Falling Fast
Page 7

Grabbing my bag and clothes off the top of the bar, I carefully walk over the mat I tripped on earlier then out onto the main floor, avoiding looking at Colton as I go, since I apparently can’t control myself around him.
“See you around, Dimples,” he rumbles behind me.
My stomach flutters but I don’t turn around. I lift my hand and wave over my shoulder, hearing him laugh when I do.
As soon as I open the door, bright sunlight greets me, so I stop and dig through my bag for my sunglasses. After I find them at the bottom of my purse, I put them on and move to my Jeep, get in, start it up, and then head out of the parking lot for home.
As soon as I get to the house, I don’t go over to Nina and Ned’s place. I go inside Grandma’s and right for the shower so I can wash up. Once I’m out and dressed, I make my way across the yard and to Nina’s front door, knocking once.
She greets me with a smile as she opens the door. “How did the interview go?”
“It was good, really good. I start tomorrow.”
“Good, I knew Rose would look out for you.” She steps aside and lets me in.
“How’s Grandma been this morning?” I ask, following her into the living room.
“She’s been okay. She was talking a little about your mom earlier, asking how she’s been and why she hasn’t called her.”
“Really?” I ask, stopping at the edge of the living room, where grandma’s sitting and watching The Price is Right on TV.
“I think having you here has brought up some memories.” She shrugs.
“I want to make an appointment to see her doctor. Do you know when the last time was that she went?”
“It’s been a while now, maybe six months. She sees a lady in Chattanooga. I’ll get you her number.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.” She looks from me to Grandma. “I was just going to make her something to eat. Do you want to stay for lunch?”
“You don’t have to do that,” I say, feeling guilty. Nina and Ned have both done so much and the more they do the guiltier I feel for not being here sooner.
“Darlin’, I know I don’t have to.” She turns and heads for the kitchen. Just like Grandma’s, it’s small, but unlike Grandma’s, it’s updated and so clean you could probably eat off the floor. Even with me cleaning and scrubbing Grandma’s place every day, it still needs a lot of work, and by that I mean it needs to be gutted and remodeled from the ground up. “I think it’s a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of day. What do you think?” she asks, opening a cupboard and pulling down two cans of tomato soup.
“That sounds delicious,” I agree. “Do you want me to help?”
“I got this. Go on; I know you want to spend time with her.” She smiles, nodding to the door.
“Thanks.” I leave her in the kitchen and head out to the living room, where Grandma is still watching the television.
“Hey, Grandma,” I greet as I enter the room so I don’t scare her. At my words, her eyes come to me, and I can see—just like always—she’s trying to figure out who I am and what I’m doing there. “Nina is making us lunch,” I say, getting closer. “Are you hungry?”
“A little.” She shrugs.
“Did you have a good morning?”
“Yeah,” she answers before looking at the TV again. Taking a seat next to her I chew the inside of my cheek so that I don’t cry. “Did you have a good day?”
Turning to look at her, I smile then pick up her hand. “Yeah, I got a job.”
“Really? Where at?”
“The Rusty Rose.”
“That’s wonderful, Gabriella. I’m so proud of you.” She squeezes my hand and tears fill my eyes.
“Thank you,” I get out through the pain in my throat. Leaning my head against her shoulder so she doesn’t see me cry, I sit with her, holding her hand and wishing I had the power to make her better.
CHAPTER 3
No Room For The Past
Colton
HEARING LOKI BARK, I look behind me just in time to watch Mom walk into the house.
“Good morning, honey,” she greets, giving Loki a quick scratch behind his ears before walking farther into the room.
Glancing from her to the door, I shake my head. “You know, if I get a woman, you’re gonna have to give me back my key, right?” I raise a brow and watch her drop the bags she brought in to the top of the counter, then turn to glare at me.
“Do you have someone you’re interested in?” she asks, and instantly Gia comes to mind. Gia, with beautiful green eyes, cute dimples in both cheeks, full lips I want to taste, long dark hair I can picture spread across my pillow, and curves in all the right places. Gia, who likes to knit and turns adorably embarrassed whenever I get too close to her. Yeah, there is definitely someone I’m interested in.
“That’s not the point,” I say, and she rolls her eyes.
“When you start having a woman over here, I’ll start knocking,” she mumbles, pulling things out of the bags, setting them on the counter, and placing all the empties in a pile.
Taking a bite of the eggs on my plate, I shove a piece of bacon into my mouth then pick up my plate and walk around to the sink, saying, “I can also do my own shopping.”
“I was already at the store.” She shrugs, not looking at me. “I figured I’d just pick you up some stuff and save you the trip.”
“Ma, I love you, but I need to be doing shit on my own,” I tell her softly, watching her shoulders sag.
“Watch your mouth. I swear, you, your brothers, and your dad could make a sailor blush.” Smiling, I wrap my arms around her shoulders and pull her in for a hug.
“You curse more than all of us together,” I say, and it’s not a lie. My mom has a mouth worse than most men I know.
“Whatever.” She tightens her hold on me then looks up. “And so you know, as your mom, it’s ingrained in me to take care of you.”
“I know, and I appreciate you taking care of me, but it’s important that I get back to some sense of normal,” I tell her gently, when I see tears start to fill her eyes. I know her seeing me in the hospital half dead fucked with her, but I didn’t die.
“Fine,” she agrees reluctantly.
Kissing the top of her head, I let her go and turn back to the sink. “Where’s Dad?” I ask, washing my dish out and setting it in the drying rack.
“At the storage building. The truck came in this morning, so he’s been there doing stock since six.”
“He should have called me.”
“He knows you worked late last night,” she explains, and I cross my arms over my chest then lean back against the counter behind me watching her put stuff away. “I also ran into Lisa this morning.” My hackles rise at the mention of that bitch, but I keep my mouth closed. “She was asking how you’re doing,” she says softly, putting a gallon of milk in the fridge.
“I don’t want to hear from that cunt, so next time you see her, you can tell her I said that,” I growl.
Looking at me, her eyes close briefly. “Honey, it was hard on her, on all of us,” she whispers.
“Yeah, was it?” I raise my brows as blood roars through my veins, making it hard to see clearly. “She wasn’t the one laid up in the hospital. She wasn’t the one who had to learn how to walk again. And she sure as fuck wasn’t the one who saw their future slip through their fingers. That bitch doesn’t exist to me, and I’d appreciate it if you don’t bring her up to me again.”
“Colton!”
“No, Ma.” I jerk a hand through my hair, looking away from her and trying to get myself under control so I don’t flip the fuck out. “I know you liked her, but she is a fucking bitch.”
“Okay,” she whispers, looking like she’s going to cry again.
“Come here, Ma.” I hold out my arms toward her.
“Are you still mad?” she asks, and I sigh, tugging her hand and forcing her into my hold.
“I’m not mad at you, but you need to understand I don’t want one fucking thing to do with her.”