SNOWED IN (Complete)

Chapter Ten

AS WE DROVE AWAY from Jimmy's mechanic shop, I had an idea. "How about I treat you to breakfast?"

Colton frowned. "You sure you want to head out into town with me again?"

"I couldn't care less what those two little girls think," I replied.

Colton's knuckles turned white as he held on the steering wheel. "It won't just be them, though..."

I placed my hand on his thigh. "Screw them. Just focus on me, and they can piss off, right?"

Colton burst out laughing. "Piss off?"

"I mean, I just call it like I see it," I responded with a giggle.

"Claudia, you are hilarious."

Grinning, I gave his leg a squeeze.

"Seriously, though, people might be super rude to us. I just want you to be ready. My mother and I haven't been out to eat in over six months."

My heart sank. "Six months? That's terrible."

He nodded. "I can take it, but my mom... she—she just breaks down. These people used to be her friends. Now they won't even look at her."

"That sucks," I admitted. "I'm really sorry you and your mom have to deal with crappy people."

Colton nodded. "If they knew what my dad was really like behind closed doors, they would be singing a different tune."

Nodding, I gave his arm another squeeze.

Ten minutes later, we pulled up in front of Nelly's Dinner.

Colton took a deep breath and closed his eyes before getting out of the truck. He walked over to my side, opened the door, and then helped me down.

"Ready?" I asked him.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Just before we walked through the door, I grabbed Colton's hand. "If they're going to talk, let's give them something to talk about."

Colton gave me an unsure smile.

Before he could think about it another moment, I pushed through the glass door. Two holiday bells taped to the door clinked together as it shut behind us. The diner was almost empty. Two older couples sat toward the back, and three men sat at a round table by the window.

"Shit," Colton muttered as he made eye contact with one of the men.

As the man stood up, Colton's grip on my hand tightened. "We should go," he whispered into my ear.

Before I could respond, the man started walking toward us with a grimace on his face.

"What on God's green earth are you doing in here?" the man asked, spitting his words like steel.

"We're just here trying to get something to eat," I responded.

"He's not welcome here," said the man, wiping his mustache with the back of his hand.

Colton's hand felt clammy in mine.

"Not welcome? Do you own this restaurant?" I spat.

The man turned his silvery-blue eyes at me. "And who the hell are you?"

"My family has owned property up here for three generations, and I have never been met with such rude behavior from anyone in New Lake," I responded, squaring my shoulders up to the large man.