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“Would it have changed anything?”
Would it have? Sophie wouldn’t have left. I couldn’t stay. “I can’t say for sure, but if there was some other reason that she said no besides me not being the right guy for her, then yeah, maybe we could have worked something out.”
“Then you wouldn’t have Kendall.”
I sighed. “You’re right, and she’s the best thing in my life.”
Colton was quiet for a few minutes, and then he said, “The question is, what are you going to do about it now?”
“I’m not proud of how I reacted.”
“You felt rejected and walked away.”
“It was like I couldn’t hear what she had to say because I knew”—a tingle ran down my spine—“it would change everything. My perception of what happened. Our future. What happens next.”
Colton just waited, not interjecting or asking any more questions. He gave me the time to process.
“Seeing her again brought everything back—how much we loved each other, even if we were naïve. She’s great with Kendall, and we easily fell back into each other’s lives.” I’d relived that moment she hugged me many times over the last couple of weeks. The way she’d immediately wrapped her arms around me, providing me comfort when I was hurting. She’d always been free with affection and love.
I was lucky to have her in my life back then, and it hurt that I’d walked away not knowing what she was going through. “I just wish she’d confided in me.”
“You held back, too, didn’t you?”
“I did, but she knows everything now.” Each day I spent with her, I was falling deeper. I was remembering everything I’d always loved about her that had only amplified as an adult. She took care of everyone around her, almost to the detriment of herself. I could rectify that by helping her with the shelves and maybe even her office.
“You got some time to help me with a project? I need to move some furniture. Maybe build a desk.”
“You building furniture?”
“I’m attempting to do it. I never had time before.”
Colton lifted his beer to his mouth. “You ever thought about making that your business?”
“You haven’t even seen my stuff, and really, I’ve only done simple things like shelves and an end table in shop class.”
“Well, if you want to talk to someone else who does it, Ethan at The Red Toolbox builds furniture on the side. It’s taken off. He might like some help.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. It would be nice to have options.”
“Or you could work for your dad.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Maybe you could work together. You’d be in the same business, after all.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I wasn’t sure if it was worth the hassle, but he sold wood, and I was contemplating making furniture. A partnership made sense.
Conversation turned to Remi’s Juice Shop and her yoga classes, and the goings-on around town. It was light and easy. It felt good to let loose.
It was still early, but I probably needed to get Kendall soon. I said my good-byes, and when I was on my way to the truck, I got a message from Ellie, asking if it was okay to start a second movie. I agreed, pleased Kendall made a friend, and I had more time for myself.
ChapterThirteen
SOPHIE
Iwas quiet during dinner with my family. It was hard to concentrate, and everyone seemed like they were talking on the other side of a tunnel.
After dinner, I volunteered to clean up so that I could have some time to myself.
