Chapter Sixty-Three
It was a warm summer evening when Austin drove past Bellum. The sun had set a while ago, but the air was still warm and the sky was slowly turning from a deep blue to a star-studded black. He slowed down when he noticed an unusual number of cars on the parking lot. He hadn't heard of any specials or a party being held there. If he was completely honest, he'd been trying to avoid anything to do with Isabella. But he had to do his patrols, which meant he had to at least drive past the bar owned by the woman that also owned his heart.
He hadn't spoken with her, not since that encounter with Sean. The disappointed look on her face was etched in his mind and he hadn't dared to face her again. He wasn't sure what he was scared of; succumbing to his feelings, or being strong enough to resist and breaking her heart even more.
Not entirely trusting the situation, he decided to check things out. Just to be sure the girls were able to handle the increase in clientele. He pushed the door open and was greeted by loud cheers and laughter. "What's goin' on?" he asked no one in particular.
"The girls bought a pool table. Turns out Izzy's unbeatable," Sue answered as she passed by him, a tray with empty glasses in her hand.
"Yeah, she's always been great at that," the Sheriff couldn't help but answer as he scanned the crowd. His heart stopped when his gaze finally rested on the beautiful Colombian. She was wearing a stringy top and cut-off shorts, a plaid flannel shirt wrapped around her waist. It was like looking at a memory; Isabella as she was the night they'd met. She looked the way he'd always imagined she'd look before she returned to Little Grove. She looked perfect. She pocketed a ball with ease and the entire bar erupted in cheers. Austin found himself cheering along with them, only to stop when old man Murphy called him out. Before he knew what was happening the crowd was cheering his name and pushing him towards the pool table. Isabella's eyes locked on him, and the easy smile on her face faltered for a second before she plastered it back on.
"You ain't beatin' our Sheriff," someone told the pretty brunette, who replied by smirking cockily. Austin didn't know what to do, he wasn't planning on embarrassing himself by getting beat by Isabella again. Also, it was probably best he didn't start hanging out at the bar on duty, or near her at all.
"I'm sure the Sheriff's got more important stuff to do than hang out with us common folk," she said. She was still smiling, but it was obvious she wanted him gone.
"Yeah…" he mumbled, feeling dismissed. Which was ridiculous of course, since he'd been the one to throw their relationship away, again. "Can we talk?" he asked, not sure what he was planning on. He just couldn't stand the thought that she was still angry with him. Maybe if he just explained… He ignored the teasing boos that erupted as he followed Isabella to the back.
"What do you want?" she asked the second he'd closed the door to the office behind him. Her easy smile had evaporated, instead she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. He couldn't help but notice she looked beautiful when she was angry.
"I just wanted to check if everythin' was alright… here at the bar," he chickened out. He had an easier time handling crooks and tough guys; one glare from her and he felt like a little kid called to the principal's office. All the muscles in the world couldn't protect him from the killer stare this Colombian woman could produce.
"We're doin' fine. Anythin' else?" she sneered, already walking to the door.
"Bella…" he sighed, shuffling his feet, at least succeeding in stopping her from throwing him out that very instant.
"What, Austin?" she snapped, her heart racing as angry tears started tumbling down her cheeks. She felt like she was back to being that eighteen year old girl again. Except this time she wasn't actually eighteen. She'd been through enough; she wouldn't stay quiet anymore. "You're the one that turned cold on me. I've given you plenty chances to talk to me, but it's been like talkin' to a wall. I ain't waitin' around for you. Not anymore." She wiped the tears from her face. "It's clear you don't care about me, so why are you here?"
"I do care about you," he mumbled, clearing his throat uncomfortably when she merely scoffed. "I do," he repeated, running his fingers through his hair as he tried to think of a way to make everything better.
"Well you've got a funny way of showin' it." She sighed when he merely kept staring at the floor. She didn't have time for this, she had a crowded bar to run. "At least with David I could see the bruises," she told him, finally getting him to look at her.
"Don't compare me to—"
"Well, then don't act like him. First you want me, then you don't, and now, what… you want me to be nice and forgive all this crap. Why would you—"
"Aaron's in love with you, okay?" he blurted out. He couldn't stand the idea that she saw him like that abusive asshole. He needed her to understand, she had to.
"I'm sorry, what?" she stammered. "No… Aaron's just…"
"I overheard him. He wants… I can't be the one to stand in his way," he tried to explain. He looked at the frown creasing her forehead as she tried to process his words. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. He probably shouldn't have. If Aaron found out, he was going to have a fit. "I should go," he said hastily, leaving before he could say anything else he shouldn't. Like how he loved her and couldn't live without her.
Tatum had just finished tidying up the kitchen from dinner and the living room when she heard a hesitant knock on the door. Frowning to herself she made her way to the door.
"Sean, I thought…" she started until she saw the upset look on her boyfriend's face. "What happened?" she asked now, expecting the worst. He didn't say anything as he stepped in towards her and hugged her close. "Baby, you're scarin' me," the redhead said softly as she hugged him back.
"My family knows about us," Sean finally answered slowly, feeling her hug him tighter as she prepared herself for what was coming. "Mama's happy for us and can't wait to meet you properly," he started with the good news.
"And…?" she started to ask.
"Aaron had a massive go at me but then let slip he wants your sister," her boyfriend told her.
"Wait, what?" Tatum asked confused as she pulled back a little.
"Yeah," he nodded with a shrug. "Long story. Anyways," he continued. "Pa…" Sean sighed, and she knew straightaway this wouldn't be good. He went through her hair and, when he saw the worry in her eyes, decided not to add anymore. "He's not really on board, but… things will work out," he said, sparing her the details of his father's accusations. His girlfriend frowned at him a little, knowing there was more to what he was telling her. "I promise, he'll come around," he tried to assure her, even as he knew coming around was not one of Malcolm Miller's strong points. He gave her a small smile, at which she pulled him back in for another hug.
Tatum knew he was pretending it was for her benefit, so went along with it. She felt him hold onto her tighter as her fingers ran through his hair comfortingly. "It'll be fine," she started softly, pressing a kiss to his neck. "As long as we've got each other. We can do it together." She felt relief when she heard him smile before he pulled back slightly to give her a sweet kiss.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," Sean said with a faint smile, leaning in to kiss her again.