Falling Fast

“Do you really think her dad would do that to her?” I ask doubtfully. My dad wouldn’t do that to me, and we didn’t even have the best relationship.

“As one of the only judges in town who is aiming to be elected for mayor next year, her dad has an image to uphold. I doubt he wants the news of his daughter’s latest theatrics to be out, especially when those theatrics have to do with her harassing me and you.”

“Why would it matter what she does to me?”

“That book club Nina’s a part of is full of women who have lived in this town for ages. Most of them are part of the city council. They have all spoken about you and the fact you came down here to take care of your sick grandmother. Because of that alone, they have a soft spot for you. Not to mention, most of them know my story and they know why Lisa and I are no longer together. They’re old school, stick by your man through thick or thin kind of women who already have it out for Lisa. If they catch wind she’s harassing you, Lisa’s father won’t get reelected for another term, and he definitely won’t become mayor, which is what he wants more than he wants to make his daughter happy by putting up with her bullshit.”

“Politics in a small town,” I say, wondering if maybe he was right to go to her father about what she’s done. Not that she’s done a lot to me, but with everything else that’s been going on, she’s only added to the stress and anxiety I have been feeling. “I hope it helps.”

His hand tightens around my rib cage.

“Hope what helps?” Rose asks, making me jump. I completely forgot she was here. Then again, I tend to forget the world exists outside of Colton when he is anywhere near me.

“I spoke with Lisa’s dad,” Colton tells her, and her eyes come to me.

“He knows.” I continue, “Someone named Brittany told someone named Anna who told Tide who told him.”

“I see,” Rose murmurs, looking from me to Colton. “What did William have to say about all of this?”

“Said he’d talk to Lisa and make sure she lays off.”

“That’s good news.”

“It is,” Colton agrees. “Let’s hope it sticks this time. If not, I’ll have Gia place a restraining order against her.”

“What?” I ask in horror, and he dips his head to look down at me.

“If she doesn’t stop, that’s our next move.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. She hasn’t harmed me or even really harassed me. She’s just trying to use me as a way to get to you.”

“That might be true, but I’m not taking any chances. If she doesn’t lay off after her dad talks to her, we’ll go to the police station and file a restraining order against her so she has no choice but to leave you the fuck alone.”

“Colton.” I shake my head at how ridiculous he’s being about this. “That’s absurd.”

“It’s not.”

“It is,” I disagree, pointing my finger at his chest while fighting the urge to stomp my foot to emphasize my point with him. “This isn’t that big of a deal, and she is not going to make me look like the crazy one, when she is the crazy one.”

“She is the crazy one, which is why I need to know you’re safe.”

Looking into his eyes, I wonder if something like this has ever happened before, but before I can ask him that question, I hear a loud “Yo!” rumbled through the bar.

Looking past Colton’s shoulder toward the door, I watch Tide come in wearing worn jeans that look dirty from work, a navy blue thermal under a beige-colored jean jacket, with his sunglasses pushed back on top of his head, pulling his blond hair away from his face as he carries a little girl on his hip. Without even asking if she’s his daughter, I know she’s his since they look so much alike, even if she’s only three. Her blonde hair, the same color as her dad’s, is up in two uneven pigtails, and her big blue eyes are the same shade as his. The first time I saw Tide, I thought he was handsome, but watching him come toward us holding his little girl so gently, he’s not handsome, he’s something else that even I can appreciate having all that is Colton.

“Uncle Colton.” The little girl waves her hand frantically, catching Tide in the chin twice before he captures her little wrist and kisses her palm. Saying something to her that I can’t hear, he stops halfway across the room to bend at the waist and set her down. Once she’s steady on her feet, she runs toward us, disappearing out of sight for a second when she goes around the edge of the bar. Then she reappears a moment later, still running right toward Colton.