Page 6 of Colton
“Right. If you don’t want to stay, I’ll bring you back myself. But…” He shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and I get a little distracted.
I shake my head, forcing myself to keep my eyes above his waist. “But what?”
“But you have to give it a couple of days. Explore what life could look like there. Then make your decision.”
Shaking my head, I move to the kitchen, resting my hands on the counter. Colton’s body shifts until he’s facing me across it.
“You seem to have forgotten that I reached out to Holly.” I say tiredly. His head tilts, but he lets me continue. “I’m thirty-six years old, and a mother. I am not a child. I did not make this decision lightly. This isn’t a vacation for me. I’m not going to see the sights, have a little visit, then mosey on home. So I would appreciate it if you’d stop treating me like a fucking idiot. I asked you to lay it out for me.”
Colton’s eyes widen along with his smile. “Yes, ma’am,” he says in a slightly strangled voice. Clearing his throat, he starts again. “You’ve been dealt a shit hand here. Aside from the opportunity for a fresh start, you will have a safe place to live, a great job, and a support system in Chicago. You’re not going to want to come back here, I guarantee it. But, if, and it’s a big fucking if, life is unbearable and you’re determined to come back, then yes, I’ll make sure all your stuff comes back with you.”
I study him, looking for any hints of doubt, but find none. He is absolutely certain that life will be better for me there. I pray he’s right, even if I don’t have the same confidence.
“Ok,” I say finally. “But I’m going to need some packing boxes or maybe garbage b—“. I stop as he unlocks the door, steps into the hallway, then swings back in with an armful of flattened moving boxes and packing tape.
“Put me to work,” he says, already assembling the boxes.
“You were pretty damn sure of yourself.” I vaguely remember what it feels like to move through the world with that kind of confidence. But even at my best, I never got to his level.
He smiles again, exposing those bright white teeth of his. Crap, when he smiles, he’s even more attractive. “Hope, remember? We’ve been waiting for you to make that call for months, Evie. We’ve had plenty of time to prepare.”
“We?” I ask, baffled by this man.
“We. Holly, my brothers…me. We’ve been waiting for you to call. I’ve got everything ready, and I think I’ve covered every contingency.”
My mouth drops open, and I’m sure it’s completely unattractive, but I can’t help it. Why would they care? This man has everything figured out and wants me to put him to work?
Ok then.
“Let’s start at the bookshelf.”
We work quietly together, packing up my personal items. The pictures, a few blankets, and a bunch of toys. Maybe I struggle to feed myself, but my daughter always has everything she needs. I make a few quiet trips into the bedroom to check on Mia and grab our clothing. She sleeps through it all.
I stop, listening to her snorting breaths, so damn grateful that she’s ok. That nothing worse happened before I got my head out of my ass. Before I set my pride aside.
Her thumb is tucked in her mouth, as usual, the occasional suck tugging on it. I resist the urge to pull it out. I used to think it’s cute, still do really, but the looming threat of dropping thousands on braces for her down the road keeps me up at night…well, up during the day.
I feel like every moment of every day is spent worrying. Mostly about money, but also health. What happens if Mia needs another surgery or a trip to the ER? I’m scraping together the money for our insurance each month, but the co-pay for one hospital visit is enough to cripple us. I have no savings.
I feel Colton’s presence at my shoulder, but I keep my eyes on my baby. When he stands there, silent, I sneak a peek at his face. He’s wearing a look of…awe on his face.
He catches me looking, and a flush creeps up his neck. “She’s so small.” He man-whispers…not really a whisper, more of a rumble.
“She is. She was a preemie, so she’s still catching up. But she’s growing.”
“Is she ok now?”
“Yes…for now.”
His eyes flash at the ‘for now’, but his phone pings. He glances at it, then motions me to the living room.
“My guys are coming up to grab the boxes. Anything else you want packed?”
“Ah, no. Your guys?” He has guys with him? Why am I suddenly worried he’s in the mob? Maybe he’s the leader of some new lumberjack mob. That could be a thing, right?
The two men in black suits that come through my door just reinforce my mob theory. They take away all the things that matter to me in two trips, then stand, waiting to escort us out.
Taking a quick look around, I mentally thank the apartment for giving us a home. It wasn’t much, but it could have been so much worse. Then I move into the bedroom and scoop up Mia, tucking her precious blankie near her head. Then, with the only thing that truly matters to me safe in my arms, I walk out the door.
