Page 60 of Wasted

"Then we'll figure it out together." The truth was that the more time I spent back home, the more I realized how much I loved it, or maybe it was just her that I loved. After leaving Bridgewater two years ago, I'd never planned to come back here, but I never thought I would get a second chance with Taylor again, either. I could see myself growing old here with Taylor on a large piece of land so far from civilization that we didn't have to worry about paparazzi. "I have to go back to Nashville for a few days. Come with me, just for a few days. I can show you my house, and then we'll come back to Bridgewater to discuss what we want to do. Stay and buy or leave or split our time or whatever makes us happy."

"I would love to see your home in Nashville."

I smiled. "Pack a bag, baby." I looped my arm around her and jerked her at the same time I rolled over her. So fast she waspinned under me before she even realized what was happening. "We're going to Nashville."

She laughed. A real laugh that made her bright blue eyes look a little bluer. It was intoxicating. Addicting. I wanted to hear that laugh every day for the rest of my life, but I already knew that. I knew it the first time I'd seen her. It didn't matter what happened in the past or how much it had changed us. I was still just as in love with her today as I was the first time I'd seen her, the first time I'd kissed her, the first time I'd held her, and I knew I would do anything to make her happy.

"I have to run home, and then I'll be back to pick you up." I needed to deal with Bailey and her meddling because if I didn't, she was going to ruin everything.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Taylor

If Cole thought that bringing me to Nashville for a few days was going to convince me that this was where I wanted to live. He was wrong. Or at least he'd done a terrible job of convincing me.

The minute the plane touched down in Tennessee, it was like Cole was a completely different person. He wasn't that small-town boy I knew growing up or the one I'd spent the last few weeks with. He was bright-lights and fast-paced.

He had a top-floor apartment in the city and an eight-bedroom, ten-bathroom luxury mansion sitting on several acres of land that was consumed with the large house, but that wasn't where we stayed. We stayed in his three-bedroom apartment right in the middle of downtown Nashville.

We'd been here three days, and I was ready to leave before the end of day one. If this was a preview of a future with Cole, I didn't want it, but we'd barely had a moment to speak in private so I could tell him this wasn't what I wanted.

I spent most of the three days alone in his apartment, and when I wasn't in the apartment, we were downtown partying with his fans and friends, but what was worse was I felt invisible even to him and so out of place.

Pulling my suitcase off the bed, I checked my phone. My Uber was here. I'd told myself that if Cole showed up any time before the Uber, I would stay, but he'd left at 6:30 a.m., and it was now 8:27 p.m., and I hadn't heard from him all day.

Even though I was sad, I was happy for Cole. He'd found his place in life. I was just sad that I didn't fit into it anymore. He shined under those bright lights, but I felt like I was drowning.

I pulled my suitcase behind me and dropped the goodbye note I'd written him on the counter where I knew he'd see it when he finally made it home. This wasn't the way I wanted to leave, but I was homesick and lonely, and I didn't have him to explain that to.

Reaching for the doorknob, I froze when it started to turn. I jumped back as the door flung open.

"Hey." He smiled. I returned his smile but didn't say a word. His gaze dropped, narrowing on my suitcase for a long moment before lifting it to meet mine. "What's going on?"

I hadn't wanted to say this to his face, well, not the goodbye part, anyway. I knew how hard it would be. My chest tightened as I swallowed hard. "I'm going home."

"Did something happen?" He stepped forward into my space.

I shook my head. "No, everything is fine back home. It's here that's the problem."

"Nashville?"

I nodded. "You have an entire life here, and I don't fit into it. You're busy, and I'm alone."

"I'm so sorry, Taylor," he said. "We were in the studio, and we lost track of time, but once I realized, I came straight to get you so we could go out."

"I don't want to go out, Cole." I forced a soft smile. "I love seeing how happy you are in your element, but this isn't for me. My happy place is outside in an open field with my horses. I love you, Cole, and I probably always will, but I think too much time has passed, and we are just too different now." I place a hand on his chest. "Neither of us should have to give up anything for the other."

He shook his head. "If you want to leave, I'll go with you."

"No." My brows pulled together. "Go out, have fun; this is where you belong. Maybe come back and visit sometime."

"So this is it." He shrugged. "This is our last goodbye. It's just over." My heart twisted at the pain in his tone.

"Who knows what the future will hold, but for now, yes. We are just in two very different spots in life right now."

"Cancel the Uber," he ordered. "I will take you to the airport."

"No." I shook my head. "This is already hard enough. I don't want to say goodbye again." I pushed up on my toes and closed my eyes as I pressed my lips to his. It was a goodbye kiss. Dropping to my flat feet, I smiled. "Goodbye, Cole."

---