Page 58 of The Pieces We've Lost

Well, that decided it, I guess. I was going to Montana. I was excited to see Colter, there was no denying that, but I was also a little nervous. I would be traveling across the country for this man. I was a fool if I thought this didn’t make things between us a little more official.

I was also a little nervous about abandoning my job. But any fears I had about leaving and my responsibilities faded when I told my mother. She practically fainted from happiness, which solidified the trip even more. I didn’t realize she wanted me to leave the ranch that badly.

A week and a half after his invitation, and after tying up loose ends back home, I stepped off the plane in Bozeman, which was four hours away from Colter’s small town and yet was apparently the closest airport for a direct flight.

Montana was beautiful. It was what I imagined heaven looked like. Texas was pretty, I wouldn’t deny that, but truthfully, all of the songs about Montana were right. The skies felt like they went on for miles with a mountain backdrop that not even the world’s greatest artist could do justice.

The moment I stepped past the security checkpoint, I saw him. He was leaning up against one of the wooden columns, a bouquet of carnations under his arm and a to-go coffee cup in his hand.

He hadn’t noticed me yet, and I was soaking in the sight of him, observing his little tics and habits that most people would ignore. How when he was nervous, he had the tendency to wring his hands together or bounce his leg.

I was about fifteen paces away from him when he finally looked up at me and grinned. He looked at me like Iwas the only person in the room, and I wondered how it could be possible for someone to see me as perfectly as Colter Carson did.

I would never admit it out loud, but I craved the connection my parents once shared. That almost divine, unconditional love. The kind most people search for their entire lives.

Colter and I might not have been in a relationship, at least not officially, but he had this hold on me all the same.

I couldn’t help but smile, seeing Colter look at me in that way. Texts and FaceTime calls could never compare to the real life thing.

I continued to walk toward him, and he met me halfway, pulling me in for a hug. I breathed in his leathery scent, with a hint of cinnamon and musk, that was so perfectly him.

“Hey, Sparks.” I held on to him a little bit longer.

“Hey, Blaze.” He took my hand and kissed the top of it.

I wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but the action alone caused a flutter in my stomach.

“I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me too.” I eyed the coffee cup. “What did you get to drink?”

“Oh, this is for you.” He handed me the cup and the bouquet.

I took a sip. White chocolate mocha. “This is my favorite. Thank you.”

“I remembered that’s what you got when we went to The Corral together.” He smiled, and I practically melted.

He remembered.A coffee order seemed so insignificant, but he paid attention and he remembered my favorite coffee.

“So, how was your flight?”

“It was fine. Got stuck in front of a kid who kept kicking my seat and a screaming baby two rows ahead of me, but you know, that’s flying.” I shrugged.

“One of the few reasons I choose to drive instead.” He chuckled.

We headed in the direction of the baggage claim. I was staying for less than a week, but I still took a suitcase. A bad habit of mine was packing way more than I ever needed. I rationalized it as always wanting to be prepared. Besides, it was Montana after all. Who was to say that in a couple days it wouldn’t be snowing? I hoped not at least because the warmest thing I packed was an old Texas Longhorns sweatshirt from college.

I continued the conversation as we started to walk down the stairs. “Why else? Because of the price?”

“Yeah, that too.” He ruffled the hair on the back of his head.

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly very curious about his aversion to flying. “Wait, what’s the other reason?”

“I…I get a little nervous, okay?” He tried to speed through the admission as fast as he could.

“You’re scared of flying, aren’t you?” I giggled.

He avoided eye contact with me as his nose crinkled a little. “No…”

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