Hating the Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriend Builders)

14. Colton

CHAPTER 14

Colton

I 've spent the past ten minutes walking down Thistle Street after finding out Kieran dropped JoJo off in town hours ago and just left her. Is she an adult capable of fending for herself? Sure, but what if her phone died? Not to mention, Archer may not be picking up on Kieran's advances, but I notice every one of them. That's why I'm here now. He's not going to be the one she calls for a ride home. There are only so many places left to check. I've peeked into storefronts on my way down. She may have called a friend to pick her up, but I'm going to swing into Holly's Tavern and make a loop around before I throw in the towel.

The second I walk through the doors, I spot her. Her blonde hair is like a damn beacon in the dimly lit bar. As I approach her booth, I see she's not alone. What the hell? I detour and head to the far end of the bar to get a better view of her and the guy she's with.

"Can I get you something?" the bartender asks just as my annoyance starts to take root.

"Yes, I'll take a whiskey on the rocks. Make it a double," I say, not taking my eyes off Josephine as I dissect her every move. Who is this guy? He can't be her guy. If she had a guy, I would know. We've been home for three weeks now, and no one besides Kieran has made an appearance at the farm.

"Cole, is that you?"

My eyes do a double take at the bartender who just took my order. "Rhys Bierman," I extend my arm and give him a pound hug over the bar top. "How have you been?"

"Good." He throws a towel over his shoulder. "This place is basically mine now. Ma' stepped back two years ago. I got married last fall, and we're expecting our first baby this spring. How about you?"

"Congrats on the family. If you weren't on the clock, I'd buy a round of shots. As for me…" I shrug my indifference.

He pours my drink. "Being a hot-shot lawyer and living a life of luxury ain't all it's cracked up to be, huh?"

"Right now I can't argue with that statement."

Sliding my glass across the bar, he says, "If it's any consolation, I never saw you as a lawyer."

I tip my chin. "Why's that?"

"For starters, you never cared about it. You'd always hide out at Archer's when your dad would come into town just to avoid getting drilled on what law school you wanted to attend and the branch you wanted to study. You're good at it because you wanted to be good at it, but it was never your passion." How is it that some people are better at seeing us than we are at seeing ourselves? It could be because we focus on our flaws and failures, where we need to be better, while others just see what is. Either way, Rhys's comment resonates. It's been the story in my heart for far too long, one I've tried to bury because it's my family's reputation, and it felt like mine, too. It was part of my identity, but what I'm starting to realize is being part of it doesn't mean being all of it. "So how long are you here for?"

"I'm staying through the holidays; I probably need to go home after that."

My eyes flick back over to Josephine's booth, where she's laughing at something her date said, and I grind my teeth.

Rhys tracks my line of sight. "I know that look, Callahan. Does Archer know?"

"No, there's nothing to tell."

"Sure, there's not. Don't be stupid," he slaps the bar and moves on to the next customer.

I'm not worried about Rhys talking. Truth is, we all noticed Josephine Estes. You'd have to be blind not to, but Archer made it clear his sister was off-limits and you don't break bro-code. It's fucking sacred. It's another reason I should heed Rhys's advice and not be stupid. However, stupid choices are what landed me here to begin with. Sometimes, you have to be young and dumb to figure out who you are. It can never be wrong if you're being true to yourself, and I didn't come all this way to be anyone but me, and right now, that's a man who likes a girl. And this guy is done watching another man put a smile on her face. I shoot off a text.

Colton: Who's the guy?

I watch as she checks her phone before her eyes scan the bar in search of me, or at least I think it's me. I only got her number last week when the side-by-side ran out of gas, and Archer used my phone to call Josephine and ask her to bring us a gas can. I don't know that she programmed my number, but the way she subtly shakes her head in annoyance tells me she knows it's me.

Josephine: Screw off. Who I talk to is none of your business.

I bite my lip. That sass makes me want to cross the bar and make a scene, but I don't. She hasn't spotted me, and she's cute when she gets riled up.

Colton: What’s his name?

Josephine: If I tell you, will you leave me alone?

Colton: Probably not, but you can try.

There’s no way in hell I’m dropping this. I watch as her fingers hover over the screen as if she actually believes a name will pacify me. He could be the king of Andorra, and still, I wouldn’t think twice about sliding into the booth beside her and staking my claim.

Josephine: Jacob Kringle

I snort a laugh. Is she serious? His initials are JK. He’s literally a joke, but I play along, not ready to let this go. She’s slowly been gnawing away at my sanity for weeks. It’s only fair she gets a taste of the madness she evokes.

Colton: Where does he work?

Josephine: KMA Industries

Colton: What is that?

I watch as she scans the bar again. This time, her caramel eyes connect with mine, and she smiles. It's mischievous, and when her subsequent text comes through, I know why.

Josephine: Kiss My Ass Industries

Colton: You shouldn't tease me unless you're offering. You already know my track record. I’ll gladly make a scene in front of your date.

Josephine: I'm not having this conversation with you.

Colton: Lose the guy.

Josephine: I'll see you at home.

I watch as she tucks her phone into her bag as if that's the end of it. I take a long drink of whiskey before getting off my stool. The movement puts me in her peripheral, and her eyes widen. As I approach her booth she exits it and heads straight for the bathrooms. When I round the corner, uncaring of a stupid sign on a door telling me I shouldn't enter, she's there with her arms crossed.

"Seriously. What is your problem?"

"You are," I say, stepping into her space.

She stands her ground and holds her hand out toward the door. "You're welcome to leave. No one is making you stay."

"I think we both know that's not the type of problem this is." I step in closer, eliminating the space between us, ensuring there's no question. Her pretty mouth pops open as her eyes slowly rise to mine, and my arm instinctively circles her waist as I back her against the wall. I can't take it. I have to know how soft those pretty pink lips are. My fingers brush over her jaw before my thumb finds her plump bottom lip. "So soft," I say before meeting her darkened gaze.

I lower my mouth, seeing her desire match my own, but then she says, "I thought you said you needed to think about it?"

"Is that what I said? I remember saying I wanted to kiss you."

"And when I asked what happened next, you didn't have an answer."

The subtle disappointment in her voice wrecks me. "Damn it, Posey, you put me on the spot. How could I answer that? You won't even let me kiss you."

Her eyebrows rise. "Are you saying you need to test the goods before you make a purchase?"

"Posey…" I warn.

"And that…” she pushes her finger into my chest. “You still tease me with that nickname."

Her hand comes up to pull mine away from her face, but I don't relent. Instead, I brush my thumb over her cheek. "I don't see that name the same way you do. I only let you believe it was a tease," I say as my hand falls away.

"Why?" Her forehead creases as her eyes search mine.

I step away and give her space. It's the last thing I want, but apparently, I still have walls to bring down before she'll consider me. "Do you remember the first time I ever called you Posey?"

Her lips pinch as she takes a trip down memory lane. "It was the day I broke out in a rash from the flowers I was picking."

"Yes, and when I sat beside you after bringing you a glass of water as you lay on the couch waiting for your mom to get off the phone with the doctor, I couldn't take my eyes off you. Your face was flushed, and you were covered in rosy spots. I thought you looked cute. Posies are bushels of flowers. You literally had the reaction from picking them and carrying them up from the fields. So I called you Josie Posey. My tone was soft, too soft, and Archer noticed. The warning glare he shot me made me turn the name into a taunt. But inside, it was never that."

"I remember now, your knee bumped mine, and you smiled…" she draws off, and I don't need a reminder of what happened next. I jumped off the couch and cleared my throat to poke fun at how she looked, and then I walked out of the room with Rhys while Archer hung back until his mom got off the phone.

I shove my hand through my hair. "I can't take that stuff back, Josephine, and I can't tell you about a future that doesn't exist, but I can give you this: I'm right where I want to be standing in front of the only girl I see."

She visibly pulls in a breath and nods. "Okay."

"Okay?" I repeat. "What does that mean?"

"It means okay. I need to get back to my table," she says as she starts toward the bar.

I grab her hand before she gets too far. "You're not really going back to that guy, are you? Posey, I know you feel something for me."

"Do I?" she questions, but the slight smirk that pulls at the corner of her mouth tells me she's poking the bear, so I poke right back.

I pull her flush against my front, catching her off guard, and her breath catches. "Tell me I'm not the reason for the hitch in your breath and flutter in your heart, and I'll let you go." Her eyes lock with mine, and I know she's as conflicted as I am. This is new, it feels wrong as much as it feels right, but sometimes being reckless is the only way to make anything happen. When she doesn't say anything, I lean down, letting my lips lightly graze her ear as I say, "Get your things. I'm taking you home."

"Okay,” she agrees breathlessly.

I've been driving for more than an hour. The farm was only a thirty-minute drive from town, but Josephine fell asleep in the silence that cloaked the truck as soon as we got in. I have no fucking clue where to start with her. All I know is from the second she fell into my life again, she's consumed my thoughts just like she did when we were kids, and I don't want to mess this up. I wanted to be alone with her again. Different from when we shared the hotel room when I was still determined to buy my own lies. I needed to sit with her and only her so I could see her through this new lens, one where I was no longer hiding behind the bully I had made myself into. That guy was setting a boundary, drawing a line in the sand so he didn't go after his best friend's sister. That new lens is why I'm driving Archer's truck in circles now, watching her sleep because somehow, even in her dream state, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and no words are needed to know that something has shifted. She left with me and fell asleep with me because she trusts me and I don't take that lightly.

I brush a stray hair off her forehead at the only stoplight in High Ridge. "I saw you first. I was never your enemy. I only played the part so that I could exist in your world. It was you then, and I think it's you now." I've barely finished whispering the words when my phone buzzes in the cup holder. Picking it up, I see it's Archer. "What's up, Arch?" I answer it on speakerphone.

"Where are you? Are you still in town? I haven't been able to get a hold of JoJo. Her phone keeps going to voicemail."

"She's with me. I ran into her while I was running my errands." It's only a partial lie. He doesn't know that she was my errand.

"Oh…" he draws off. "How far out are you?"

"We are about five minutes out," Josephine answers for me, drawing my eyes to her. "I was at Holly's meeting a friend. Colton waited to give me a ride back."

"As long as you're safe and on your way back. Come see me in the office when you get in so we can review the numbers I mentioned this morning."

"Okay, I will. Bye, Archie," she says as she reaches across the center and taps the button, clicking off the call before returning to her seat.

"You didn't need to do that. In fact, I don't want you doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Lying to your brother," my hand tightens around the wheel. I don't want to come between them.

"I didn't lie. I met a friend at Holly's, and you gave me a ride back."

"Yes, but we both know you were using it to explain the time we've been gone. We haven't been at Holly's this entire time."

She shrugs. "It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the whole truth. If anyone lied, it was you and your errands comment."

"Excuse me, I didn't lie. I was in town to, in fact, run errands." I flip open the center console between us and pull out the box of Benadryl I bought at the drugstore while I searched for her.

"Good. You'll need that as evidence to corroborate your errand story when we get back. I know you heard the speculation in his tone the same as me."

I can't argue with her on that. While Archer may have been slightly relieved she was with me, there was a speculative pause on his end. "I heard it. Just do me a favor…" I turn to her as we pull up to the house. Her eyes connect with mine, and I add, "Never lie for me, especially not to Archer."

"Fine," she quirks a brow. "If he asks how my night went, should I tell him his best friend tried to kiss me for the third time?" I clench my jaw and close my eyes. This is so fucked up. When I open them to speak, she beats me to it. "That's what I thought." She opens the door and climbs out before ducking back in and saying, "Don't ask me again."

"Josephine—" My words are cut short when she slams the truck door.

"Damn it," I curse as I hit the steering wheel. I've never worked this hard for one kiss in my life. I watch her stomp back into the house. Do I wish she would have been an adult and talked things through? Yes, but I also royally fucked up yet again. That's the second time she asked me what would happen next if we pursued things, and I stumbled. What she doesn't understand is it's not that simple. I don't know how to answer for a future I'm scared to let myself dream. Right now, three facts are at the forefront of my mind: I don't want to lose my best friend, I don't want Josephine lying for me, and I don't want to lose the girl.

I climb out of the truck, close the door, and kick a rock. "This is exactly why I don't date." Relationships are nothing but a roller coaster of emotions; one minute, you're on top of the world watching your dream girl sleep, and the next, your fucking kicking rocks. But as I shove my hands in my pockets and stare up at the house, I see her silhouette pass by, and it's then that I know I'm gone for her because all I can think about is getting my next high. Fuck.