Page 52 of Banter & Blushes #1

TIFFANY

C olt’s been gone for a week, and things are back to normal. Sad, but normal. We text and talk on the phone at least once a day, but that only makes me miss him more.

The good news is he decided not to tour with the band. That means he’s giving his own music full attention, and it will be easier for us to visit. We’re already making plans to hang out over Labor Day weekend.

Genesis shuffles behind me and turns up the radio. I scowl at her. “Don’t get distracted singing.”

“I won’t.” She smiles deviously like she’s up to something.

The DJ announces that next is a new song by up-and-comer Colt Stallion. My ears perk up, and Genesis grins. Lucky for her, that’s what was needed for me to not turn down the music.

I continue sautéing vegetables in a pan and crane my neck to make sure there aren’t a lot of people in line. The lunch rush ended an hour earlier, but most people at the beach are on vacation time. That means to them, time of day means nothing.

I listen closer, expecting to hear the song from the music video. Instead, a slow guitar tune comes across the speaker. Colt’s voice soothes against the acoustic melody.

This is a song I’ve never heard before. It must be brand new .

The longer he sings it, the more I question its meaning. Obviously, it’s a love song, but some of the lyrics are so specific, it’s like he wrote them to me. Did he?

I turn to Genesis, wearing a huge grin across her face.

“What?”

She steps aside so I can see outside the window. I’m afraid there’s a long line waiting on food. Nope. Only one person.

Colt.

I drop the spatula in my hand and hurry outside. He’s standing in the sand with a beautiful bouquet of pink roses.

“What are you doing here?”

“I hope that’s a happy-to-see-me question.”

I hug him, and he laughs. Then he hands me the flowers and kisses my cheek. I smell and admire the roses.

“I needed to take a little drive for song inspiration.”

“So you drove seven hours south?”

He smiles. “I wanted to see if you heard my new song.”

I hook my thumb back toward the truck. “I did. Just now. Did you know it was playing?”

“I have a friend with a connection to the Mobile country station who could play it at a certain time.”

“So you planned that?”

“I did.” He shoots an eyebrow up. “What do you think about it?”

“I loved it.”

“Good, because I love you.”

I blink. He takes my hands. “You don’t have to say it back yet, but I had to let you know how I feel.”

I wipe a tear away with my forearm. Genesis reaches out the window and takes my flowers. “I’ll put these in water.” She winks, and I nod.

I wipe more tears with my free hand. Colt’s face goes pale.

“No, it’s good,” I reassure him. “I feel the same way, but I’m fighting it because we’re so far apart.”

“What if we didn’t have to be?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I’ve already made up my mind that no matter what, I’m not moving to Nashville.

“I got a lease on a condo.”

My stomach buckles. Surely he isn’t going to ask me to move in with him. I would be against that on so many levels.

“It’s in that tall white building across the road.”

“What?” My eyes pop open.

Colt points to one of the newer condo buildings across the street.

“Like here, in Gulf Shores?”

“Yeah. Since I’m the one writing all my own stuff, I only need to go to Nashville for recording sessions. I can easily stay a few days here and there, but be based here. I’m tired of wasting time, and the only place I want to be is with you.”

On impulse, I stand on my toes and kiss him.

That last line he said was my favorite line in the new song. I’d hoped it was for me, but never imagined he’d mean it so literally. He kisses me back.

After a few seconds, I hear voices beside us, then notice some people looking over the menu.

Colt moves aside, then follows me into the food truck.

He slides by Genesis to wash his hands. She finishes sautéing the veggies I left on the stove and shakes her head. “So you’re going to work in here now?”

“Maybe.” He glares at her, then smiles at me.

“Then you’ve got to convince Tiffany to let me sing on the job.”

“Only if you sing my songs.”

I laugh at them before taking the first customer’s order. Something tells me he’ll get lots of writing inspiration hanging out at The Sandbar.

THE END

Thank you for reading Guitars & Sandbars . If you want to read about Colt and Tiffany’s high school and friends, check out Brewin’ Up Love .