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Cole ground his teeth, and his muscles quivered. “You’re right. I said nothing, but I’m not doing that anymore.”
Seth’s cold eyes bore into him. “Maybe you should crash at mom and dad’s tonight.”
He flexed his fingers. “What? You’re kicking me out?”
Seth drifted past him without another word. Cole huffed a breath and strode to his bedroom. Grabbing a duffle bag, he packed what he needed for the night.
Chapter 25
“You’re beating that dough hard.” Leah’s mother raised an eyebrow. Tilting her head to the side, she drew her bottom lip between her teeth.
Leah pressed her fingers into the dough. With the spring festival approaching, they were baking sugar cookies for the extravaganza. With a compilation of hamburgers, hot dogs, and a plethora of desserts, Piedmont Valley never disappointed to bring its community together. Responsible for half of the twenty-four dozen sugar cookies, Leah volunteered to assist her mother. Thankfully, her mother was more than halfway finished. How? She wished she possessed her mother’s baking skills.
“I’m fine.” Though her lips pressed together, she willed her nerves to relax.
“Leah?”
She paused in front of the counter. “Yes.”
Her mother wiped her hands with a dishtowel. “What’s wrong?”
Shoulders drooping, Leah sighed. “Brian called.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago. He has a new number, so I didn’t know it was him until he left a voicemail.”
“I see.”
Turning her attention to her mother, Leah replied. “I’ve been seeing Cole. Seth and I were hanging out at one point too. He wanted to rekindle what we had before, but by that time, Cole and I…”
Her mother folded her arms. “I’m not surprised at all.”
Jerking her head back, she stared at her mother. “You’re not?”
“There has been a change in you, sweetie.” Her mother’s eyes glowed with warmth. “You do not understand how proud I am of you. I never wanted you to get lost in trying to please people. You’ve always been independent, but once you dated, you gave up little pieces of yourself, thinking they would love you.”
Leah’s bottom lip quivered.
Her mother continued, “Your confidence has changed. That’s what attracted these men to you. You’re secure in who you are, and that’s what makes you beautiful. You’ve discovered how to love yourself first.”
Leah rubbed her forearm.
“Haven’t you seen a change?”
A wave of heat spread through her chest. Riding a horse, salsa lessons, Pilates, they were all a result of her taking risks. “I have. I always wanted what you and dad had.”
“You will have it, sooner than you think. And when that day comes, you make sure you show the real you.” Her mother touched her hand to her daughter’s chest, right at her heart. “He’ll love you from here and you’ll do the same for him. As long as love is the foundation for you both, and you’re both willing to fight for it, you can weather through anything.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Leah’s voice choked with tears. Her mother pulled her into an embrace, splaying her hands on her daughter’s back. Her mother gently rocked her back and forth, as she did when she was smaller. Leah closed her eyes, but another question gnawed at her stomach.
“Do you think I should talk to him?” she asked.
Her mother broke her embrace. “Did you agree already?”
Leah’s mouth twisted. “Yes.”
“Well… do you want to hear what Brian has to say? Do you need closure to move on?”
