Hometown Love

Callie

Callie

I woke with swollen eyes and body aches, my head on a hard surface. I must've fallen asleep on Colton last night. Why did his legs feel like steel? I arched my back to stretch, and pushed myself directly into Colton's hard stomach. I looked up sheepishly, but he was sound asleep with his mouth open wide, his short locks just barely peeking over his forehead.

I rose quietly and put the coffee pot on. Man, did I desperately need some happy bean juice. Even after my first sip, I couldn't get rid of the heavy knot in my stomach, and it all came flooding back.

Beau was cheating on me. I punched him. He almost got physical with me last night. And the nasty things he said... how could I have overlooked that behavior before?

I was lucky Colton was there. I think his domineering presence gave me the courage to finally stand up for myself, knowing he would have my back if I needed him.

Had I ever been happy with Beau? Was I being unfair to him, using him as a placeholder for what I really wanted?

I tightened my grasp around my coffee cup, letting the anger seep from my body. I couldn't believe I had been so stupid to be with someone that could treat me and talk to me that way. That's when I felt the twinge in my hand. I looked down to my knuckles to find an uncharacteristic black and blue hue with swelling over the two knuckles where I had made contact.

I jumped when I heard the freezer door close. How long had I been lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice Colton get up? Without a word, he strode to me and gently took my hand, pressing a cold pack to my bruised knuckles.

I admired that familiar look of his, fresh after waking up with the grogginess still in his eyes and the bedhead that somehow made him look better.

"Mornin', cat. How's it feel? Am I hurting you?"

Colton had always been so tender with me, be it his touch or his demeanor. He inspected my knuckles, making sure I wasn't too hurt.

"I'm sorry about last night, Colt."

He looked up from my knuckles, his bright eyes peering through his lashes and his brows furrowed.

"What are you talking about, Cal?"

"I, um, last night was really fun and I'm sorry that I ruined it with all the drama."

He gave me a stern look and grabbed onto my shoulders.

"You didn't ruin anything. Beau did. He's a piece of shit, Callie. Spending last night with you was incredible and watching you punch him was honestly the highlight," he chuckled lightly.

"I can't believe I punched him. When I heard what he said..." I trailed off, not wanting to even speak the words out loud.

"Hey, the man is a world class moron, okay? Look at me," he grabbed my head between his massive hands, "It has nothing to do with you, he's been trash since high school. Any man who would do that to you clearly doesn't deserve you," he dropped his hands at his sides again.

I didn't even want to know how Colton remembered Beau from high school. I nodded sullenly, but having him here was helping.

"What's your plan today, Colt?"

"I was going to see my mom today, which also means Emma, whom I have a bone to pick with." he said dramatically, "I'm sure they'd love to see you if you'd like to tag along."

"I have to help my dad today, but maybe I could stop by for dinner?"

I hadn't seen Mrs. Ellison or Emma in over a month. That's why I agreed to go to dinner, not because I wanted to spend more time with Colton.