Chapter 20
“I told you I didn’t feel like talking,” Seth said to Cole over the phone.
“You’ve been in a funk almost all week, even before you left town. You go too long without answering my calls, and you know I will keep calling until you answer.” Cole picked up the menu to peruse his choices. “I think I’m going for the barbeque ribs.”
“You’re at Mack’s BBQ?” Seth sighed. “I guess I brought it on myself.”
Cole’s eyebrows knitted together, confused by the lack of segue. “Brought what?”
“I rushed things and now it backfired.”
“Not following.”
“Leah.”
Cole opened his mouth to respond but refrained from speaking.
His brother continued. “We’ve been hanging out, and I acted on impulse. I took her to the lake. She didn’t respond like I hoped.”
Cole kneaded his neck to relieve the tension. “Have you talked to her since then?” How should he handle this now? He hadn’t talked with Leah since the wedding. Is that why she agreed to keep seeing Seth? Did their almost-kiss scare her off?
“She says she needs time, but you and I both know what that means,” Seth said.
“Yeah. Dad taught us to know some things about women.”
“He’s been married to Mom long enough. He must know something.”
“At least he talks to you,” Cole grumbled, not wanting to go down this road.
“When are you two going to come to an understanding?”
Cole shrugged his shoulders. “I’d be all for it, if he didn’t hate what I do.”
“He doesn’t hate it, little brother. Dad…”
“What? I would love to know what his issue is with me.”
“Dad’s always pictured in his mind the life he wanted for us. Going against his plans and finding something better only proves him wrong. What man you know enjoys being wrong?”
“So, success outside of what he wanted is wrong for him. Got it.” Cole bit back the scream he wanted to unleash but refused. The days trying to please him were over. He needed to handle other things.
“I can’t figure Leah out, bro. She is the most amazing woman I know.”
“Look, Seth, I need—”
“Hi, Cole,” Celeste greeted, giving a little wave.
“Hi,” Cole replied.
“Who’s that? It sounds like Celeste.”
Cole asked her, “You eat barbeque?”
She dismissed his comment with a wave. “It’s for my mom and stepdad. I’m partial to the truffle fries here though.”
“How are you?
“Oh, I’m great. I got into an online master’s program. I’m excited to begin my classes,” she said as she scanned the room. “Seth’s not with you?”
“No, he’s out of town on business.” Cole pointed to his cell. “I’m on the phone with him now.”
Celeste’s hands fidgeted clinging to her takeout bag. “No worries, tell him I said hi. Well… I’ll leave you to your dinner. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Celeste,” Cole said and cleared his throat. “How long has that been going on?”
“What? She left?”
“Yes, it was Celeste. What’s going on with you two?”
Seth chuckled. “Nothing, Celeste is nice.”
“Only nice?”
“Yeah, nice. We talk a few times. Even if there was something, I need to figure out what’s going on with Leah. I think I’ve given her enough time to think.”
“Maybe you can ask her—” Cole’s eyes bugged.
There Leah stood with another man. He didn’t recognize him, but the way his eyes gazed at Leah made his blood boil. He swallowed hard, ignoring the hitching in his chest. He then recalled Leah telling him about her hiatus. Did she change her mind?
Cole exhaled deeply. Even though years had passed, Leah still wouldn’t pull the rug from under him. He should have called her after the wedding. Their almost-kiss still reeled in his head. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“You still there, Cole?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
His eyes followed Leah. She entranced him once more. Thank goodness he was sitting, because if he stood, he would tumble to the floor. Despite his knees wobbling, his desire grew to erase the distance between them. He stared longer, noticing she sat with the man perusing her menu.
“I’ve got an early day tomorrow, so I’ll talk to you later,” Seth said.
“Still not going to tell me what you’re up to, huh?” Cole asked.
“You’ll find out, eventually. Goodnight.”
Cole hung up with Seth and brought his phone to his lap. Then he texted Leah.
7:18 PM… Cole: Sorry I haven’t called
He noticed her beaming face at his message. He didn’t expect her to text him back, but to his surprise, she did.
7:20 PM… Leah: Sorry 2
Cole let out a deep breath as she raised her chin. At the sight of him, her eyes lit up. Then she motioned for him to come over. Cole stood, but as he approached Leah’s table, his heart banged in his chest. To his surprise, she stood and hugged him. He held her close for a moment, but since they weren’t alone, he released his grip.
“Have you met Craig?” Leah’s eyes diverted to Craig. “This is Cole Parsons.”
“Your last name sounds familiar. I think I’ve met your brother. You’re Seth Parsons’ little brother, right?” Craig said, displaying a grin.
Cole’s neck stiffened, but he rubbed his brow to ward off the tension. “Yeah, nice to meet you.” He and Craig shared a handshake.
“Same here. Leah and I were hanging out. Would like to join us?” Craig pointed to the empty seat next to Leah.
Cole pulled back slightly. “I don’t want to interrupt. I can take something to go.”
Leah grasped his hand. “Stay, Cole, please?”
Locking eyes with hers, his heart fluttered. “Only if I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all,” Craig said. “Leah here was helping me understand how women communicate.”
Leah laughed. “All I said was if Joanna asked you to dinner—”
“She didn’t exactly ask, but she hinted that she could make a mean meatloaf.”
Leah sat back in her seat. “Joanna eats meat?”
“That’s what I said,” Craig said.
Cole relaxed in his seat. Definitely not the night he expected. “Who’s Joanna?”
“My Pilates instructor who asked my friend Craig here on a date,” Leah explained.
Craig slurped from his glass. “Again, she didn’t ask.”
“Why don’t you?” Leah asked. “You like her?”
“We work together. I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” Craig eyebrows knitted together.
Cole nudged Leah’s shoulder. “You’ll never know unless you try.”
Craig gestured between Cole and Leah. “Have you two known each other long?”
Leah’s eyes sparkled. “Cole was my best friend in high school.”
“And you dated his older brother?” Craig asked.
“My junior year.”
Cole swallowed. “Seth left to play football in Georgia.”
Craig grinned. “Yeah, I heard he put Piedmont Valley on the map. I was sorry to hear about his injury. How did it feel having a celebrity for a brother?”
He had heard the question too many times growing up. Even after a career of his own, one that by now had far eclipsed that of his brother, Cole still sensed the stiffness in his neck. He’d made a name for himself. With his photos seen all over the world, why did the approval of his hometown mean so much?
Cole cleared his throat. “It was surreal, but we’re very proud.” Would the answer suffice?
Craig directed his attention back to Leah. Cole’s eyes diverted to her too. She looked stunning as always. She could rock formal wear and casual, and tonight her simple jeans and low ponytail were perfect. Cole’s hand rested on his thigh. Feeling the sweat surface on his palm, he ran his hand up and down on his pant leg.
When his phone buzzed inside his pocket, he reached for it. Who was calling now? “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.” Cole stood and stepped away from the table. To his surprise, it was his mother.
“Cole, I need your help at home,” his mother said.
He needed to talk to Leah. “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“With Seth out of town, I need help to make the rest of these cookies before Sunday for the church,” his mother said.
“I’ll be there soon.” He hung up with his mother and approached Leah’s table. “It looks like I have to call it a night.”
Craig extended his hand. “Nice meeting you, Cole.”
“You too.” He looked over at Leah. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Leah’s eyes stared back at him. “I’ll see you.”
****
Cole dusted off the front of his shirt free of flour. He grabbed a dishtowel and wiped his hands clean.
“Thank you so much for coming,” his mother said.
“I can’t tell you no, can I?” The corners of his mouth curved up.
She wagged her finger at him. “Never. The only reason Seth’s not here is because of his trip.”
“Any idea what’s going on with him?”
“No clue, but I always find out, eventually.”
Cole swallowed and kneaded his shoulder.
“You know something, don’t you?”
“Like what?”
His mother’s forehead furrowed. “I know you won’t rat out your brother. I always wanted you two to trust each other, but is he alright?”
“I think he will be.”
“And what about you? You never told me how the wedding went?”
He sat at the barstool. “It was nice. I should have Holly and Josh’s pictures finished by—”
His mother dismissed his answer with a wave. “I mean Leah. How did things go with her?”
Cole drew his bottom lip between his teeth. “It didn’t.”
His mother wiped her own hands with a dishtowel. “Now you know I never meddle in your personal life—”
“But you’re going to.”
Her eyes narrowed at him, but her smirk gave her away. “Is there a reason you haven’t told her?”
“Mom, I’ll figure it out.”
She tilted her head toward him. “You don’t have to tell me, but I will say I want you to be happy.”
“I know you do.”
“And I remember how much it hurt you when Leah dated Seth.”
He felt a twinge of pain in his chest. “Mom, I—”
“All I know is time has passed and Leah is a grown woman. If you’re honest with her, I know she’ll understand.”
Cole stroked his stubble. “She looked so happy when she told me about them. I felt like her second choice, as if I would be her back-up plan in case he left or hurt her.”
His mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you think that? Leah would never—”
“I’ve always felt like that, Mom. Seth was the town hero, and I was Seth Parsons’ little brother.” His breath caught. He rose from his seat. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Cole, I—”
He came over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
He didn’t say another word, but let the door close behind him.
****
“So… are you going to ask Joanna out?” Leah asked.
Craig drove her home, and now they stood on her front porch. He ran his fingers down his head. “I’m thinking about it. We’re friends and she works for me, so it feels weird to think of her as anything more.”
“But you admit that you like her?”
“Yes, I like her.”
Leah gave a half shrug. “Don’t wait too long, because I hear Clayton likes her too.”
Craig’s eyebrow shot up. “Will’s little brother?”
“He’s a nice guy. He and Joanna would make a cute couple.”
Craig rubbed at his brow. “Can’t be. Word around town is he’s been in love with Hope Phillips since kindergarten.”
“Never know.” She moseyed to the front door.
“Thank you.”
Leah twirled around to face him. “For what?”
Craig stepped closer, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I came to Piedmont Valley to start over. After my divorce, I knew I needed a change. I didn’t expect for this town to embrace me the way it has, much less me caring about… someone.”
She gazed at him with focus. “I never knew you saw me like that.”
Craig continued. “I would see you at church, but I never felt ready to open up again. Then when you came to the gym regularly, I had to say something.” He inched closer, taking her hand in his. “Even if there’s only friendship between us, Leah, thank you for helping me see I can open up again.” He chuckled. “I might even get the courage to ask Joanna out.”
Leah pulled him in for a hug. Her heart bubbled with joy. “I’m glad I could help.”
“I’ll see you next week?”
“You will. If Joanna is not in a good mood and takes it out on our class, I’ll know you had something to do with it.”
He laughed. He took hold of her hands in his again, pressing a kiss to them. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, Leah Morris. The man who wins your heart is the luckiest man alive.”
Her heart melted. “Thank you.”
“And if my observations are correct, I’ve already met him.”
Leah’s mouth fell open. Craig kissed her cheek again and backed away. Her breath caught as she stood on her porch. Was it that obvious? Cole eased his way into her heart. She walked through her front door, her lips parting.
She sat on her couch and removed her light jacket. What if her plans changed? Would it be wrong to give in to her feelings for Cole? Perhaps Gemma was right. He had to have felt the same about her. Leah could still feel the heat from his stare at the table with Craig. Even Craig noticed.