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“Yeah, of course.” With one last nod at Roman, he leads me outside and away from all the noise. “What’s going on?”
“Parker knows.”
He looks a little confused. “Parker knows what?”
“Everything.”
His eyes widen. “Everything, everything?” I nod. “Wow, okay. I wasn’t expecting that. Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he? Was he civil about the whole thing?” He takes a deep breath but doesn’t give me a chance to say anything. “Do you have somewhere to stay? If you don’t, my house is still being built, but we can get an apartment in the meantime.”
“Colton.”
“Yeah, I know. You’re right. We need to tell everyone first. Oh! Did you tell Tatum to cancel the wedding?! I guess that needs to come first.”
“Colton!” My tone cuts off his rant and he stops to face me. The look on my face must say it all, because his mouth opens and closes as his expression darkens.
“Oh my god.” He takes a step away from me. “You’re still with him.”
“I told him I need time to think.”
Outrage takes over his features. “Time to think?! You’ve had months to think, and you still don’t know?!”
Tears build in my eyes, once again. It feels like all I’ve done lately is cry. “It’s not that simple!”
“It is, McKenna! You either want to be with me, or you want to be with him!” He scoffs and shakes his head as he retreats slowly. “You know what? Take all the fucking time you want.” He doesn’t even give me a second glance as he turns around and disappears back into the building, leaving me a sobbing mess. I guess old habits die hard.
I SPEND THE WEEK hidden away from the world. Texts from Parker filter in daily, asking how my day is and telling me he misses me. Colton, however, hasn’t said anything since our argument on Monday. I can’t say that I blame him. He got so excited, only to have it ripped away from him as quickly as it came. Talking to me is probably the last thing he wants right now.
“McKenna!” My mother calls. “You have a visitor!”
My eyebrows furrow as my heart starts to race. I know Parker would never show up unannounced. He respects my boundaries too much for that. There’s only one person I can think of that could be at the door. I clamber off my bed and make my way toward the stairs. As I see who it is, however, I can’t help but feel disappointed.
“Rome?”
He gives me one of his friendly smiles and waves. My mother stands with her back to him, looking at me with her eyebrows raised – as if she’s wondering what the hell I’m up to.
“Mom, no. Whatever you think is happening between Roman and I, is wrong.”
When he realizes what I mean, he chokes on his own saliva and starts coughing profusely. “Oh god. No, Mrs. Taylor, that’s not why I’m here.”
My mom chuckles. “I’m just messing with you. And Roman, I’ve told you, call me Marissa.”
“My mother raised me better than that, ma’am.”
“Well, I don’t see her here.”
I laugh at their antics and slip out the door, gesturing for Roman to follow me. He does, and the two of us sit on the porch steps. “So, what makes me so special for you to come visit me on your birthday?”
He grins widely. His birthday is, and always has been, his favorite holiday. I already texted him this morning and wrote on his facebook, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was going around collecting verbal ‘happy birthday’s as well.
“What? I can’t come see my favorite ‘best friend’s little sister’ without needing a reason?”
I smirk. “I’m going to tell Avery you said that.”
“Don’t you dare. That little shit may only be sixteen, but she’s dangerous.” When I give him a teasing look and pretend to take out my phone to text her, he stops me. “Okay, you win. I have an ulterior motive.”
“Which is?”
“I’m worried about you, and I’m tired of seeing Colton mope around job sites like someone shot his puppy.”
