“Women are fucking confusing,” Carson mutters, and Dad grunts in agreement.
“So she’s the one?” Cade asks softly, and I feel my chest get tight and warm.
I don’t even have to think about the answer to that question, because I know without a doubt, down to my bones that she is. “Yeah, man. She’s the one.”
Now, I just hope like fuck I’m the one for her too.
CHAPTER 10
Butterfly
Gia
DIGGING THROUGH COLTON’S DRAWERS, I find a pair of his socks and put them on, then head downstairs to check on dinner. I had the day off today, so I decided to get the stuff to make a roast with all the fixings, including baby potatoes, carrots, gravy, and homemade sweet rolls—something my mom taught me to make. Seeing that the roast is still not done and the rolls are rising, I take my cell phone off the counter then grab a glass and go to the fridge. I pour myself a glass of wine and take it and my phone with me, heading out the front door to the porch. After setting my glass down on the wooden rail, I dial Nat.
“Hey, stranger! I was just about to send a search party to Tennessee to look for you,” she says when she answers on the second ring.
“No search party necessary.” I smile, taking a sip of wine. “Sorry I haven’t called. Things have been a little crazy here this last week.” I say, thinking that’s not a lie. Between dinner with Colton’s family last Sunday, work this week, visiting grandma, and dinner with Nina and Ned yesterday, I haven’t had a chance to really catch my breath.
“I understand crazy,” she says, then asks, “How was dinner with Colton’s family last weekend?”
“Good,” I reply softly. Dinner was good; actually, it was perfect. I loved the feeling of being a part of a family. I hadn’t had that in so long that I forgot just how good it felt to have that connection, to sit around a table with people who care about each other, and listen to them talk and share stories. I missed it, and having Colton with me, holding my hand, and keeping me close made it even better.
“Just good? I know you were worried.”
“Really good. His brothers are cool and his sister-in-law is sweet. Plus, his nieces are adorable, and you already know I love his parents. The whole thing was good. I was worried over nothing.”
“And things with you and Colton?” she prompts, and I take my wine with me over to one of the rocking chairs and sit down. As soon as I do, Loki comes and puts his head on my lap.
“I’ve completely fallen for him,” I admit softly, while looking out at the water as it takes on the pinkish color of the sky above.
“You’re scared,” she whispers, reading my tone, and my eyes close briefly.
“Terrified,” I whisper back, taking another sip of wine. “Two days ago, he brought all my stuff upstairs from the room I had been staying in when I got here, and told me to unpack. He had cleaned out some drawers for me and made room in his closet.”
“He’s not messing around.”
“He’s not,” I agree, biting my lip. “It’s all happening so fast. Do you think it’s too fast?” It’s the same question I’ve been asking myself for the last week.
“Does it feel right?” she asks back, and I don’t even have to think about my answer.
“Yes.”
“Then it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you’re going.”
God, I love my best friend, and I miss her.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, which is why I’m planning a trip to come see you in a couple of weeks.”
“Really?”
“Really. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay for too long this time, but I figure I can always come back. Maybe over the summer for a few weeks?”
“You can always come back, and you know you’re welcome anytime,” I say, looking forward to introducing her to Colton and his family, maybe even Tide and Olivia.
“How’s your grandma?”
On that question, pain hits my chest and radiates through me, making my stomach twist. “Not good. She’s back to being withdrawn. She’s… I don’t know. She’s just not herself, or the self she was when I first got here.”
“What are the doctors saying?” she asks, sounding worried.
“Nothing new, that it’s the progression of the disease.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” I set my wine glass on the ground at my feet so I can run my fingers through the fur on top of Loki’s head.
“What’s going on with the arson investigation and the house?”
“I haven’t heard from the detective again since the last time we spoke. Colton and Tide helped me get everything from Grandma’s house that I could salvage, and I’ve slowly been going through it all, but there’s a lot of stuff. I also contacted her insurance company a week ago, and they told me they are still looking into the claim and doing an investigation of their own.”