Page 63 of Coulda

“Fine.”

“And Miranda? I already have a date for the reunion. Colt is taking me.”

“Colt Ziegler? He hasn’t been back for a reunion yet,” Miranda stated with a skeptical look at Harper.

“This year, he’ll be there. With me.” Harper crossed two more fingers behind her back.Please let him answer my message.

“We’ll see.” Miranda let herself out the door.

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I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse into Shoulda, the next story in the A Second Chance For Mr. Right series! You don’t want to miss Harper and Colt’s story.

Shoulda: A Second Chance For Mr. Right

Chapter One

Two weeks after high school graduation

Why won’t she come with me?

Colt shoved his last pair of jeans into his suitcase. He was angry at her, angry at himself, and filled with self-doubt.

When a knock sounded at his bedroom door, he growled, “Leave me alone, Mom. You and Dad were very thorough in telling me all the reasons why I shouldn’t believe in myself.”

“I believe in you,” a sweet voice observed, making him whirl around.

“Did you come to convince me not to go?” he asked angrily.

“No. I know you’re going. You’re supposed to go. I came to spend a few last minutes with you. I’m going to miss you so much,” Harper shared, with tears in her eyes.

Colt shook his head, trying to maintain his resolve. He had to try this even though his heart felt like she was ripping it from his chest. He turned to grab some sock from the drawer and slammed it shut before turning to face her again.

“Then why the hell don’t you come with me?” he demanded.

“I’ll just hold you back,” Harper whispered.

“That’s bullshit and you know it. We’re supposed to be together. You’re supposed to be with me.”

“How sure are you that going to Nashville is your path?” she asked, coming in to sit on his bed.

Immediately, he sat across from her on the opposite side of the double bed. “Four hundred percent.”

“I believe you. I know this is what you have to do.”

“Come with me,” he asked, reaching for her hand and squeezing it gently.

“I can’t, Colt. As confident as you are that you need to leave town and try to make it as a country superstar, I know my place is here,” she told him.

“You could open a daycare anywhere,” he assured her.

“I could, but I need to be here. I’m not like you. I’m… petrified of being in a new place I don’t know how to get around in with no one I know to help me,” she shared.

“I’d be there,” he assured her.

“You would be. I know you’d always be there for me. Unfortunately, that will take your focus off doing what’s important for you to succeed. We both know I’m great at a lot of things, but I’m too gullible.”

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