my heart nearly cracked in two.
The sting of his refusal registered on my face, and I instinctively took a step back.
His voice softened. “I don’t know if I can give you what you want, Abby.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re scared, Cole.”
Silence.
“You’re scared,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “That’s why you’re saying this. Just… go home for now. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
Cole’s gaze lingered on me this time, heavy with unspoken words, but I didn’t wait to hear them. I turned on my heels before he could break my heart into a hundred little mismatched pieces.
I’d let Cole think this one over. I’d let him consider his words. I’d left him sit with his regret.
And tomorrow I’d go to his house and speak with him and have a rational, non-emotional conversation about how feelings are scary but what’s scarier is losing the person you care about.