Page 65 of Wasted

"Bailey and I are working out the details." That was his polite way of telling me it wasn't my business. He would take care of his sister. "I assume she asked you about buying the bar."

I nodded. I somehow knew he was behind it. "Is she buying it because she wants it or because you don't want me to run it anymore?"

"Both."

"Cole, you can't come back here and take over my life."

He laughed. "That's not my intention. I know you don't want to run that bar anymore, and Bailey does. So, let us take it off your hands so you can follow your dreams."

I huffed out a humorless laugh. "My dreams are long gone."

"It will be dark soon." Cole sighed, and I was thankful he dropped the subject. "We should head back, get the horses settled, and I'll take you home."

Home.Funny how that one word could be so painful. I didn't have a home anymore. I had a bar with thousands of dollars in damages.

My gaze shifted to the distance. I wasn't ready to leave yet, but I knew he was right. "Thank you for this." My eyes met his perfect blue eyes. "All of it. The chance to see how amazing the property looks." A tear streamed down my cheek. "It will be hard to say goodbye again." He stepped forward into my space and cupped my face. I huffed out a sad laugh as our eyes met. "I promised myself I wasn't going to cry." I didn't want to cry. Today was amazing, and I was so happy for the opportunity to be here again with Cole, but I couldn't hold back all the pain, sadness, and pure heartbreak that overwhelmed me at the thought of saying goodbye again.

"We should go," he whispered as he used his thumb to wipe away my tears.

Swallowing hard, I nodded. "Our last sunset ride together here where it all started."

"Our last sunset ride before we close the doors of our past and open fresh ones. A new, fresh start for both of us. A new future."

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. "That sounds amazing."

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Taylor

Cole closed Rodeo's stable door, latching it. It was after dark when we made it back. We'd put the horses up and spent time with Rodeo before it was finally time to say goodbye. Tears streaked my face as Rodeo stuck his head through the gap of the bars over the stale door.

Running my hand over his forehead down to his nose, I sobbed, knowing it would be the last time I saw him.

"Taylor," Cole said softly.

"I know." I choked on my own tears. "It's time to go." Swallowing hard, I swiped away my tears. "I swore I wasn't going to cry."

"There's no reason to cry." He smiled, sliding his hand into mine. "Rodeo is happy. He has a good home, a beautiful new stable, and a great owner who will take good care of him."

Sucking in a deep breath, I nodded. "You're right." I sighed. "Take me home, please."

"I thought you'd never ask." He laughed, tugging on my hand and pulling me behind him. I glanced over my shoulder onelast time, saying a silent goodbye before we left the stables and headed toward the house.

"Where is your truck?" I asked, taking notice that his truck wasn't in the driveway.

"I rode the four-wheeler over here," he answered, not bothering to look at me. "My truck is at my house."

So we'd have to ride the four-wheeler to his house and get his truck. Thankfully, his parents or, more specifically, his mom wouldn't be there. He led me to the front of the house, but I resisted when his boots hit the porch steps. "What are you doing?" The lights in the house were on, and a red sports car was in the driveway. The new owners of the house were home, and it was late. He stopped twisting to look at me. "Cole, we should go. They were nice enough to let me visit today. I don't want to push it."

"It's fine."

I shook my head, resisting harder this time as he pulled me up the steps. "What are you doing?" I didn't want to go in the house again. I was ready to put this part of my life in the past.

He released my arm when I jerked against his grip again and stepped down the two steps, stopping in front of me. "I'm taking you home." He leaned down and swooped me into his arms.

"Cole," I squealed.

He ignored me as he hopped up the steps and walked into the house without announcing himself.

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