8. Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

RILEY

" S hit!" I hissed, hot oil spattering onto my forearm as my phone rang on the island behind me. I was running way behind on making dinner before my 7pm phone call with Colton. I dropped the spatula on the stove next to the pan and wiped my hands on my pants as I swiped on the smiling selfie Colton and I had taken at the wildlife sanctuary on the island. Was it cheesy making that his contact photo on my phone? Maybe. But I deserved a little cheese. It had been three weeks since the island and Colton and I talked on the phone almost every other night. I would never admit it but his phone calls were starting to become my favorite part of the day.

"Sorry, sorry," I said as I answered the phone, propping it up on the decorative bowl Ryan had gifted me last year. "I'm running behind and dinner's not done yet."

Colton laughed, the husky noise reminding me of the balmy tropical nights we spent together. "Everything okay?"

"It's fine, everything's fine," I said, cursing as the pan crackled behind me. "I got lost in a chapter and lost track of time so I'm running late. I meant to have this done before you called." I glanced behind me at the phone. Colton looked like he was sitting on his couch. In the corner of the screen, I could see the black and white fur of his dog, Maggie. I knew from our previous conversations that Rex, his German shepherd, was likely lying at his feet.

"I don't mind," Colton said. "As long as I get to talk to you, I don't care if you paint your toe nails."

"You just want to look at my feet," I teased.

He laughed. "I want to look at every part of you actually."

Looking over my shoulder, I wiggled my butt at him and laughed when he cursed.

"Don't do that baby girl or you might have me at your house tomorrow."

"I'm not hearing anything wrong with that," I said, stirring my stir fry and ignoring the burnt parts.

We hadn't talked yet about our first trip to see each other and who was going to go where. I missed him more than I had expected to but I still hesitated to bring it up. The island was a break from reality. Would it be the same if we saw each other on our home turf?

"Soon, baby girl, soon. What chapter did you get lost in?"

Unlike past relationships or even my family, Colton was interested in my writing and my author business. I answered him as I finished dinner, moving the pan off the burner and shutting off the stove before grabbing a bowl. I was working on the same book I had been on the island and I was getting towards the middle and one of the big reveals I had planned for my characters. Colton asked me questions around bites of stir fry but he looked tired.

"How was work?" I asked, cleaning my bowl out in the sink with the phone leaning against the fridge. "Have you built a bamboo house yet?"

He laughed at our inside joke. "Not yet. And it's fine. Just a long day finishing up a job. It could have been finished by tomorrow but the clients were driving everyone crazy so we pushed to finish it today."

"Were they the nitpicky ones?" I asked. He had been dealing with these perfectionist clients all week who were constantly micromanaging his crew and making them redo the littlest things.

"Yep. They found a quarter of an inch mark on the floor board that could have come from anything but made us redo the entire section of flooring yesterday. I thought Jake was going to come over the table at the guy and he's the easy going one of the crew so I went and helped them out today so we could finish it and just be done."

"That sucks that they're like that but thankfully you're all done! You might want to consider adding a clause in your contract for stuff like that in the future." I suggested, pouring myself a glass of wine and settling onto the couch as I talked.

"That's a good idea. I'll have to ask Justin about that." Colton said, rubbing his forehead. "We definitely need it as we grow." Under Colton and Justin's management, the construction crew was growing and taking on jobs in the surrounding towns as well.

"Are you getting a chance to relax at all?" I asked.

"I get to talk to you," He winked at me and I hid my blushing cheeks behind my wine glass. "But Justin and I were talking about getting the boat out in the next few weeks now that the weather is warming up."

"I love being out on the water." I admitted.

Colton's eyebrows raised. "Really? I didn't think you did cause you never went in the ocean on the island."

"Oh I am not an ocean person at all," I said, raising the hand that wasn't holding the wine glass. "No, thank you. That is where the sharks live and all the other things that I can't see swimming underneath me. I'm really not a swimming in the lake person either. I like being on the water in a boat or a kayak, not in the water."

"You don't want to swim with the fishes nibbling your toes." Colton teased .

I shuddered, drawing my toes safely underneath of myself. "Absolutely not, no thank you."

He laughed and I smiled as I watched him. God, I missed this man. An unhealthy, unusual amount.

"Got it. So no swimming but boating is totally fine."

"More than fine. I actually miss it. Growing up my friends' family had boats but we never did. My mom preferred a pool to the lake."

"We'll have to get you on the water when you come down."

He was so sure of seeing me in the future and his confidence settled something in me. I worried that the sparks and magic we felt on the island wasn't real or that the magic of the island would fade once we got back to reality but the sparks between us were as strong as ever even if we weren't in the same room. At least it seemed like it.

"Speaking of," he continued, "I'm free the next few weekends if you want to come down or I can come up there. I've been looking at flights and there's a direct flight if I drive up to the airport in Cincinnati."

"I can definitely check my calendar," I offered. "I'm not sure off the top of my head. My brain is fried from this chapter."

That wasn't totally false but it saved me from having to give him an answer right away as anxiety reared its ugly head. Thankfully, he didn't question it and changed the subject. An hour later, he was yawning and I could feel my eyelids getting tired too. He definitely had it worse being an hour ahead of me so I set my wine glass aside and picked up the phone from where I had it propped against a book on the coffee table.

"Okay, time for bed for you," I said teasingly into the phone.

Colton's chuckle was interrupted by another big yawn and he rubbed his eyes. "Guess so. It's another early day tomorrow but at least it's Friday. Want to talk this weekend?"

"Absolutely. I'll text you tomorrow?"

"Sounds good, good night, baby girl. "

"Good night," I said softly, hitting the button and hanging up the call. Groaning, I fell back onto the couch, holding my phone to my chest. We had been on the phone for three hours and it felt like no time had passed at all. Now that his voice wasn't filling the silence, my empty apartment loomed in front of me. I had a good life by all accounts. I had a job I loved that supported myself and allowed me to build up a nice nest egg in my savings. I had a best friend and an assistant all in one person. On paper, I had everything. I should feel fulfilled and happy yet in the quiet of my apartment, I just felt so… alone.

I picked up my phone again and checked my calendar. I didn't have anything this weekend but I had an event at the local library on Tuesday. I bit my lip and opened the airline app on my phone. Nothing prevented me from flying out tomorrow if I felt like it and spending the weekend with Colton. I didn't even have a cat tying me here. There was a direct flight from Minneapolis to Cincinnati leaving tomorrow at 11am. I typed in "Anderson Construction Kentucky" and found a company address in Oakville, Kentucky. Oakville was about a two hour drive from the airport so I would have to rent a car but… it was totally doable.

Should I do it? I could text Colton and ask but it might be fun to surprise him instead. He had said he wasn't doing anything this weekend. I bit my lip and opened my text chain with Ryan.

So… I'm thinking of flying to kentucky tomorrow to surprise Colton for the weekend. Thoughts?

OMG DOOOO ITTTTTT

THAT'S SO SWEET I CAN'T STAND IT

Do you need me to book your flights?

Nevermind, I'm booking your flights. Flying into Cincinnati?

LOL I can book my own flights.

I don't trust you not to chicken out so I booked you on one leaving Minneapolis tomorrow morning at 11. And the return one on Monday afternoon. You'll need a rental car. Have you ever driven a truck? That's what it feels like people drive in Kentucky .

I'm sure they drive other cars and I wouldn't know what to do with a truck. A sedan if they have it or a small suv will be fine.

My email dinged with the flight and rental car information and I laughed. Ryan had been hounding me since I got back from the island about going to visit Colton and I had no doubt that his fingers were flying across his phone to get this all booked.

You're all set. Deets sent to your email so get to packing!!!! But absolutely under no circumstances are you allowed to bring your granny panties.

Actually

I'm bringing you stuff tomorrow.

LINGERIE

YOU NEED LINGERIE TO SEDUCE YOUR MAN!!!!

I rolled my eyes as I typed back. I do in fact own lingerie. You gifted it to me last Christmas. I'll bring that. And granny panties for the plane."

But what if you want a farewell quickie in the airport parking lot????

I shook my head. Then he will have to do that with the granny panties but I am NOT flying in lace.

Fine Ryan sent that with a pouty face. But I better get ALL THE DEETS when you get back. And leave your laptop.

I rolled my eyes again and ignored him, setting down my phone. I had to get packing apparently. A small tendril of panic swirled in my gut but I ignored it. I was tired of my lonely apartment and even lonelier romantic life. I might not be able to keep Colton forever but I could enjoy the moment right now.