In His Bed(38)
“This—she’s, what you want? Five years from now, you’re going to feel the same?”
He tipped his mouth into a grin. “This is what I want—she’s who I want.”
She stood up and Colin saw a glimmer of hope when the corner of her mouth curled up. “I love you, son. Please don’t ever keep the important events in your life from me. You may be her man, but you’re still my baby.”
Colin stood up and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Mom. I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too.”
Dave walked into the garage. “Can I have something decent to eat now?”
Colin and Stacey laughed. “Spaghetti sound okay?” she asked Colin.
“Sounds great,” he said as he wiped a couple stray tears from her cheeks.
She wrapped her arm around his waist. “This will always be your home, Colin. Please remember that.”
“I’ll never forget.”
His mom and dad talked as they made their way back into the house. Colin followed, reaching into his pocket to check his phone.
Charlie slept in your bed last night.
His heart, feeling like it started to beat for the first time in a week, made him lightheaded.
Tell her I wish I had slept with her mom instead of sleeping on a lumpy couch.
When she didn’t reply, a pang of hope dimmed but didn’t fade out. Now, he had to figure out a way to convince her nothing else mattered but how they felt in each other’s arms. He walked into the house determined to get his woman back.
*****
Lea unlocked her car and sat inside. She rifled through her purse as the muffled sound of her phone echoed from some mysterious place in the bag. Finally fishing it out, she read the text.
Don’t forget to bring your stuff over by six. The yard sale starts at seven. Rachel is having Scott bring by the treadmill they had in their bedroom. You know the one she uses as a hanger.
Lea felt hot tears streak down her face. She texted back with shaky fingers.
I don’t think she has ever walked on the thing. I’ll be there by six.
Remembering Colin’s threat if she texted and drove, she waited to see if Stacey was going to text back before starting the car.
Colin stopped by yesterday. Coffee in an hour? Your place?
Lea’s shoulders heaved as she cried. The hot tears were for the hope of having her friend back in her life, for the shame of betraying someone she loved, and for losing her one shot at true happiness. Colin was right—their age difference didn’t matter. She wasn’t an old maid. Lea knew she’d earned her years but wasn’t done living out the youth of her life. Like a sweet wine or a perfectly ripe peach, with each passing moment she was more ready for what life had to offer. She still had time to have a baby, and marriage wasn’t out of the question.
Colin had established the vision for his life. He’d completed college and, in Colin fashion, was quickly achieving the goals in his career—and he loved her. She had to fight for the precious things in life and Colin was worth battling all of her fears.
I would love that. I’ll be home in thirty minutes.
Stacey’s text came through immediately. See you soon.
Lea smiled and even laughed through the tears. Would it be possible for Colin to take her back? For her beloved friend to know how much she cared about their friendship? God, she hoped so.
When she pulled up, Stacey’s car was already parked on the far side of the driveway. The flutter in her stomach turned into ripples and lunges. She walked up to where Stacey sat on the porch swing.
“Do you know how much he loves you?” Stacey asked as she toed the wooden planks on the floor.
Lea sat down on the swing. “I do.”
Stacey nodded. “He used to tell me everything. He’d dated a lot of girls in college, never kept any of them around very long. He’d always tell me it didn’t feel right. He only brought one of them home and when she mentioned marriage, he ended that one, too.”
“I bet that drove you crazy. I know how much you wanted him to find someone.”
Stacey sighed and leaned her head back, taking in a deep breath. She eyed Lea from the corner of her vision and said, “He came by the house. I pictured a big wedding, you know, grandkids and cookouts.”
“I understand. I wanted kids. I still do.”
“He’s so young,” she said, finally meeting Lea’s eyes. “How can this work?”
Lea felt the hope drain from her heart. “I don’t know, but I do know that no relationship is perfect and we’d have to figure things out as we went along. I know this is a shock. Believe me, it was to me, too. I can’t explain it other than to say we’re in love. It might be pointless now. I haven’t answered his calls or texts in a week.”