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"So you really don't think there's any way it can work out?" Sarah sat cross-legged on Colleen's couch, a generous glass of red wine in her hand, while Eileen entertained Aidan in the kitchen.
She had brought Aidan out for a long weekend to look at houses in Big Timber. She'd been so charmed by her visit earlier in the summer, she was actually considering moving here.
While Colleen thought the idea was a little wacky—it was one thing to visit the tiny town in all its summer glory, another to actually live here full time—she was over the moon to have her visit, and ecstatic at the idea of her living close by.
Well, as ecstatic as anyone who was suffering a second major heartbreak in the space of a year could be.
She leaned forward to grab the bottle and refilled her own glass. "Like I keep telling you, I just don't see how." She reached up to brush away a tear. She and Sarah had gone over and over her breakup since it happened, and her friend stubbornly refused to believe that it was really over.
"If you could have seen his face when I went apologize. He was so cold and unemotional, in a way I've never seen him act before."
"I don't get it, it was so obvious you were in love with each other—"
"I thought he was too, but obviously not if he could just cut me out of his life so easily."
Sarah leaned back against the couch cushions, twirling a lock of hair as she brought her glass to her lips. "JT strikes me as a man who really values his integrity, and when you called that into question, that really hurt him. Maybe you just need to give him some time."
"I don't think so. I think he finally just clued into how much of a mess I am and he doesn't want anything more to do with me. Besides, it's already been a month. How much time does he need?" A month that had felt like a decade she'd spent sleepwalking through life. She was grateful for her work at the hospital and covering for Molly at Adele's. Otherwise, she doubted she would have gotten out of bed.
"God, how did I end up back in this place, all mopey and crying over a damn man?" She leaned her head on her friend's shoulder. "At least I have you."
Sarah tipped her head to rest against Colleen's. "You'll always have me." She gave a little laugh. "Maybe that's the answer to our problems. Maybe we should forget about men altogether and just couple up ourselves."
Colleen sniffed and took a drink of her wine. "I'd be an awesome stepmom."
"You would be. But unfortunately I don't think I've had enough dick in my life yet to give up on it entirely," Sarah mused.
"Me neither. We'd have to hire someone to service us."
"We would have to each have our own. I love you, but I don't think I could share a sex slave with you."
"Me neither."
They sat in companionable silence, sipping their wine for several moments. Then Sarah asked, "Do you think JT will be at the thing tomorrow?"
"I don't know." Ellie Tanner was hosting an after-the-fact baby shower at their house to celebrate Molly and Brady's son, Tristan who'd arrived four weeks ago. "He's pretty close with Molly and Brady and Damon and Ellie. But I don't know that he'd go to a baby shower, even if it is co-ed."
The wine in her stomach curdled at the thought of coming face to face with him, of once again meeting his flat, emotionless stare. For the last month she'd skulked around town, and held her breath every time she drove past the ranch gate, equal parts relieved and disappointed when she didn't see him.
But a run-in was inevitable in a town this size, even if he did move off the ranch as soon as he'd planned. Maybe it would be better to get it over with, rip the Band-Aid off once and for all.
Ellie and Damon's backyard was buzzing with about forty friends and family when they arrived. To her relief, she didn't see any sign of JT. After greeting the host and hostess as well as the proud parents, Colleen and Sarah made a beeline for the baby.
"I can't believe he's changed so much since the last time I saw him," Colleen cooed over Tristan, who was cradled in the arms of his very proud grandmother, Vivian. Since the last time Molly had brought Tristan to the restaurant while Colleen was working, his cheeks had gotten chubbier, and the cap of black hair on his head had thickened.
"Do you want to hold him?" Vivian asked.
"Of course." Colleen reached out and eagerly took the warm bundle from her.
"While you're hogging the baby, I'll go get us some drinks and Aidan some food," Sarah said.
Colleen gave her a vague nod, her attention focused closely on the baby. As always when she held the adorable little nugget, it was bittersweet. His solid weight in her arms, the way his blue eyes locked on her face as though he was enraptured. The way his little rosebud mouth curved into what she told herself was a smile, even though she was pretty sure it was just gas.
She couldn't help but think what might have happened if she hadn't miscarried. How amazing it would have felt to hold her own child like this, brush his soft cheek. "He's such a little sweetheart," she breathed.
"He is until he's screaming bloody murder at three a.m." Colleen looked over her shoulder to see Brady who, despite his complaint, was smiling down at his baby with a look that was pure pride and adoration. He slung his arm around Molly, who looked as beautiful as ever despite the faint purple circles under her eyes. "Not to mention, he's hogging some of Mommy's best parts."
"You're terrible." Molly gave him a playful swat.
