“Listen, darling, I have to run. Alfred is calling me for help. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the gallery.”

“Bye, Luis.”

I felt bad for lying to him about nothing being wrong. But I didn’t want to hear one of his lectures either. After dinner, I took the plate inside and started the bath water. While lying in the warm, magnolia peach-scented bubbly water, my phone dinged with a text message from Colin. Had he just realized I’d left the bar?

“Katherine said you ended up getting a carry-out. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I forgot I had something to do, and it needed to be done tonight. Sorry, I just left like that. You were busy, and I didn’t want to interrupt you.”

“I’m never too busy for you.”

As soon as I read that, a lump formed in my throat. Was he going to tell me who the woman was he left to talk to?

“Sorry. I just didn’t want to interrupt.”

“That’s okay. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and I’ll be in touch about our bowling date tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you tomorrow.”

CHAPTER23

Colin

When I looked at the bar and saw Olivia sitting there, a sickness formed in my stomach. Why was she back in Harbor Falls? There was only one way to find out: ask her.

“What are you doing here, Olivia?” I asked as I stepped behind the bar.

“Hi, Colin.” A small smile fell upon Olivia’s face. “It’s good to see you.”

“Excuse me?” My brow arched. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m moving back to Harbor Falls. It turns out things didn’t work out in Seattle. We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. You broke off our engagement one week before our wedding and took off to Seattle.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“So what happened? The guy you dumped me for wasn’t who you thought he was?”

Olivia’s eyes widened. “You know?”

“Of course, I know. The whole town knows, and to be honest, I don’t think anyone is going to be welcoming you back.”

I felt nothing but rage and disgust as I stared at her. My once beautiful bride-to-be was nothing more than an ugly stranger to me now.

“That’s rude of you to say,” she spoke.

“I’m only telling you the truth. See, that’s what we do around here. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

“I made a mistake, and I’m sorry.”

“Two years too late, Olivia. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do in the back. Finish up your drink, and then you can leave. I really don’t want you in my bar.”

I threw down the towel I was holding on the counter and walked into the back. I was so upset I had forgotten Adalyn was in the bar. When I walked back out, I looked over at her table and saw she was gone.

“Are you alright?” Katherine asked.

“Just peachy. Where’s Adalyn?”