Page 64 of Wasted

"Yep." He smirked, holding onto the horse's reigns as he stepped back. "Shall we?"

I loaded onto my horse, and he loaded onto his before we rode off into the open fields just like we'd done hundreds of times over the years. We rode in silence for a long time, enjoying the scenery and fresh air until we reached the creek at the back of the property.

"We should stop here," he suggested after about an hour of riding, pulling on the reigns of his white stallion, easing him to a stop, and I followed suit.

"The suspense is killing me." I chuckled as we led our horses down the embankment so they could get a drink. "So, what's going on?"

He smiled softly as he twisted, staring off into the distance before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Growing up, I couldn't wait to take you and get as far away from this small town as I could." I narrowed my eyes. I wasn't sure where this conversation was going. "And then everything changed the day you announced that you were marrying Caleb. I changed. I wanted big city lights and loud music. I wanted to be surroundedby people and fans. I wanted to drown myself in whiskey until I forgot you." His smile widened as his gaze shifted, meeting mine. "Until you showed up and changed me again." He stepped forward until he was invading my space. "When you left Nashville, I realized that wasn't the life I wanted anymore."

"Cole..."

"No," he cut me off. "Just listen. I'm not coming back here for you. I'm coming back here for me. I didn't think I would, but I missed this," his gaze swept over the open land, "and I missed us." His hands curled around my hips. "Not the old us. The new us."

"So, does this mean you're moving back?"

He nodded. "My parents are ready to retire. They want to travel, so I bought the ranch from them, and they bought an RV and left yesterday."

"Wait," my brows pulled together, "how long have you been in town?"

"A few days. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before I saw you again."

I stared at him, shocked. "But what about your music and..."

"I'm not giving up my music." He smiled. "I can make music anywhere. I'll still have to tour occasionally, but we can figure that out later. For now, I'm going to add a music studio to the property where I can record."

I stepped back out of his grasp. This was a lot to take in, especially when I convinced myself that Cole and I were two very different people now.

"So what is it that you want from me, Cole?"

"I want you. I've always wanted you." Tears burned the back of my eyes. "I knew I was going to love you forever the first time I saw you, and I never stopped, Taylor, even while you were married to Caleb. I still only loved you."

"Then why did you let me leave Nashville without you?"

"Because I'm an idiot. A confused idiot. I thought that I wanted the city and the fame, but what I really wanted was you."

"You can't be sure of that."

"I am sure. When I was here with you before, I didn't miss the city life, but when I was in the city without you, you were all I could think about. I didn't realize it then, but the city life, the fame, the partying, the drinking, they were all terrible attempts to replace you. To replace that void in me that was missing you." A tear streamed down my cheek. "I was never in love with the city. I am in love with you." He cupped my face, swiping away my tears with his thumbs. "I'm staying even if you don't feel the same, but I need to know, Taylor, do you still love me?"

"Everything I've done, every decision I've ever made was because I love you." My words broke up into small sobs. "I still love you."

His arms wrapped around me as he lifted me from the ground, spinning me around. I laughed through my sobbing as I savored the feeling of being wrapped in his arms again. He stopped spinning, his gaze lifted, meeting mine. My hands cupped his face. "Cole?"

"Taylor."

"Are you sure about this? Because I can't handle losing you again."

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life. Well, other than that I knew I was going to marry you the day I met you."

I laughed as he let me slide down his hard body.

"I want you to move in with me. I hate that you're living at the bar."

I hated living at the bar, but this felt rushed. I knew I wanted to be with Cole forever, but I wasn't sure we were ready to live together yet. "Can I think about it tonight?"

"Sure."

"What about Bailey? Where will she live?" Was this why Bailey wanted to buy the bar?

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