Chapter 4

chapter

four

Colton

North Pole is a small town. Like tiny. It's quaint and near the mountains and the lakes so I can definitely see the appeal. Snow blankets both sides of the road.

I had to rent a car for the drive because I don't own one since I live in the city. But this drive—nearly seven hours with stops and weather—has been awesome. I've had time to think through my current plotting problems. I dictated the solution into my phone and then dictated an entire chapter.

I've listened to music. Sappy-ass love songs because I admit it, I'm a goner for this woman. One night with her and she's all I can think about.

Her daughter, Abby, is amazing. I already know this from our brief texting conversations. Plus she sneak texts me pictures of her mom and then Hannah freaks out and sends me a text to ignore. But I never do. They're all saved to my phone. I even set one as my background.

Goner. For. This. Woman.

My buddy that I meet at the gym thinks I've lost my mind. But I don't have any questions. Other than whether or not she'll be willing to give me a chance.

I follow the GPS instructions to get to the cabin I've rented. Then unpack my stuff. The view from the wide open windows is unbelievable. Snow-covered woods and mountains off in the distance. I could definitely write here.

My phone pings and I look down to find a text.

JOY: Okay so your mission, should you choose to accept it is to show up at the bowling alley, which is horribly named: Balls and Pins. I guess we should be glad there isn't a sex shop here in North Pole.

JOY: I'll make sure Eli gets there by 8:30. You have a lane reserved for two hours. Thank you for offering to do this.

COLTON: Does he know it's me?

JOY: No. He thinks it's the regular Friday night bowling crowd.

COLTON: Which is who?

JOY: Old-timers. They're a hoot.

COLTON: We'll have a great time.

COLTON: Does she know I'm here yet?

JOY: That's not my surprise to give. But if you want to see her before the "bachelor party" then she takes Abby to the diner on Main street every Friday at 5:00.

COLTON: Thank you.

Do I ambush Hannah and just show up at the diner? Fuck yes, I do. That's not even a question. I need to see her. And I want to meet Abby in person.

I check my watch. I've got enough time to take a quick shower and then drive back into town.

I get there ten after five and sure enough I see Hannah sitting at a table in the window. Her head is down, but I'd know her hair anywhere. I know what it feels like sliding through my fingers. I know the precise smell of it, despite the fact that I couldn't describe it if my life depended on it. Some writer I am.

I can see that Abby is sitting on the bench seat next to her, but can't see her face. They're working on something together.

It's now or never.

I step into the diner and a bell rings over my head. There's a sign up that says to seat myself, so I walk straight to Hannah's table and lower myself onto the bench across from them.

"Sorry I'm late." I grab a menu from the table.

"Colton? What are you doing here?"

"Colton!" Abby jumps up and runs to my side of the table where she throws her arms around me. "Did you bring me a puppy?"

I laugh.

"He better not have," Hannah said.

"No, munchkin, I didn't bring you a puppy. I want to get on your mom's good side, remember?"

Hannah is just staring at me, the question in her eyes is obvious. I just smile back, because, God damn, it's good to see her in person.

"Oh, right." Abby gives me an exaggerated wink. She's got the same honey colored hair as her mother but it's in wild ringlets springing all over her head. And her eyes are blue instead of that intoxicating shade of bourbon like Hannah's.

I situate the little girl on my knee. She reaches across the table and grabs the paper she and Hannah were working on.

"Do you want to color with me?" she asks.

"I would love to color with you. But I have to warn you that I'm not very good."

She smiles and I swear my goddamn heart melts. "That's okay, Colton, I'll teach you."

After a moment, Hannah pulls out her phone and starts typing away. For the first time since I climbed into that rented car, I question myself.

Maybe I was wrong.

Not about my feelings, because I know how I feel, but about hers. Other than that one searing look, she won't even meet my gaze.

Then my phone dings, and I grin, because that's my Hannah-tone.

I look up at her and cock an eyebrow. She purses her lips and narrows her gaze in the most adorable display of ire I've ever seen.

I pull out my phone and unlock it.

HANNAH: What are you doing here?

I quickly type my answer.

COLTON: I came for the wedding.

HANNAH: Eli and Joy's wedding? My brother hates you!

COLTON: Nah. I'm practically his best friend.

Instead of typing back she just rolls her eyes.

COLTON: According to Joy, the dude doesn't get out much. He hangs out with you and Abby and her. He spars with me on-line. She's his fiancée, you're his sister, Abby is his niece. Ergo, I'm practically his best friend.

For a long moment, Hannah just glares at her phone.

I can't tell if I annoyed her or proved my point.

HANNAH: That doesn't explain why you're here.

COLTON: You know why I'm here.

Over the table, she meets my gaze silently. There are so many questions in her gaze. Too many for me to answer over text. Besides, I'm so damn tired of texting her. I want to talk to her. To kiss her. To sink into her warmth and hold her in my arms all night long.

But I also know that she might not be ready to hear any of that.

Before I can say anything else, Abby squirms in my arms. "You're not a very good colorer."

Hannah rolls her eyes. "Calm down, little dictator."

The look Abby shoots her mom is full of sass. "Well, he's not." Her gaze drops down to her mom's phone. "Besides, no phones at the table."

I slide my phone back into the pocket of my jacket. "Okay, kiddo. What other rules do I need to know?"

Abby cocks her head to the side. "No iPads at bed time. That's for reading."

I nod seriously. "Good rule."

I look across the table to meet Hannah's gaze. There's something serious in her eyes and a little solemn.

"And dirty dishes go in the sink, not the counter."

Again I nod. Hannah looks like she wants to say something, but instead she just sort of shakes her head and looks out the window, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. I'm hoping they're good tears, but I sure as fuck don't want to hurt her. Her phone beeps and she flips it over so she can see it.

"Oh no."

"Everything okay?"

"Not exactly. The ring bearer has come down with a stomach bug so he's not going to be able to do the wedding." She bites down on her lip and aims those whiskey eyes at me.

"I missed you," I say it before I can think otherwise. It's the truth though.

She gives me a small smile.

"Now that Colton's here, he can be the ring bearer," Abby says.

Hannah chuckles. "He's a little too big for that, sweetie. Remember, Leo is four. Ring bearers and flower girls tend to be kiddos like you."

"He might be too big, but he's smart, I'm sure he can figure out how to carry a pillow down the aisle," Abby says.

"She's not wrong. I could figure that out."

"You're a giant," Hannah says. She waves her hand dismissively. "I'll tell Joy and she can decide what to do. She's the bride." She types out a message, then sets her phone back down. "So you came for the wedding?" Her eyes go back to me.

"Among other reasons. I wanted to meet Abby." I give her a little squeeze and she smiles up at me. Damn, I thought falling in love with an adult woman was life altering. But this little girl is going to wreck me with her sweet smiles and—oh shit. I'm in love with Hannah. I wait for the feeling to scare me.

Though I come from money, I don't come from parents with a romantic history. Both of them are gone now. My dad died of a heart attack when I was very young. And I lost my mom to early on-set dementia last year. I think they loved each other at least at some point, but I don't have any memories of them together. They divorced before my dad died.

So I've steered clear of love and relationships my entire adult life. But there is nothing about Hannah or Abby that scare me. Instead I feel totally at peace and at home, like this is right where I belong.