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“It’s okay if it’s not my son. I know he hurt you all those years ago. Even if I wish I could be your mom-in-law. You know if you two had made it work, you’d be married over ten years by now.”

My heart constricted, because she was right. “We would have had a completely different life.”

She tilted her head, hair all slicked with the dye. “You know, sometimes I think things happen for a reason. If you and Rhett had gotten married, you might not have gone to Austin and gotten all that experience you did. You spread your wings, and you have so much to give to this town now. He’s had a chance to grow too, even if he still has that goofy streak.”

It was a perspective I hadn’t really thought of. All this time, I’d thought I was keeping myself busy, trying to move on from my past. What if I was just preparing for my future here?

I smiled and said, “I think it’s time to wash that color out, Deidre.”

“Okay.” She stood up from the chair. “Now, do I close my eyes while you wash? I always forget.”

I giggled. “Keep them closed. It’s not my best angle.”

When I finished Deidre’s cut and color, she was so happy with it and asked if I could take a picture “for the gram.”

I smiled, obliging, and then asked for a selfie with her to post as well. We said goodbye, and after she walked out the door, Rhonda sent me a smile over her shoulder that said far too much.

“What?” I asked.

She raised her eyebrows, turning back to her client. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Feeling a blush on my cheeks, I walked back to the bathroom, using it and freshening up. I was about to walk back into the salon when my phone rang in my pocket.

Rhett.

He had impeccable timing, letting me worry when, it turned out, his mom still liked me.

I held it up and said, “Hello?”

“Hey, Coach.” I could hear the wind through the phone, like he was working outside. “I saw you called?”

“I was going to ask you something, but I figured it out.”

“Oh, good,” he said. “I was happy you called.”

My heart fluttered. “You were?”

“Sure as the sunshine in Texas.” He was quiet for a second. “Having a good day?”

I smiled slightly at the question. “Yeah. Busy, but good. You?”

“Better now.” I heard the smile in his voice. “I better get going. See you for the game on Friday?”

“See you Friday.”

26

RHETT

A week ago today,Maggie kissed me for the first time since we were together before. We’d stood underneath the glow of a streetlight, and I’d laid myself bare. Let her know exactly what she was to me.

It had been the best kiss of my life.

Tender.

Warm.

Sexy.