Before I Knew (The Cabots #1)(59)

“I thought you asked Gentry to join us.” Sara hooked arms with Colby as they meandered to the next booth, effectively steering her away from the memory.

“She’s working here with Jake today, so keep an eye out for the hot dog cart.” Colby chuckled. “That’s driving my dad over the edge.”

“Isn’t that her goal? Ooh, Bonnet!” Sara’s attention snagged on that store’s sale tent, so she dragged Colby inside. “I love these hats. Especially this red-and-gray Lady Mary.” Sara placed the cute hat on her head and framed her face with her hands. “See?”

She removed it and then lifted a lovely straw hat with a wide black ribbon and plopped it onto Colby’s head. “You’re definitely a Gigi. So classic.”

Colby swiveled her head to glance in the mirror, then froze. It was a sweet hat, but Mark had always loved her in hats. She expected him to be on her mind today, given that she’d come back to their old stomping grounds, but wished the endless barrage of memories would finally end. Then, now, now, then—love, anger, sorrow, regret, resentment, guilt, horror. Movement reflected in the mirror—of Sara snatching the Lady Mary back from the rack and taking it to the cashier—broke Colby’s runaway train of thought.

While Sara rang up another purchase, Colby returned the Gigi to its shelf and watched the crowd in the street. It parted slightly as people milled around, at which point she caught a glimpse of Gentry.

Her sister’s super-short turquoise-and-black-sequined Betsey Johnson dress with turquoise-and-black leopard-print boots made Gentry’s red hair the least loud thing about her today.

Colby spied on her sister, who bent down to talk to two young girls whose mom was paying Jake for some hot dogs and enormous cookies. After the family strolled away, Jake mumbled something, to which Gentry dismissively waved a hand. Jake shot her a quizzical look, then she giggled as she whispered something in his ear. His hand slid over her hip, and he bit her earlobe.

While witnessing the little intimacy, Colby momentarily envied her sister’s ability to live in the moment—a skill she hadn’t yet reclaimed. More than that, she missed being looked at the way Jake looked at Gentry—with fascination and attraction, like he couldn’t wait to get her alone.

Alec had gazed at Colby that way last weekend when he’d kissed her. She’d spent all week pretending it meant nothing yet fantasizing about how far that passion might have gone had she let it. Imagining the heat of his body against hers. The sound of him moaning her name. The taste of his skin. Those musings gathered in her abdomen and squeezed, making her ache with longing. Making her wonder if his baggage might be worth the heavy lifting.

“Are you cold?” Sara asked when Colby shivered.

“No.”

“Mark?” Sara asked gently.

“No. I found my sister.” Colby pointed across the road, only the slightest bit guilty for dissembling. “Let’s go say hi.”

Sara stopped short. “What’s she wearing in the middle of the day?”

“Something that’s sure to get attention.” Colby couldn’t help but smile.

“There isn’t enough attention in the world to make her happy.” Sara grimaced.

“Hunter and I need to spend more time with her.” Colby sighed. “We might be too late, though.”

Sara shook her head. “It’s never too late for love.”

Colby hoped so. On so many levels, she wanted that to be true.

“Hey, Sis.” She hugged Gentry then smiled at Jake. Even though he’d criticized her restaurant’s food, she’d take the high road for Gentry’s sake. “Let me have one of these famed hot dogs. Just mustard and ketchup, though. No relish or onion.”

“Sure.” Jake went to work. No friendly smile. No apology for the scene he caused in her restaurant. No “Thank you.” Nothing. Jake didn’t appear particularly complicated or encumbered by baggage. Another reason to toss that particular yardstick.

Jake handed Colby a hot dog in exchange for four bucks.

“Looks great, thanks.” In fact, it tasted better than she’d expected, too. Natural casing gave it that snappy texture she liked. Not that he seemed to care one way or the other about her opinion.

“Can you take a break and walk with us for a while?” Sara asked Gentry.

“Nah.” Gentry wrinkled her nose. “It pisses me off to see all this stuff on sale after I paid full price.”

“You could try waiting for things to go on sale,” Colby teased.

“I’m a trendsetter, Sis. Not a follower.” Gentry playfully swept her hand down her body as if to say “Voilà!” Then she ruefully shook her head at Colby’s simple belted black-and-white gingham dress.