Mrs. Stone to ask questions that will make Colton think harder about what I’m doing. Shit.
“I guess to get more customers. I’m not really sure,” he says.
“Is she okay? You do know to not only talk about yourself in a relationship, right? You have to be a true partner and listen to her as well. It’s a two-way street—”
Colton holds up his hand. “I know. No worries, you’ve taught me well.”
And she has. You never have to worry about that with Colton, which is precisely why I don’t want him to find out about my failing business. He’ll put on his superhero cape. I don’t need him swooping in to save me.
“If you say so.” She’s quiet for a moment. “I’m sad to miss her. I really wanted to hug her because I’m so happy the two of you are finally together.”
Colton smiles at his mom. It’s the one that says he agrees with her.
“Well, I guess I’ll come back tomorrow. Give me a hug.”
“No,” Colton says.
“What?” Mrs. Stone sounds confused.
“I have to go to the bathroom. If I get up and hug you without going to the bathroom first, I might pee myself.”
I bite his jeans to muffle my laugh. That’s the best he could come up with?
“I’ve told you not to hold it. You’ll get a urinary tract infection.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
I cover my mouth before I lose it and crack up under here.
“Uh huh. Okay, love you.”
“Bye, Mom.” He waves and I’m assuming she’s at the door.
“I love you too. Juno, you can come out from under the desk now. Oh, young love. Reminds me of your father and me.”
The door chime rings, and Colton slides out, buttoning and zipping his jeans.
My cheeks are red hot. “I can never face your mother again,” I say, crawling into his lap.
He holds me tightly, kissing my neck. “She might be weirded out, but she’s cool with it.”
“That’s just wrong. For your mom to know I was doing that.”
His fingers run up my back to the back of my head. “And you are a master at that, I’m telling you.”
I climb off his lap. “Don’t you have to go to the bathroom?” I chuckle.
“What was I supposed to say?”
“How about you think you might be catching a cold?”
“You know that wouldn’t stop my mom.”
I nod. “True.” I pick up the box. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” He takes the box from my hands and the bell chimes again.
This time it’s Earl, the mailman.
“Hey, Earl,” Colton says. “Put it in the box.”
Earl does and he nods at me. “Miss Juno. Mr. Colton. Congratulations are in order?”
Colton glances at me over his shoulder and back at Earl. “I guess.”
“Happy to hear it. You make a lovely couple. Have a nice day.”
“You too, Earl,” we say in unison.
I go to the box and pick up the mail, then shove it into my drawer.
“You can open it on the way,” Colton suggests.
“Nah. I’m sure there’s nothing important.” I wave him off.
Hopefully, he didn’t see the red line on the paper through the envelope like I did. Of course if he did, he probably thought nothing of it, having never received a past due notice in his life.
Colton walks out to his truck that’s parked along the side of the road. I look at the picture of Aunt Etta and debate if this whole matchmaker thing is even worth fighting for. Maybe my mom had it wrong and I can’t predict who belongs together. The fact that my business is failing is a bigger sign than my red hair. The color means exactly what it did when I was eleven—that I’m different.
Twenty-Five
Colton
As usual, Juno organizes the blind speed dating thing perfectly and her customers—who are most of Kingston’s buddies—are happy. Thankfully, whether Stella got Juno’s message or not, she didn’t show up. Although I view the situation differently than Juno. Kingston deserves to know that Stella’s back so he can clear things up with her. Figure out where they stand going forward, even if it’s as acquaintances or nothing at all.
After everyone blindly talks through the partitions, a few of Kingston’s buddies head into the bar area to mingle with girls, but Kingston heads my way, a beer in hand.
“What’s up?” he says, sliding into the stool across from me.
“Nothing. No matches?” I ask.
He smirks and shakes his head. “I just can’t. You know? I’ve tried. You ever feel like you’re filling a need and not the hole?”
I raise my eyebrows and he laughs.
“Yeah, I phrased that wrong. I guess I