by Zoe York
He didn’t get to ask about her, which meant she’d taken his silence hard. And knowing her that imagination of hers was creating all kinds of outcomes for them.
Shit.
He was a dick.
* * *
* * *
Scarlett had somehow managed to not only hold herself together through the conference, she’d enjoyed it. It was just a matter of luck that the only session she’d gotten to on Monday was about spotting new trends on social media. It was what Scarlett loved doing, and she’d been able to contribute to the discussion in such a way that it helped her forget the man and problems she’d left in Texas.
“Here, drink one more with me.” Noemi Flores slid a dangerous, pink drink in a pretty glass toward Scarlett.
“I don’t know if this is smart.” Scarlett eyed the drink. She’d kept herself to a one drink a day max. Any more than that and her heart would take over.
“Oh, come on. Drink with me, please?” Noemi turned her big, beautiful brown eyes on Scarlett.
“How do you do that?” Scarlett sighed. “Fine.”
“When we get home you’re coming out with me for some real drinks.” Noemi speared her with a look. “I want to know what you aren’t talking about.”
“Nothing,” Scarlett said too fast.
Noemi merely arched a perfectly penciled brow at her.
They’d discovered after the Monday session that not only were they both from Texas, Noemi worked out of Fort Worth as a wedding planner. It hadn’t taken them long to bond over favorite shopping spots or discussing next year’s wedding season.
“You’ve got a great game face, but sugar, I’ve been around the block a few times.” Noemi nudged the glass toward Scarlett. “It’s the last night. Spill.”
Scarlett stared at the pink liquid. Though she’d done her best to ignore news from home, she’d heard things and Cole’s continued silence said more than words ever could. When she’d seen the snapshot of the front page of the local paper with Cole and Sissy’s pony in the back of an ambulance, she’d almost gone home. She’d missed a whole session because she couldn’t stop crying. Benji had talked her off that ledge, but only barely.
What if Cole had died in that accident?
Scarlett couldn’t shake the idea of that silly family curse haunting her thoughts.
“I fell in love with someone and it isn’t working out. He told me Monday we should go on a break, whatever that means.” Scarlett picked up the glass and gulped its contents. “Breaks are just a step toward breaking up.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Noemi picked up her glass and clinked edges with Scarlett’s. “Want to know a secret?”
“Sure.”
“I’m never getting married.” Noemi sat back in her chair, chin tipped up. “I don’t think I believe in love anymore.”
Scarlett stared at the beautiful woman and blinked.
“You know how many of my couples are divorced? And how many stay together instead of divorcing because they’re stubborn?” Noemi shook her head. “I got into this business because I got excited seeing people in love. Now? I know it rarely works out. I’m selling parties and a fantasy, that’s it.”
“A lot of people get married for the wrong reason, but that shouldn’t dictate what you do with your life.” At Scarlett’s core, she believed in love, that everyone could have it if they kept an open mind. Being ready for love was another matter. That meant working on yourself and loving yourself first. Which was where she’d been at when Cole happened.
“I heard this analogy.” Noemi downed her drink and jabbed her other finger at Scarlett. “Our lives are jigsaw puzzles we have to put together with no reference, just the pieces. So we start from the outsides. Our family and friends are the corners and we build the edges with our personal experiences, but the middle bit? That’s where you have to have help. You might get lucky and find a few friends who give you a piece, but most people only take. And out of the billions of people on this planet, how are we supposed to find the one person who fits our puzzle? How crazy are we to think that we’ve ever truly found the other person our pieces fit with?”
“That’s an interesting way to put it.” Scarlett didn’t agree, but she also wasn’t up for an in-depth debate.
“I’m just saying, this idea of one true love and soul mates, it’s bullshit.”
“I don’t know if I believe we only have one person out there we can love,” Scarlett said slowly. “But I do think there are people out there who fit us, some better than others, and everything else is about choosing them. Like altering a really great wedding dress so it’s perfect.”
“I wouldn’t want to change myself for a man.” Noemi wrinkled her nose.
“That’s not what I mean. More like, compromises. You’re a night owl, he’s a morning person. Little stuff, not big stuff.” Like wanting kids.
“Maybe.” Noemi shrugged, clearly not swayed by Scarlett’s thoughts.
Scarlett stared at the gleaming table. She could understand Noemi’s points. A lot of people got married for the wrong reasons.
Like Cole and AK.
Loving someone was taking a chance. A risky venture. It didn’t always pay off, and Scarlett ached for those people. But she didn’t want to change. She didn’t want to give up on the idea that she’d love someone who loved her back someday.
Silly her had thought that person could be Cole. If that were the case why hadn’t they spoken? Why the silence?
Other conference attendees joined them and the drinks went round the table. Scarlett gave up on her one drink rule and enjoyed the company, the talk about business and the stories. Oh, the stories of nightmare brides and their out-of-this-world demands. There were tears brought on by too much laughter and at the end of it all Scarlett’s stomach ached.
By the time the bar closed she knew she’d drank far too much. Another one of the girls was kind enough to steer Scarlett and Noemi to their rooms. Funny enough they were even across from each other. After a hug goodnight Scarlett locked herself in her room and sank down on the bed.
All week no one had mentioned anything about Cole to her. Not a word. Scarlett couldn’t bring herself to ask.
Maybe the local paper had something about him? Following the cart accident she’d seen a little update stating that the vet clinic was behind.
Scarlett brought up the website for the Ransom Herald on her phone and clicked through the headings. She didn’t mean to hit the events tab, but she missed.
A picture of Cole with his arms wrapped around AK next to a paragraph filled her screen. Scarlett’s mouth dried up as she read the wedding announcement that ended with, Mr. and Mrs. Hume welcome the attendance of their friends and family.
The wedding was still on.
Cole was marrying AK.
It was happening, and he didn’t have the guts to tell her?
Scarlett didn’t know the rules of being on a break, but she was pretty sure marrying your ex violated the break agreement. She dropped her phone on the bed and began pacing her room, her skin cold and clammy, her head hot.
She loved Cole even if it was silly and misguided. She’d spent two years piecing herself back together to be a person worth falling in love with. If he didn’t see that, well, then maybe Noemi was right and Scarlett was trying to fit the wrong pieces together. Maybe that was it.
But Cole Odell didn’t get to treat her like this. He didn’t get to have the last word.
She snatched up her phone and hit dial, her good sense still in the bar.
The line rang. And rang.
She squinted at the clock.
It was creeping toward three in the morning.
“This is Cole. Leave a message.”
Beep.
“Cole?” Scarlett swayed on her feet, the anger she’d been keeping under wraps bursting forth. “Fuck you. Fuck you and this break. It’s cowardly, and you know it. You want to break up with me? Then do it. I shouldn’t have fallen for you. That’s on me. But you? You
should have treated me better. Fuck. You.”
She threw the phone on the bed, whirled toward the door and marched across the hall, tears streaming down her face.
“Noemi,” she whisper-wailed at the door.
The locks scraped, and the door swung inward. Noami pulled her into the room without a single question and wrapped her arms around Scarlett.
“What did he do, mija?” Noemi crooned.
“H-he’s g-getting m-m-married and I j-just locked m-myself out of m-my room.”
Scarlett’s insides were cold. Dead.
Maybe the family curse had struck, only death didn’t mean the same thing for everyone?
* * *
* * *
Cole pulled the door to The Watering Hole open and stepped inside the old bar, his stomach twisted up in knots. He hadn’t been here since that night he and Scarlett had played darts.
That had been the best week of his life.
Scarlett was there.
He’d gotten to hang out with his siblings.
And then it all went to hell.
“There’s the hero of the week,” Jessica called out from behind the bar running down the middle of the room.
“Did you see the damn paper this morning?” Cole bellied up to the bar, scanning the room. Sure enough, both Benji and Garth were tucked into a corner with some other guys. Cole briefly met Benji’s gaze. The brothers hadn’t spoken to Cole since the pony incident. He still wasn’t sure why they’d waited for him at the hospital, but he needed to talk to them.
“Oh, hot damn, yes I did.” Jessica’s brows rose. “That’s not happening, right?”
“Hell no. The Humes paid for that ages ago and they still ran it. Shit.”
“That’s not good.” Jessica leaned an arm on the bar across from him.
“Do you know if Scarlett saw it?”
“No idea.”
“Okay.” Cole had a bad feeling after hearing her message this morning. Something had set her off, and he hoped it wasn’t the damn announcement.
“I heard you got stitches.”
“I did.” What was the point in denying it?
“Then what the hell are you doing here? You shouldn’t drink if you’re all torn up.”
“I’d like a beer, please.”
“That’s going to cost you more than money.” Jessica stared at him, the friendly barkeep mask slipping. He hadn’t forgotten that Jessica was one of Scarlett’s friends. In fact, that was part of tonight’s plan.
“Name your price,” he said.
“I want to know how long you intend to be in Ransom.”
“I don’t know yet.” He spread his hands and shrugged. That all depended on Scarlett.
“What’s going on with you and AK? The real deal. You two look pretty cozy together.”
“It’s not—” Cole sucked down a deep breath. Yeah, having dinner with her twice this week had been risky. But they had details to hash out, like separating their lives. “Allie and I are done.”
“You sure about that? Because people talk and after you two being all close this week and that announcement…”
“Yes. We’re done. It took time to sort out. And, before we were a couple we were friends. She’s got a lot to figure out, and I listened to her.” Cole studied Jessica’s impassive face. There was heat behind her eyes. She was pissed at him for hurting her friend and he deserved that.
“I don’t think I wanted to know any of that,” she finally said.
“Then, how about this?” Cole leaned his elbows on the bar. “I fucked up a good thing with Scarlett and I know it. People are saying I’m a felon now because of something Allie’s mom said—”
“Dr. Green said it wasn’t true.”
“And it isn’t, but my dad is a felon. He’s done some bad things. And that’s the stock I come from. Growing up the way I did, I’m used to good things leaving me before I’m ready. When Allie showed up I panicked, okay? I was an ass to Scarlett. I hurt her, and I want to fix it.”
“Why do you deserve a second chance?” Jessica tilted her chin up. He was glad Scarlett had people in her corner like Jessica even if her questions frustrated him.
“I don’t deserve anything. Not with the way I treated her.” Not with what he knew about her past and her tender heart. Fear had gotten the best of him and he’d reacted.
“Well at least you know you were a stupid ass. You aren’t going to get to say you’re sorry and it’ll be okay, you know?” She grabbed a pint glass and began filling it for him.
“I do.” Cole breathed in the smell of the bar. Did he go all in? If he wanted Scarlett’s friends on his side, he was going to have to. “Being without her made me realize I love her. I fucked up and now I have to make it right.”
“Shit.” Jessica blinked at him and placed the glass on the bar. “Good luck. You’ve got to win over some other people before you get a chance to tell her that.”
“Yeah, I was hoping to talk to them, too.” Cole glanced across the room and met Garth’s gaze.
Cole nodded his head to a cluster of open tables.
Garth just stared.
Cole picked up his beer and took a sip. He’d initially gone to the guy’s house after work, but found it empty. Which had led him here.
Rip the Band-Aid off.
He crossed the room to where the brothers sat with a couple guys.
“Cole,” Garth with a nod.
“A word?” Cole jerked his head at a nearby empty table.
Garth picked up his beer and followed Cole, Benji on his heels. No one sat. They each leaned against the tall boy table.
“Surprised to see you here,” Benji said coolly.
“Scarlett’s not around.” Garth’s tone was more steel. For all his faults, he did love Scarlett.
“When’s she coming home?”
“Next week. She’s going on some kind of nature retreat with a woman she hit it off with at the conference,” Garth said.
“Oh.” Cole sipped his beer to hide his disappointment.
“What do you want?” Benji asked.
“I wanted to let you both know I am aware of how deeply I have fucked up,” Cole said.
“Do you, now?”
“I do. This morning’s paper fuck-up doesn’t help, I know, but it’s the truth.. Allie and I are over. Yes, we’ve had to get together a few times this week so I could take her off my bank accounts and off the lease, but that’s it. She’s going to be in Ransom for a few weeks, then she’s leaving.” He figured he owed the brothers more information than anyone else. “I wasn’t sure what I should do, what Scarlett wanted until I got this message from her last night—”
“Let me see,” Benji said.
“No.” Cole shook his head.
“Last night she was drunk off her ass and she saw the paper.” Benji turned to face him, one hand balled into a fist.
“Shit.” Cole scrubbed a hand across his face.
“Yeah.”
“The paper was a misprint. I can’t take that back, but I can tell you that I love Scarlett.” Cole figured it was time to get used to saying that. “And I fucked things up with her. I’m not used to good things happening to me. And a lot of good has happened since coming here.I figured I’d do the two of you the courtesy of telling you all of this now. I am going to do everything it takes to win Scarlett back. You can accept that or not. That’s up to you.”
“How are you planning to do that?” Garth seemed genuinely interested.
“I…don’t know for sure. Yet. It really depends when she’s coming back. I need to talk to her in person.” Cole scrubbed a hand across his jaw.
Benji and Garth shared a look. Benji’s brows rose. Garth shrugged. There was a whole conversation happening there Cole wasn’t privy to.
“She’ll get back Thursday,” Benji said.
“Oh.” Cole blinked, the bite of disappointment sinking in.
Another week without his Scarlett?
“A week gives you enough time to p
lan how to do this right,” Garth said and drained the last of his beer. “Good luck. Don’t fuck up a second time.”
Cole was stunned when Garth slapped his shoulder.
“I’d like to kick your ass on principle, but that would just make me look like a heel after that front-page story.” Benji shrugged and nodded at the long table of guys behind him. “Coming?”
“Yeah. In a minute.” Cole nodded and blew out a breath.
Okay, so he had a week. Whatever he did for Scarlett had to be big and it had to be right.
He loved her. He just prayed she could find it in her heart to forgive him for being an idiot.
Chapter 16
Scarlett wished she was coming home after two weeks away with more pep in her step or some kind of new self awareness. What she had was an action plan to starting up a very small, wedding planner side business and a keen awareness that she was not cut out for snow. Noemi’s invitation to join her for the week had been kind. A godsend even, but Scarlett was glad the whole thing was over.
The time had come for ice cream and sad movies at home alone. The trip hadn’t cured her of her broken heart; it had merely distracted her while her misery continued to wait patiently for her return to reality.
Benji and Garth had been kind enough to stock her kitchen with a few essentials, but there was a distinct lack of both wine and ice cream. She was willing to bet that move was intentional.
While Scarlett wasn’t ready to face the residents of Ransom yet, the need for consumable emotional support won over.
How many people could regale her of Cole’s every waking moment for the last two weeks on a quick in and out trip of the market?
She was about to find out.
Scarlett parked around the side of the building at David’s Market, sucked in a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Today, after two weeks of hiding, she was going to begin the mending process. She’d known when she sat on that swing and let him pull her into his arms that she couldn’t resist him. She’d known she was getting involved with someone who might not be able to truly commit to her, and she’d been right. It was her hopeless romantic heart that whispered things might be different.
