Chapter 15 – Cole-Present
Chapter Fifteen
SCREW IT, I’M IN
COLE-PRESENT
The past few days have been a total whirlwind. Kenna’s been on my mind nonstop, and every time my phone buzzes with a message from her, my heart skips a beat. The texts are a mix of silly memes, random updates, and inside jokes, but it’s more than just the messages themselves.
What really hits me is that she’s reaching out and trying.
We’re slowly rebuilding something I wasn’t sure would ever come back.
With each conversation, the wall I built around myself comes down just a little more every time.
It feels good, even if we’re taking things slow.
I’m okay with that. All I want is to be close to her again.
There’s something more to it, though. As I type out another message to her, I can feel that this, whatever it is, feels different from before.
There’s a depth to it, something beyond just friendship.
Deep down, I know Kenna feels it too, but I will not push her.
Not yet. I want her to trust me again and believe I’m someone she can count on. I want to show her I’ve changed.
Scrolling through her latest text, a goofy picture of her with a filter that makes her look like a puppy, I can’t help but smile.
I miss her more than I probably should, but I like how things are right now.
The way we joke around and share these brief moments with no pressure feels good.
It’s nice to have this connection, this sense of familiarity, even if it’s not yet everything I want it to be.
Still, every time her name pops up on my screen, I feel this strange mix of comfort and urgency. Like I’m doing something more than just texting her. Like I’m supposed to be building something. For her, for me, for the possibility of us.
And that’s when it hits me. I can’t keep floating. I need to put down roots. Not just for her, but for me too. For the person I want to become.
My future has been on my mind a lot recently.
Sitting around and waiting for things to fall into place isn’t an option anymore.
It’s time to carve out my path and get started right away.
Heading into town to look for a job feels like the right move.
Working for someone else isn’t the plan forever, but having something to kick-start momentum is exactly what’s needed.
Showing myself that progress is happening matters more than ever.
Waiting for things to change on their own is something I’m done with.
The first place that comes to mind is Old Man Harris’s hardware store.
I’ve spent countless hours there growing up, hanging around as a kid, pretending I’d take over one day and run it the way he did.
It’s always been a part of my life, a constant through all the years of uncertainty, but after everything that’s happened, I’m sure if it is even possible anymore.
The conversation still hasn’t happened, though we’ve run into each other a few times.
It’s like we’re both dancing around the subject, unsure of where to go next.
I pull on an old hoodie, the fabric soft from years of wear and a little frayed around the cuffs.
It’s the one Kenna used to give me grief about, calling it a “walking thrift store ad” every time I wore it.
She’d laugh and tug at the sleeves like she was trying to reshape it into something cooler, but she never made me take it off.
I think she secretly liked it. Probably because it reminded her of simpler times.
Now, it feels like wearing a memory, one that still smells faintly of summer and old cologne.
The air is crisp, early autumn clinging to the edge of summer. Leaves are just turning along the edges of the road, curling golden at the tips. I drive through the familiar streets, the places that once felt so small, but now hold memories that are both comforting and haunting.
I can’t keep waiting around, hoping things will figure themselves out. It’s time to find some clarity. Something steady has to anchor me before everything feels like it’s slipping away.
I pull into the parking lot and take a deep breath before I get out of the car.
The bell above the door jingles when I walk in.
The familiar scent of wood and metal hits me instantly.
It’s exactly how I remember it. It’s been a while since I last walked through those doors, and a part of me feels like a kid again, coming in to hang out and see what’s new.
But now I’m here for something bigger than just passing the time.
This place, this store—it’s where I want to be.
Old Man Harris is at the counter, his white beard and thick glasses making him look exactly like he always did. His eyes twinkle when he sees me, and he stands up slowly to greet me, a smile spreading across his face.
“Well, look who’s back,” he says, his voice a mixture of surprise and affection.
“Hey, Mr. Harris,” I reply, offering a sheepish smile. I feel the tension in my shoulders as I step further into the store. “Mind if I talk shop for a bit?”
Harris doesn’t answer right away. He studies me, like he’s weighing the distance I’ve been gone against the person standing here now.
“There’s something I need to make right.” I say, trying to close the emotional space between us.
He folds his hands and leans back. “Shoot,” he says.
I swallow, voice steady, but just a hair rough around the edges. “I’ve been thinking. And I want to come back and work here. Even if just part-time. I really want to pitch in and help with whatever you need. This place means a lot to me. It always has.”
Harris nods slowly. “This isn’t exactly an easy place to run,” he says. “The days are long, the dust never really settles, and the inventory’s a constant headache. But it’s about consistency. Being here every single day, no matter what.”
“I know,” I say, meeting his gaze. “And I’m ready for it. I just need to feel like I’m doing something that matters. That I belong somewhere again.”
“I’ll tell you this, Cole,” he says, his voice soft but serious.
“I’ve always imagined you taking over this place.
Show me you want it. Start tomorrow. All on your own time.
Sweep, stock, restock, clean up. Learn the catalog.
I’ll give you some tasks. If after a week you’re still showing up, not just here.
I’ll think about giving you something more official. ”
My chest tightens. Not with disappointment, but with something fierce and determined. There’s your path, the unspoken part says. Walk it.
“Thank you,” I manage, feeling a weight lift off my chest. It’s as though the air around me is a little easier to breathe. “But I’m ready. I want to help, and I can prove that I’m capable.”
Harris leans forward, his gaze intense. “I want to hand off more responsibilities. I want to spend more time with my family, my grandkids. You’ve always had the potential, Cole. Show me I was right.”
I nod, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and excitement. This is it. This is my shot.
“Thank you, Mr. Harris,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I won’t let you down. I’ll make you proud.”
“You’ve already made me proud, kid,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s yours.”
I can’t believe it. The store, the thing I’ve dreamed about for so long, is finally mine. This is my chance, and there’s no way I’m letting it slip away.
I leave the store with a huge grin on my face. The weight of everything that’s happened in the past few years feels lighter now. I can’t wait to tell Kenna. I pull out my phone as soon as I get to the car, my fingers flying over the screen as I type out a message.
Me
Went job hunting today. Went to Old Man Harris’s store. Starting tomorrow. If it goes well, he’s thinking long-term. I’m finally doing something that feels right.
I hit send, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. It doesn’t take long for her to respond.
Sunshine
That’s amazing, Cole!! I’m so proud of you.You’ve always had so much potential.
Her words hit me all at once, and I didn’t realize how badly I needed them until now.
It’s rare to feel like someone’s truly in your corner, but knowing Kenna’s proud of me—that hits different.
I catch myself grinning at my phone before firing off a reply, still a little stunned by how much it means.
Me
Thanks, Sunshine. That means more than you know.
I’m still riding the high when I walk through the front door. My phone’s buzzing in my pocket, but I don’t check it. I’m too amped.
Mom’s in the kitchen, of course. She’s always in the kitchen, and I can already hear clinking dishes and her humming softly to herself. It’s a comfort, the same way it’s always been. But today, it’s different. I can’t wait to tell her.
I lean against the doorframe and try to keep my excitement in check. “Mom, you’re not gonna believe this.”
She looks up from stirring something on the stove, raising an eyebrow. “What’s got you so worked up?” She wipes her hands on a dishtowel, her gaze softening as she takes in my face.
“I got the job at Harris’s store,” I say, and the grin that spreads across my face makes me feel like I’m about to explode. “He’s giving me a shot. Told me if I show up and work hard, it could turn into something permanent.”
She stares at me for a second, her eyes going wide. Then, without another word, she’s across the room and wrapping me in a tight hug. “Oh my gosh, Cole, that’s incredible!” Her voice cracks, and I can feel the emotion in her grip. “I’m so proud of you.”
I squeeze her back, swallowing the lump in my throat. It’s the pride I’ve been missing for years. The support I’ve longed for. I didn’t think I’d ever hear her say that again, but here we are.
Jeremiah and Isla come rushing in from the living room, and I can see the excitement in their eyes. I try to keep my cool, but I’m just as pumped to see them as they are to see me.