next weekend for the barbeque. The weather should be perfect.”
“That sounds great,” he says. “I haven’t had a chance to see the place in a while. Who all will be out there?”
“The usual suspects,” I say. “Knox and Leigh Anne, of course. Daddy. Me. Penny and Mason, probably. Preston and Jenna said they’d come out if they got home in time.”
“Where are they?”
“They went to some craft festival down in Savannah for the week,” I say. “Jenna’s been building up her art business and is trying her hand at selling at some of these craft fairs. I think she’s doing pretty well with it.”
“I’m sure she is,” he says. “Have you seen some of the work that’s on display in her store downtown? It’s gorgeous. I never even knew you could do so much with paper.”
“I’ve been down there a few times,” I say. “That won’t be awkward for you at all, will it?”
“What?”
“Hanging out with Preston and Jenna. I know you and Jenna used to date.”
I hold my breath waiting for an answer. I saw the way he used to look at her. Does he still have feelings for her? I’ve never really known him to be in a serious relationship, and I don’t know why I even care, but my heartbeat quickens just thinking about it.
“Oh, no, not at all,” he says, and I can tell from the look in his eyes he’s being sincere. “I love Jenna, but we never had what she has with Preston. I’m happy for her.”
“That’s good,” I say, exhaling. “Are you, uh, seeing anyone these days?”
My little tour of the apartment seems to have stopped before we got a hundred feet in, but this is a question that’s been on my mind for a while, whether I want to admit it or not.
“Why so interested?” he says, causing my heart to rise into my throat. “You thinking of asking me out?”
Warmth creeps up my neck, and I just know my cheeks are probably bright red. Shit.
“No, I just was wondering if I should be expecting there to be a lot of late night visitors to the apartment,” I say, trying to cover my tracks.
“Uh huh,” he says, a knowing smile crossing his lips. “Well, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. I may have my eye on a girl but until I work up the nerve to ask her out, it’ll probably be quiet up here.”
I try not to react, but the thought of him interested in another girl makes my heart fall right to the bottom of my stomach like a stone.
I will not ask him who it is. It’s none of my business.
“That’s good,” I say, clearing my throat and avoiding his eyes. “Let me show you around the rest of the place real quick and then I need to get going. There’s a new shipment coming in this afternoon and I need to make sure the storeroom is cleaned out.”
“You need help?”
“I can handle it,” I say. My voice comes out sharper than I intended.
I take him through the living room with its loveseat and recliner, a simple coffee table also made by Knox, and a nice-sized TV with a Blu-ray player. The second I step into the bedroom, my awkwardness is back in full force. If the thought of him having another girl over here bothers me, the thought of him bringing another girl into this bedroom nearly makes me want to jump out a window.
The bedroom is sparse and simple, with nothing more than a bed, a nightstand, and a chest of drawers. There’s a bathroom attached, but it’s small.
“Sorry it’s so tiny in here,” I say. “I hope this will be good enough.”
“This is a mansion compared to what I’m used to, trust me,” he says. “This is more than enough, and I really want you to know how much I appreciate this, Jo.”
He sounds so sincere and heartfelt, it catches me a bit off guard. Colton is always sweet, but he’s usually more of a surface kind of guy. Always happy and smiling and joking around, but not one for getting into deep conversations or sharing his innermost thoughts about life.
“You’re welcome,” I say. “You can stay as long as you like.”
“Thanks.”
We’re standing in the doorway to the bedroom, and I’m aware just how close he is to me. It’s getting hotter in here by the second, which means it’s time for me to go.