Chapter 34
LUCY
Colton wraps his arms back around me as I wipe away at the tears pooling in my eyes. I hadn’t really expected my brother to take the news well, but actually seeing how angry he was had hurt my feelings more than I expected.
“I’m so sorry, Colton,” I cry. “I should have known this was all going to blow up in our faces.”
Colton smooths a piece of hair back from my face and drops a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Baby, nothing about what just happened is your fault. We both knew what we were getting into when we started this thing. And I’ll be honest, as much as I value your brother’s friendship, I’d do this whole thing a million times over as long as I end up with you in my arms at the end of the day.”
“But what about—” I start, and Colton holds up his hand to stop me.
“Let me finish, Darlin’,” he says, and I nod, wiping another tear from my eye.
“Lucy, I don’t know if you even realize how fucking obsessed with you I am.
Ever since that first night in The Watering Hole, I knew I was gone for you.
But over the last few months, I’ve seen just how funny, smart, and incredible you really are.
An old bastard like me had no business falling in love with a woman as perfect as you, but it’s too late to worry about that now.
Because Lucy Phillips, I am completely in love with you. ”
I stare at him in shock at his declaration while he continues. “There’s nothing in this world that could convince me that we aren’t meant to be together. And I’ll do whatever it takes to convince you that this thing between us is worth whatever your brother wants to throw at us.”
He pauses, looking at me expectantly. “So, what do you think? Are you still in this?”
“You love me?” I whisper, my mind stuck on that singular sentence.
“I do,” he says, and I don’t miss the hint of nerves in his voice. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way yet, but I just want—”
“Colton, I love you too,” I admit, interrupting him. “You are everything I didn’t know I needed, and you make me so unbelievably happy. I want to be with you more than anything.”
Colton smiles, dropping his mouth to mine and delivering a slow kiss that makes my heart race. Our mouths tangle, and he pulls me closer into his arms, letting me feel every inch of his perfect body.
“Well, I’ll be. Fucking finally,” my mom says from the door, and I pull back, looking at her in shock.
“Mama, did you just curse?” I ask, looking at her with wide eyes.
She shrugs, coming into the kitchen, followed by my Aunt Martha and Amelia. “Well, I think this situation calls for it,” she says, looking over at her sister. “We’ve been wondering if you were ever going to tell us about the two of you.”
Colton and I both look at her with shocked expressions, and she laughs. “Baby, I’m old, not stupid. And I know you two thought you were being so secretive, but anyone in the world could see the way you two look at each other.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” I ask.
“I figured when you wanted me to know, you’d tell me,” she says simply before adding, “but I’ll be honest, I never expected it to take this long.”
I cringe. “Sorry, Mom. We just thought it was best to keep it between us until we talked to Hayes.”
“Yeah, and we can see how well that went,” Aunt Martha says. “We heard all the racket he was making from in the dining room.”
“Yeah, it’s safe to say he’s not happy,” I agree. “I’m sorry we ruined y’all’s dinner. We were planning to tell him tonight, but he found us in here talking, and well… you know the rest.”
My mom sighs. “I understand he’s upset, but y’all have nothing to apologize for. You are both adults, and if you want to be together, then that’s all there is to it. I do wish you’d felt comfortable enough to tell us, though.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I really am. It just all happened so fast. To be honest, when I met him, I had no idea who he was. We actually met the night you had your accident, but we didn’t realize who the other was.”
“I know,” my mom says, and I stare at her again in shock.
“What, you knew? How?” I gasp, and my mom and aunt both break into giggles at my expression.
“Baby, did you really think you could kiss all over some man in Mills Corner and think it wouldn’t get back to me. The waitress there told Miss Audrey, and it hit the group text before you left the bar.”
Colton looks at me, shaking his head. “This damn town,” he murmurs, and I can’t help the laughter that bubbles out of me.
“Damn, I guess we weren’t as sneaky as we thought we were, Cowboy,” I tease, and he kisses my forehead in agreement.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“So, what do you think we should do about Hayes?” I ask, turning back to my mom.
She sighs. “That boy… Listen, baby. I know he drives you crazy with how overprotective he can be, but he does it out of love. When your daddy died, he took the responsibility of looking after you so seriously, and I know probably should have stepped in to stop him. I was dealing with my own grief, and it was easier to just let him than worry about starting a fight with him. But I can see now how that was a mistake. He has good intentions, but he’s gotta let you live your life the way you want to. ”
“I think I should talk to him,” Colton says, and my mom nods.
“I think you should, but give me a few minutes with him first. I’ll go find him, and you can come after I’ve been out there a little bit,” she says, grabbing her jacket and slipping her bare feet into her shoes by the door.
Amelia winks at me and gives me a thumbs up before she and my aunt head into the living room to watch football with my uncle.
As soon as we’re alone, Colton turns back to me, dropping another kiss on my forehead.
“I’ll be back, baby. And after all this is over, I want you to think about spending the night with me.
Now that this is out in the open, there’s no reason we should have to stay apart, and I’m really tired of waking up without you in my bed. ”
I smile up at him, pretending to think about it. “Hmm, I guess that could be arranged, Cowboy.”