Page 13 of Everything I Promise

I gulp loudly, giving myself away.

Colton chuckles and brushes his lips against mine quickly. “Now that we’ve established I can’t keep my hands to myself, and you like to think about it, can we make a decision on the vanity?”

“Right. The question you asked. What about it?” I stare back at him.

Colton pulls back to look at me, laughing. “Do you want a new vanity or want me to fix the one that is here?”

“Oh, um, I think a new one would be easier to match what we are doing with paint and flooring.” I shrug, making my best guess at what will be best.

“Perfect. So all I’m going to do is rip out the sink, fix the cabinets, refinish the wood flooring, replace the toilet and vanity, and rip out the entire shower.” He nods.

“Yup, sounds real simple,” I say sarcastically.

“Do you want to look online for colors or would you and Oliver like to come with me on Saturday? We could grab some lunch and then head to Home Depot?” He has his phone out, typing more notes from our conversation.

“I don’t know, Colton, I don’t know if getting Oliver involved in -whatever this is- is a good idea,” I say, gesturing between us.

I really want this to be something. I just need to get myself in check, it’s too much, too soon. Even if I've been talking to Colton as a friend for months.

“I get it. Just look online then and give me the name of the colors.” He looks disappointed.

Don’t be silly, Lacey.

We have hung out with Oliver multiple times. It wouldn’t be weird to go to the store and pick out what we wanted in our home with Colton. He’d just think it was another day hanging out with his new best buddy.

“You know what, it will be fine. We hang out with you guys all the time. I doubt he’ll think anything of it, honestly. Plus, he might have fun helping us pick some stuff out.” I place my hand on his forearm.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to push you to do something you aren’t comfortable with, especially when it comes to Oliver. Imean it when I say I will show you everything you deserve from a man, even if it means waiting for what I want.” He places his hand on top of mine, and leans in to kiss my cheek.

It’s so surreal to have someone consider me and how I feel. I’m so used to tiptoeing around everyone else’s feelings. Michael made everything my fault, and if I didn’t want to do something or go somewhere that made him look like husband or father of the year, I was the reason he made our lives miserable the rest of the night, day, or week.

“Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine. I promise.” I give him my biggest smile and hope he doesn’t see the faults.

It will be harder to trust in good men than I thought after my time with Michael. I thought that I was emotionally disconnected from him for a long time, but recently with all my failures being shoved in my face, my emotions are high. Luckily, Colton understands all too well so I know he genuinely means what he is saying. He won’t push me into something I’m not ready for.

Colton promises to draw up a contract at my insistence, even though he tries to insist we don’t need one. I don’t want him to think I’m taking advantage of him.

I am so excited for this new project though. It will be incredible to have my own salon back so I can start working again. I had to sell my salon before we moved so I’ve really not worked in months. My fingers are itching to cut and color some hair.

Mom:Food 911. I forgot potatoes for dinner. Would you mind terribly stopping at the store?

Mom’s text makes me laugh. Only she prefaces the text with a subject.

Me:Of course Mom, need anything else?

I lock up after Colton and I are done, trying to occupy myself so I don’t do anything else stupid, like kiss him goodbye right here on the street. Once he is in his truck, I walk to the general store a few shops down. I’m sure Mrs. Smith will already know about the purchase of the building and have a million questions. The good thing about small towns is I will probably have a wait list before I even open, and I won’t have to spend a dime to advertise like I did in Portland. Since it’s one of the bigger cities in Maine, I was having to advertise a lot to get our salon’s name out there.

When I was in high school I hated small town life. The owners of the shops would always listen to the teens gossip and spread it among the parents. We could never get away with anything, and we never seemed to learn that Mrs. Smith’s hearing was that of a bat and she would hear us whispering from across the store. I open the door and brace myself for the barrage of questions.

“Lacey! My dear, word has it you’re going to be our new neighbor on the street!” Mrs. Smith yells from the back of the store.

Ah, small town life never disappoints. “I sure am! Hoping to open in a few months. I actually just met with the contractor to get started.” I roam the aisles collecting what is on the list Mom sent me a few moments ago.

“Oh yes, that hunk of a man, Colton West. I saw you two over there. I must say, if you are going to pick someone to get underin order to get over Michael, that Colton is the best pick around.” She winks at me and my mouth drops open.

I can’t believe what she just said. I mean I can, it’s an accurate statement. Colton is by far the most attractive and available man in Lupine Valley. Except maybe Gunnar, but he just doesn’t do it for me like Colton does. Still a weird thing to say to me, I guess they don’t view me as a child anymore even though I still feel like one when it comes to Mrs. Smith. Especially, considering she told Mom and Dad about the time I was making out with a boy in the gazebo after school.

“Well, he will be there a lot doing work, he is going to move into the apartment while he works on the salon and fixing up the apartment. So he’ll be your new neighbor before I will be.” I place the items from my cart onto the counter.

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