Chapter 32
LUCY
“All right, I think we need another seventy-five of the “Saddles and Spruce” and maybe fifty of the “Candy Cane Lane” to be ready for the market next week. Is that what you got too?” I ask Amelia, looking at the mess we’ve made of the kitchen.
There are candles spread out all across the counters and flowing over to every bare surface we could find in the dining room and living room, and the house officially smells like Santa’s workshop.
“Yep, I got the same thing,” Amelia says, looking down at our inventory list. “I doubled the most popular scents from last year in our predictions, so I really hope we aren’t left with too many extras.”
“I don’t think we will. The Christmas markets are always some of our best sales of the year. Plus, I was thinking we should do another one of our movie nights in December. We can show a Christmas movie and sell hot chocolate. And we could open the store for candles and gifts too.”
“Oh, I love that idea,” Amelia gasps, and I can already see the gears turning in her brain as she starts to think of all the different ways we could make the event a success.
We work in silence, mixing the wax for the last batch of candles, before I work up the courage to ask, “How are you holding up, Mel?”
My best friend smiles sadly at me as she starts to pour her batch.
“I’m okay. Now that I’m really away from it, I’m realizing how much I let him manipulate me.
I know I have to take some responsibility for how I acted, but he just had me so confused, Lulu.
I just don’t know how I didn’t see it, but I was just so caught up in my feelings for him, you know? ”
I nod, continuing to work as I listen.
“He just had this way of making me believe everything he told me. I don’t know, maybe it’s just proof that I’m an idiot, but I just wanted everything to work out. And I knew everyone in my life didn’t like him, so it started to feel like he was all I had.”
“We only disliked him because we saw how he was treating you, babes. I’m sorry we made you feel that way. But when you stopped responding to my texts, I just figured you didn’t want to hear from me.”
Amelia looks up at me with wide eyes. “What texts are you talking about?”
I blink at her, trying to figure out what she means. “The texts I sent you asking you to hang out or asking how you were. Or the ones asking you for help making candles,” I say before adding, “You know, all the ones you never responded to?”
“Lucy, I swear to God, I never got any of those texts. I thought you were ghosting me because I’d gotten back with Mitch. He told me that you were tired of having to put up with me and clearly didn’t want to spend time with me anymore. I swear, I never would have ignored you that way.”
I stare at her, setting down the container of wax I’m using to fill the canisters in front of me. “Wait, Mel. Where’s your phone?” I ask, looking around the room.
“Right here,” she says, holding up her cell.
“Can I see it for a second? I want to see something.”
She holds her phone out to me, confusion clear on her face, while I tap through her settings.
“Mel, I’m assuming you weren’t the one who blocked me, were you?” I ask, holding up her phone to show her my contact on her blocked contacts list.
Amelia stares back at me, confusion and hurt covering her face as she starts to cry.
“What? No! I swear, no matter how mad at me I may have thought you were, I wouldn’t have done that.
You have to believe me. I don’t know how many nights I spent crying to Mitch that you didn’t want to hang out with me anymore.
I even sent you a few texts, but when I never heard back from you, I took the hint. ”
“I’m gonna kill him,” I mutter under my breath, piecing together what obviously happened as I remove my number from the list and hand her phone back to her.
I watch the moment it all clicks for Amelia, her face turning a dark shade of red the angrier she gets. “That lying, cheating, controlling, good-for-nothing, bastard!”
She looks at me, tears still in her eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, Lulu. I know I didn’t know, but I hate that you thought I was ignoring you. I know I flaked at work too, but I just felt so horrible being around all of you when I felt like you hated me.”
I hug her, swearing that if I ever get the chance to punch Mitch in the dick, I’m taking it.
Amelia cries for another moment before pulling back to look at me. “Okay, now that that’s over, please distract me from feeling like the biggest idiot asshole in the world. How are things with the cowboy?”
I pause, trying to decide how to respond. “I really, really like him. But I’m scared, Mel.”
“Why?” she asks, confusion clear on her face. “It’s clear as day that man adores you.”
“Well, we have to figure out how to work this out with my brother, for one. You know he’s not going to take this well, and as much as he drives me crazy, I don’t want him to completely hate me. And that friendship is so important to Colton too—I can’t be the reason he loses his best friend.”
“Lulu, you can’t put that on yourself,” my best friend argues.
“You and Colton are adults, and if you want to be together, then you should be together. As well intentioned as your brother might be, he has to remember that you’re not a little girl anymore.
It might be rough at first, but he’ll come around.
I mean, you’re serious about this, right? ”
I think back through all the moments that Colton and I have shared over the last few months—the days spent working the pumpkin patch, the slow mornings sitting on the porch watching the animals, the late nights as he made me come harder than I ever have in my life, and the way he makes me feel valued and smart.
As I try to figure out how to answer that, it hits me that I’m completely in love with Colton Harris.
“Yeah, I’m serious about it,” I mutter.
“Okay, well, you just have to believe it’s gonna work out. Now, please, for the love of God, tell me you have ridden that mustache.”
“Happy Thanksgiving!” Mom yells as Colton comes through the front door on Thursday evening. “We’re so glad you joined us!”
“Oh, of course. Thank you for having me,” he says, making his way over to pull my mom into a hug. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you for everything y’all have done for me over the last few months.”
My mom pats his cheek affectionately before waving her hand at him dismissively. “No thanks needed, honey. You know you’re like part of the family now. You’re welcome any time.”
Amelia catches my eye across the counter and stifles a laugh at my mama’s words. I shoot her a dirty look.
“Hey, Amelia. Lucy. Miss Martha and Mr. Bryce,” Colton says in greeting, and I struggle not to meet his eyes. We’re so close to being able to tell the truth about what’s going on between us, but I know that we can’t be caught sharing loving looks across the table today.
Instead, I turn my attention to my Uncle Bryce and ask, “So, you’ve been traveling a lot over the last few months. How’s that been?”
My uncle opens his mouth to respond just as the front door opens, and my brother steps inside.
“Honey, I’m home,” he yells, dropping his duffel bag on the floor and holding out his arms wide.
My mom yelps and hurries to hobble over to hug him.
“Oh, Hayesie, I’m so glad you’re home,” she yells, pulling back to wipe a tear from her eye. “I know I’m being dramatic, but I just worry about you so much when you’re away. It’s so good to see you!”
Hayes pulls back and pats my mom on the shoulder.
“I’m just fine, Mom,” he reassures her before turning to face the rest of us.
“Hey, man,” he says, walking over to Colton and slapping him on the back. “I hate that I didn’t get to see you last weekend, but thanks for coming. It meant a lot to me. Oh, and I can’t wait to hear the list of corrections I have no doubt you have for me.”
“Sure thing, man. It was fun. And yeah, there were a few things I noticed. We’ll go over them later.”
Hayes laughs. “I had no doubt,” he says sarcastically before walking over to hug me.
“Hey there, Lucy Lu. I see you managed to keep everything standing with both Mom and me gone. I was half expecting to come home and find the pigs had taken up residence in my room.”
“Not this time,” I say lightly.
Hayes makes his way around the rest of the room as Mama pulls the rolls out of the oven.
“All right, y’all. Now that everyone is here, I think we’re ready to eat,” she says, sorting them beside the rows of casseroles, vegetables, turkey, and dressing. “Go ahead and fix your plates before everything gets cold.”
The seven of us crowd around the counter, filling our plates with food before we settle in around the dining room table.
“I just have to say, I’m really thankful for every person sitting at this table,” my mom says, looking around at each of us. “The last few months might have had their ups and downs, but we’ve come out on the other side stronger than ever. And Colton, we never could have done it without you.”
The rest of the table nods as Colton waves her off. “I’m more grateful for y’all taking me in after I got a little overwhelmed with the renovations.”
“I tried to tell you,” Hayes mutters, and the rest of us laugh before we start eating.
The table falls silent as we dig into the food my mom and Aunt Martha spent the last few days preparing. “Mama, Aunt Martha, everything’s wonderful,” I say as Colton and Hayes chat about Hayes’s last few months on the team.
I fight to keep my attention from straying to him too often, but it’s hard. Just a few more hours. I remind myself. Then dinner will be over, and then we can talk to Hayes. You just need to keep the secret a few more hours.
Dinner feels like it lasts forever, and as soon as my Aunt Martha stands to clear the plates, I shoot out of my chair.
“I’ll do it,” I offer, desperate to have a minute away from everyone. I gather the first few plates and walk them into the kitchen, sitting them in the sink and blowing out a breath.
“You okay?” Colton’s low voice comes from behind me.
I jump in surprise, turning to see we’re alone in the large kitchen. He walks the plates he’s carrying over to the sink before wrapping me in his arms.
“We can’t do this here,” I remind him, but I don’t pull back, happy to be in his arms.
“You looked upset,” he mutters, running his fingers through my hair. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m just nervous to tell him,” I admit.
Colton drops a kiss to my forehead, rubbing my back for reassurance.
“It’s gonna be fine. I promise Hayes is going to understand—”
“Understand what?” a voice comes from behind Colton, causing us both to freeze.