Page 35 of Honey Bee Library (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #7)

I turned away from them and stared hard at the ground. Was that her or was I hearing things? I blinked a few times, hating that even though I’d come to Harmony for this exact moment, I couldn’t bring myself to face her.

I slowly turned my head so I was peeking over my shoulder at them.

My heart sank when I saw that I had been right.

She was older, but it was my mother. She was with some older man I had never seen in my life.

He was helping her remove her rain jacket.

She looked calm and peaceful. Not like a woman who’d abandoned her son and husband years ago.

And then realization slammed into me. I didn’t want to be here.

I didn’t want to talk to her. Maybe I’d decided to come to the diner because I’d held out hope that she missed me.

I’d deluded myself into thinking that she regretted what she’d done.

That somehow, all she needed was to know I missed her and she’d come back.

I’d been wrong.

I needed to get out of here. I set the menus down on the host stand and hurried through the dining room.

“Breia, seat those customers,” I barked as I pushed open the kitchen door and let it swing shut behind me.

I didn’t stop until I was in Willow’s office.

I rested my hand on her desk so I could catch my breath.

I felt like the world was on top of my shoulders, crushing me. I needed out of this diner. I needed out of this town. I needed out of this state. I wanted to believe that I belonged here, but I knew better. This wasn’t my home and it was never going to be.

“Cole?”

Willow’s soft voice had my entire body tightening, and when I felt her hand on my shoulder, I instantly jerked away. I glanced over to see her standing there with worry in her gaze as she slowly drew her hand back.

Her eyes were wide. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

No. I wasn’t okay. None of this was okay. My life was crumbling around me, and no matter how badly I wanted to stop the wreckage, it was impossible. Everyone eventually left me. I was destined to be alone. Forever.

“I shouldn’t have ever come here,” I whispered as I pushed my hand through my hair before I dragged it down my face. “This was a mistake.”

I could see the hurt in Willow’s gaze, and I would have given anything to fix that. But she had been clear–I was not hers, and she was not mine. The sooner I accepted that, the happier she would be.

“Then why are you here?” she whispered, her words cutting through the silence between us like a hot knife through butter. “You can be a silent partner. I’ll take care of things.” She held my gaze. “I promise.”

I studied her. Maybe she was right. I didn’t belong in Harmony. Miami was my home. Coming here had only created a mess in my life and hers.

“Okay,” I said.

Her eyebrows went up, and I hated the relieved look that passed through her gaze. “Okay?” she whispered.

I’d needed that reaction, to see that she didn’t want me. It solidified my decision to go back to Miami and stay there. I had nothing to come back to here, even if I wanted to return. My time in Harmony was done.

“Is that what you want?” I asked before I could stop myself. I needed her to tell me to leave and never look back. I needed to know that she wanted me gone.

She drew her eyebrows together as she studied me. For a moment, I thought she was going to tell me, no, that wasn’t what she wanted. But then she slowly began to nod. “I think that’s what’s best for everyone, don’t you?”

That was what I needed to hear. She drove the final nail into the coffin of our nascent relationship. Willow wanted me gone more than she wanted me here. It was time I took the hint.

“Okay,” I repeated, like it was the only word I knew. I sighed and took a step back. “Take my rental. I’ve paid up for the rest of the month. Stay there until you get on your feet.” I swallowed as I saw her resistance surface. “I’m leaving. Tonight.”

She studied me. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “It’s the least I can do.” I took another step back. “I’ll send Maddie up in a month or two to check on the diner.” I dipped down to catch her gaze and held it. “I know you’ll take good care of my investment here. I promise to be a silent partner from now on.”

I crossed over to her desk chair and picked up my suit coat. I folded it and draped it over my arm as I turned to look at her. “Goodbye, Willow.”

She held my gaze for a moment before she nodded. “Goodbye, Cole.”

I swallowed, my emotions coating my throat, making it hard to breath. “Tell Jasper I said goodbye and to expect something in the mail from me.” I wasn’t going to let that kid think I was leaving him. I would be in his life—even if from far away—for as long as he would let me.

“I will.” Her voice was soft as if her emotions were affecting her as well.

I decided to ignore it. I would spiral if I entertained that thought. With the farewells already spoken, I nodded before I turned and headed out of her office.

Then I walked out of the Sunny Side Up Diner for the last time, letting the back door swing shut behind me.

I was going back home.