Page 18 of The Pieces We've Lost

She was walking right toward me and I was able to get a real glimpse of her, actually see what she looked like this time. I thought she was pretty last night when we ran into each other, clearly enough that she had been on my mind since, but I realized now she was beautiful. But it was a subtle kind of beauty. Like the way the sunlight hits the mountains perfectly in the morning. Soft and elegant, yet blazing at the same time.

As she met people that walked by her, she gave them a small, polite smile. One that made me wonder how it would feel to get a real smile out of her. She was both day and night, sunlight and shadow, with her warm features, yet cool, intense eyes. Eyes that could burn holes through a man’s heart. I was a goner.

I continued to walk toward her, silently begging that I wouldn’t fuck it up this time.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ellison

Ifroze in my tracks as I saw Colter Carson, the cowboy from the bar who was one hundred percent here for the rodeo and one hundred percent not my type, walking toward me.

Nope. Not dealing with this.

I spun on my heel to turn around and started to make a hasty escape, but the clunky sound of boots increased in speed and I realized this man was literally running after me.

“Wait! Please, wait!” He caught up to me and matched my pace.

“What do you want?” I rolled my eyes and kept walking, picking up my stride, trying to go fast enough that maybe he would give up.

“Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot last night.” The words tumbled out of his mouth as he tried to get me to stop.

“It’s really no big deal. We both weren’t watching where we were going. Water under the bridge.” I shrugged him off.

He wasn’t giving up, though. He kept walking with me. “Can we at least try the conversation again before you walk off into the sunset like last time?”

What is this guy’s deal?

I stopped in my tracks and turned around so I was facing him. “That was probably the worst line I have ever heard.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “But tell me, cowboy, in the case I actually did have a conversation with you, what could you possibly want to talk about?”

I had to hand it to him, he was bold. Most men would have given up or called me some crude name at that point. Either I needed to up my game, or he was immune to my attitude. I was starting to worry it was the latter.

“Let’s start with names. I’m Colter. Colter Carson.” He extended his hand.

I accepted his handshake with an exaggerated sigh. “Ellison Wilson. My friends call me Ellie.”

“Well, Ellie, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He smiled, a dimple on the right side of his mouth appearing, and for a second I thought this might be okay. I could get to know him and there would be no consequences. But reality came back to me.

“It’s Ellison to you, Sparky. We aren’t friends, don’t push your luck. And as much as I would love to stand here and make small talk, I came with my mother and I need to go find her. And you should probably get back to being a little show cowboy, don’t you think?” We knew each other’s names now and that was enough for me. I wasn’t quite sure what he was attempting to do, but I wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out.

If calling him a “show cowboy” bothered him, he didn’t let it show in his expression. “No problem, Ellison.” He paused, and I figured I was in the clear.

I smirked, feeling satisfied with myself and ready to get on with my night.

But then he continued. “Hey, before you go, how about this? Tomorrow, will you meet me at the coffee shop on the corner of 23rd and North at ten? Continue our conversation? No pressure, of course.”

He could see right through me. He knew exactly what I was doing and could tell I was trying to dodge an actual conversation. But why wasn’t he just letting it go?

Colter Carson was like a boomerang. Every time I tried to get rid of him, he just kept coming back. He wasn’t exactly guilting me into this…date? No, this was merely a conversation, but turning him down outright would be rude, and my parents raised me better than that.

“I’ll think about it.” I shot him one last look and then walked away to find my mother.

I texted Isa on my way back to my seat.

You will not believe what just happened

Isa

brad and angelina got back together?

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