Page 56 of Wasted

"Or maybe something near Nashville."

"Is that what you want? To leave Bridgewater."

I huffed out a humorless laugh. "I don't even know what I want anymore." I hadn't really had a moment to think about it. "But Cole is there." My gaze dropped to the envelope in my hand as I fidgeted with it. "It's just hard to make that decision to move where you have no one for something you're not sure will work out yet."

"You can't move to Nashville for him. You have to move to Nashville for you."

A knot twisted in my stomach. Bailey was right. Everything I'd done for the last few years was for someone else. Every decision I'd made, I considered everyone else before myself, and this time, I couldn't do that. This time, I had to choose myself, even if that meant saying goodbye.

"Do you miss him?" My brows pulled together, questioning her words. "I mean, he's spent the last two nights at your house, and you've spent pretty much every day together for the last couple of weeks. Do you miss him?"

I'd always missed Cole. From the day he left to the day I saw him again, I'd always missed him. I'd missed us and our friendship, but I'd never admitted it out loud.

"You don't have to answer me," she said as if she was reading my mind. "But you need to ask yourself that. When Cole leaves without you, will you miss him so much that you will have to go after him? If the answer is no, then maybe you and Cole's time has passed, and it's really time to move on."

I stared at her for a minute as I considered her words. "I do miss him, but me taking off after him doesn't do any good if he doesn't miss me, too."

She nodded. "Sounds like you two still have a lot to discuss."

"Yeah." I forced a smile.

"Why don't you head home, and I'll close up," Bailey suggested.

I opened my mouth to argue but shut it when my phone vibrated.

It was Cole.

My face split into a smile as I flipped open the message.

"I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time."

My gaze lifted to hers, and I nodded. "He makes me happy. I love being with him. I just wish I could have him and Bridgewater and my family's land back."

"Back?" Her face twisted. "What do you mean back?"

"I took an offer today. I have to be out in seven days."

"Where are you going to go?"

I raised my shoulders. "I don't know, but for now, I'll stay in the bar until I figure that out."

"You have the money," she said. "You could get it back."

I shook my head. "The maintenance on the house alone is more than I can afford or handle myself."

She nodded towards my phone, which was still in my hand, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes. Over the last two years, Bailey had become my best friend. She'd been the only person I had to talk to. She knew everything about me, including how much I loved my home. "You should answer Cole back. He'll get worried."

"I'm okay, Bailey." I smiled. "I promise." And Iwasgoing to be okay.

I strolled towards the exit as I typed out a text.

Taylor: Not yet. How was court?

The bubble popped as I pushed through the door and stepped out into the cool night air.

Cole: Better than expected. I got community service and some hefty fines.

Taylor: Hefty fines are better than jail time.

---