32 | Leavin again
COLTON
Morning comes gentle. Light filters through the crack in her curtains, golden now—dust motes catching in the glow as I blink my eyes open.
Then sound creeps in—traffic below, someone hollering down the street, a dog barking somewhere far off.
And then I feel her.
Clementine’s still tucked against me, breath warm on my chest, her hair a wild halo over my shoulder. Her hand’s resting right over my heart, pinky twitching in her sleep.
For a long minute, I just lie there, memorizing the rhythm of her breathing. Every inhale says ‘yours’, every exhale whispers ‘don’t screw this up again, McGraw’.
I brush a strand of hair off her cheek, drinking in the freckles dusted across her skin, and she stirs. Her lashes flutter, eyes hazy, lips still swollen from last night.
“Morning,” she murmurs, voice rough with sleep.
“Mornin’, Tiny.” Mine’s rougher. “You want breakfast?”
She hums, stretching like a cat. “Coffee, at least.”
I grin, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Let’s go, then.”
Devin and Savannah are already at the table when we step out, both lookin’ like they’ve survived a natural disaster.
“Sorry about last night,” Clem says, moving toward the kitchen. “You guys sleep okay?”
“Not a wink,” Savannah groans. “Devin snores louder than Jackson’s tractor.”
“You’re the one who kicked me all night,” Devin shoots back. “I woke up bruised as a peach.”
“Sorry for stealin’ your spot,” I say, pouring coffee from the pot Clem just set down. “Breakfast’s on me.”
“Ooh,” Savannah perks up, instantly forgiving. “Can we get mimosas?”
I smirk. “Might not be a bad idea—I’m facin’ her daddy today. Could use the liquid courage.”
----
We don’t talk much on the drive out to her old man’s place. Clem’s quiet, fingers fumbling with the hem of her shirt. I can tell she’s nervous—not about seeing him, but about him seeing me.
Can’t blame her. I ain’t stood face-to-face with Nathaniel Holliday in seven years—not since he told me to let her go. And I listened, like the damn fool I was.
When we pull up, my stomach knots. Her dad’s townhouse looks proud and neat, the brick immaculate and the iron railings clean.
Clem takes a shaky breath at the top of the steps. “You ready?”
“Not even close,” I admit. “But we’re doin’ this, baby girl.”
That earns me the softest smile—nervous, sure, but enough to make me feel ten feet tall.
A woman answers the door, kind face, knowing eyes. She gives Clem a meaningful look. “Ah. Big talk today, I take it?”
Clem nods, that smile faltering.
The woman sticks out her hand to me. “I’m Marlene. Nice to finally meet you, Colton. Nathaniel’s inside.”
We step in, and there he is—sittin’ at the table, mug in hand, glasses low on his nose. He looks older, and smaller, somehow. When his gaze lands on me, he freezes.
“Colton,” he says after a moment, voice steady but not cold.
“Sir.” I take off my hat, nodding once. “Good to see you.”
He sets his mug down, eyes moving between us. “Didn’t know he was in town, sweetheart. You could’ve brought him to dinner.”
“He wasn’t—he showed up last night,” Clem says, cheeks pinking. “We had some… talking to do.”
He studies her for a beat, then nods. “I see.” A pause. “You’re holding hands.”
Clem stiffens beside me, fingers tightening around mine. “He’s my boyfriend, Daddy.”
The air goes still. I can feel her starting to fidget, so I tug her closer and clear my throat.
“Mr. Holliday,” I say, steady. “I know I’m probably the last man you wanted to see again, but I gotta say it—I never stopped lovin’ your daughter. You told me to let her go, and I did, but I’ve regretted it every damn day since.”
Nathaniel’s jaw works. He looks down into his coffee for a long moment before he says quietly, “I owe you both an apology.”
That stuns us both.
He lifts his gaze, eyes solemn but soft. “I thought I was doin’ right by her, Colton. I saw too much of myself in her—hunger for something bigger, dreaming of more than that town could offer her. I figured if she stayed, she’d spend her life wondering what else she could’ve been.”
Clementine moves closer, resting her hand on his shoulder. “You wanted me to have choices,” she says gently. “I know that now.”
His eyes glisten when he looks up at her. “You don’t belong in the city, huh, honey?”
She shakes her head, sure and calm. “No, Daddy. I don’t.”
“So, you’re moving back?”
She nods. “I’ve been looking into the DVM program at Bluebonnet State. They’ve got a large animal track that’s pretty perfect for me. I’ve signed up for some undergrad courses, and I’m planning to apply to Bluebonnet next year.”
Nathaniel finally looks at me—really looks. There’s no accusation in his eyes—he just looks like a tired man who wants his daughter to find peace.
“I was rough on you, son,” he says. “Didn’t mean to be cruel. I just didn’t want her dreams boxed in by someone else’s limits.”
“I get it,” I say. “But you should know—I ain’t tryin’ to cage her. I’m buildin’ a life where she can come and go as she pleases.”
Something flickers in his eyes—his mouth twitches like he’s fighting a smile. “You sound like your old man.”
That one lands square in my chest. “I’ll take that as a compliment, sir.”
“It is one,” he says. “Raymond McGraw was a damn good man. I see a lot of him in you.”
I nod once in appreciation, the lump in my throat too thick to get any words out.
Clementine squeezes my arm, eyes shining up at me. I want to kiss her, but her daddy’s right there, so I just wink instead.
Marlene breezes in with half a pecan pie and sets it down. “I don’t know if we’re celebratin’ or consoling,” she says, “but this pie does both.”
----
CLEMENTINE
“All right, I think that’s it.” I zip my suitcase shut and straighten up, hands on my hips.
“I’ve got it,” Colton says, hauling it over his shoulder. The muscles in his back flex as he carries it toward the door, and Savannah, Devin and I all go starry-eyed.
“God, that’s a fine specimen,” Devin mumbles. “I’d blame you for leaving me, but… I get it.”
I grin, throwing an arm around their shoulders and kissing their cheek. “I’d say I’d never have left you if it wasn’t for him, but we both know that’s a lie.”
They squeeze me tight. “That’s the only reason I’m letting you go. Because you’re going where you belong—not just after some guy.”
Savannah joins the hug, arms wrapping around us both. “You better keep this apartment so we’ve got somewhere cute to crash when we visit.”
Devin shakes their head. “I’m finding a new roommate as soon as Clem comes to collect the rest of her stuff—but you’re welcome to stay over anytime. As long as nobody kicks me in their sleep.”
“I only kicked you because you were snorin’ like an old man,” Savannah fires back.
“I don’t snore,” Devin says primly. “Must’ve been that cloud of perfume you wear.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I sling my bag over my shoulder. “All right, Dev. We’ll talk logistics later. Savannah and I gotta hit the road if I wanna make it to Mama’s for dinner.”
I blow them a kiss, then pause in the doorway, taking one long look at our place. The couch we spent way too many nights eating ice cream on, the Polaroid pictures of us on the fridge, the mismatched mugs in the sink—my whole city life packed into this one little apartment.
I’ll miss it. Miss Devin, miss living close to my dad and his family. But I won’t miss what it felt like—trying to fit into something that never quite matched.
Because I already have a home. One that doesn’t need decorating to feel like mine.
And he’s waiting downstairs.
----
And on that note... Merry Christmas, my loves ???