“What? Who’s the unlucky guy?”
“No clue.” She shrugs.
“I haven’t spoken to her since I moved to Tennessee. I also haven’t even thought about her, unless it’s to think about what a bitch she was for lying to me.”
“Why would you think about her? She might have been your stepmom, but she was never there when you needed her. She was just someone you lived with while you were in high school.”
“I guess you’re right,” I murmur, wishing it wasn’t like that though. We might not have gotten along, but she was my dad’s wife, the last connection I have to him, and it would be nice to be able to talk to her, even if it is just about him.
“I see you need a drink now too,” Nat says, and I laugh. The tattoo artist grunts, making me laugh harder.
“Done.”
I look down at my arm as the last remnants of ink are wiped away and I blink. It’s more beautiful than I thought it would be, and now I will always have a piece of my grandma with me, no matter where I go or what I do.
“Thank you,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on my arm as he spreads on some cream and covers it with a bandage.
“Anytime.” He rolls his chair back and stands. “Come out when you’re ready.”
“Girl, you better not start crying,” Nat warns, and my eyes go to hers.
Blinking away the tears, I pull in a breath then let it out. “I’m not going to cry.”
“Good.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to stand. “Let’s go. We need a drink.”
So that’s what we do. When we get to the bar, I show Colton my tattoo. The second I tell him why I got it, he gathers me in his arms and kisses me long and hard in front of his brother, his parents, and Nat, and for the first time ever, I don’t stop him from kissing me. I kiss him right back.
CHAPTER 12
The Good Times And The Bad
Colton
GETTING OUT OF THE shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and open the door. As soon as I step into the bedroom, I hear Gia and Nat downstairs giggling like two mad women who were served way too much alcohol. And they were served too much alcohol by my mom, who kept their glasses full all afternoon, which meant when it was time for me to get off work at five, they were both wasted. So wasted I ended up carrying Gia to my Suburban, with Carson following behind me carrying Nat. Thank fuck both of them could obviously hold their alcohol, because neither of them got sick on the way home.
Going to the closet, I find a pair of jeans and a tee and put both on. Then I grab my socks and boots and tug them on before heading downstairs. As soon as I reach the bottom landing, I lock eyes with Gia and stride right to her. “You still drunk?” I ask, taking the kiss she offers up. She grins, which gives me her answer. “Since none of us have eaten, and all you’ve had all day is alcohol I’m going to head into town to pick up a pizza. Are you two good with that?”
“That sound good,” Gia agrees, keeping her head tipped back, so I kiss her once more, smiling when I do it.
“Can you also pick up your brother?” Nat asks, and I look at her while Gia laughs.
“Don’t laugh. It was so romantic the way he carried me out of the bar,” she says with a faraway look in her eyes.
“He carried you out of the bar because you couldn’t walk,” Gia reminds her, and Nat’s eyes focus on Gia’s and narrow.
“Don’t be a dream crusher. Maybe he’s my Prince Charming. My very own Prince Harry,” she sighs, falling back onto the couch dramatically with her hands over her heart.
Fighting back laughter, I look at Gia and find her studying her friend thoughtfully. “Don’t even think about it, Dimples.”
“What?” she asks, looking at me, and I shake my head. “Well,” she starts quietly, “if they got together, Nat would move here to be with him, and then I would really have it all. I would have you and my best friend.”
As much as I want her to have everything she wants, I can’t imagine Carson with Nat. They would constantly be at each other’s throat. Nat’s too easygoing, and Carson might come across as easygoing, but he’s uptight and stubborn as fuck, which is the exact reason he hasn’t gotten married. Not a lot of women want to deal with him—at least, not long term anyways.
“If it happens, it happens. You are not going to play matchmaker,” I tell her, and her eyes slide away. Shit, she is going to play matchmaker. “Gia.”
“I thought you were going to pick us up pizza.”
“Gia,” I warn, and her gaze comes back to me.
“Colton.”
“Gia.”
“Is this some weird mating ritual?” Nat asks, and I sigh. I like Nat, but fuck me, I can’t wait for her to leave, even if she does make my woman happy and did just get here yesterday.
“I’ll be back,” I tell them, going to the kitchen and grabbing my keys off the counter. Stopping at Gia, I drop a kiss to the top of her head, giving her a look before I take off.
I call Bob’s on the way to town, so when I get to the restaurant, the pizza is ready to go, meaning I don’t have to wait around or answer any questions. News tends to spread quickly in small towns like Ruby Falls, but bad news always spreads faster, which means everyone knows what Lisa did. As for me, I don’t want to think about that bitch. I don’t want to listen to people talk about her, and I sure as fuck don’t want Gia to have to deal with that shit either. I still cannot believe Lisa took things as far as she did. I don’t know what she was thinking, or if she was thinking at all. I do know I’m glad she’s going to be locked up for a while. I just hope she uses that time wisely and reflects on the shit show she turned her life into and turns that shit around for the better. And if she doesn’t do that, I hope she leaves town and doesn’t come back once she gets out of jail. If I never see her again, it will be too soon.
Pulling back up in front of the house with the pizza thirty minutes later, I park and get out then head inside. The minute I open the door, I shake my head when I find both Gia and Nat passed out, each with their head resting on the arms of the couch on either side, and Loki in the middle of them. Once I shut the door, I move toward the kitchen, where I drop the box on the counter. Grabbing a Coke from the fridge, I open it then take a slice from the box and lift it to my mouth. Before I can even take a bite, two sets of eyes come to me over the back of the couch.
“Were you going to eat without waking us?” Gia asks, blinking at me, and I smile at her then take a large bite. Bob’s Pizza is the best around. Even though it’s not bad cold, it’s still better hot. Watching my woman get up, I keep my eyes on her as she heads my way then smile at her as she kisses my jaw then hops up on the counter. Opening the pizza box, she pulls out her own slice, and takes a huge bite. Two seconds later, Nat joins her on the counter, grabbing her own piece.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” I ask after handing Gia my Coke that she reached for.
“No, but yes. I’m ready to put her to rest. It’s going to suck having to do it, but knowing she will be where she wanted to be, with Grandpa, makes it a little easier.”
“I’ll be there. All of us will. You won’t be alone.”
“I know,” she mumbles solemnly, and I sigh. I can’t wait until this is all done and behind us. I hate the sadness I see in her eyes, and it kills me there is nothing I can do to make it better for her. Nothing will take the pain she’s feeling away but time.
Dropping my slice of pizza to the top of the box, I wrap my hand around her neck and tip her head back using my thumb, until I get her eyes. “I love you.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“I promise it will get better.”
“I know,” she repeats.
Dropping my mouth to hers, I kiss her quickly, even though I don’t want to. I do it, because her friend’s watching us. Letting her go, I lean against the counter next to her hip and pick my slice of pizza back up. Tomorrow is going to suck, but once it’s over, I know my family and her friend will find a way to help her heal.
~**~
Wrapping my arm around Gia’s shoulders the next morning, we listen to the pastor from one of the local churches as he gives a short sermon. There are a lot of people here to say goodbye. A lot more people than I thought would be here. Mom put an announcement in the paper, since she said people would want to know about the funeral. She was right. It’s obvious, looking around, that Genevria was well known in town, since she had lived here almost all of her life. She was also well liked by the people in town, judging by the look of sadness etched on everyone’s faces. Gathering Gia closer to my side, I watch Nat reach out and wrap her hand around Gia’s and squeeze. Then I feel my parents and family get closer to us. Yes, today sucks, but I know without a doubt that Gia having all of us will help.