like honey.

“–Shit. D’you think she knew I used to pick from her garden? No wonder she hated me.” He smirked back at her, giving her a wink. “It’s not flattery if it’s the truth, Annie Wilkes. –Don’t you know? Curiosity killed the cat, darlin’.” 

“Everyone knew it was you,” she laughed, her cheeks coloring as they blatantly flirted with one another. “I’ve never been much of a cat person. I’d like to be enlightened as to what makes me so lethal.” 

“Oh, are you? And what lessons would ya have to teach me?” He chuckled, his heart warm as she smiles at him - she’s always managed to get a reaction out of him, even now, broken up, years later. “They should rename it to Angel of Christmas past,” he can’t help but say, grinning broadly at her. He crouched down slightly so he’s now towering over her. “–Very dangerous. Especially the pint-sized one. She’s just lethal.”

“Be nice to your siblings, listen to your mama, don’t pick roses for me from Mrs. McCormick’s garden. It’ll only lead you to trouble.” she smirked, tilting her head just to the side in order to get a better look at him. “You flatter me, Colton Calhoun. Angel is a strong term. --Lethal? How so? Color me curious.” 

“Who knows? It’s been a long year. I guess I’m just worn out lately. Been busy… y’know, helping Ma and Pop over at the farm, then being here until all hours of the night to tend to the town drunks.” He chuckled. “–Nope, not yet. But it’s still early, ain’t it? Here’s to hopin’ I get a visit and learn my lesson before it’s too late.” Letting out a laugh, he shook his head at her. “Well, if y’all end up gettin’ arrested for public indecency or somethin’, y’know who to call. Hamilton’s always been nothin’ but trouble, and the two of you together?” He whistled, giving her an amused grin. “Just dangerous.”

“Maybe I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past and this is all an illusion,” Annie laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. What memories she was supposed to show him, she wasn’t sure, considering most of anything to do with the past involved her. She took another sip of her drink before leaning her chin to rest in the palm of her hand as she stared up at him. That stupid grin --it’d never not make her stomach flip. “Yeah, two drunk girls, one of them being pint sized. We’re real dangerous.” 

Colton sidled over to the counter where Annie stood, giving her a friendly smile. “I could, actually. It’s been Deadsville all day.” He rested his hands on the edge of the counter, crinkling his nose. “I think Morgan and I might go in a couple of days, but… I don’t know, haven’t really been in the Christmas spirit,” he murmured with a slight shrug, crouching down slightly so he’s not towering over her. “–You got it.” He nodded, going to make her drink, gone for a moment and placing the drink in front of her, setting down a coaster first. “What ‘bout you? Havin’ fun out there?”

“Why’s that, Grinch?” After a moment or two, Annie finally chose to sit down, carefully seating herself on one of the high barstools. “No ghosts have visited you in the middle of the night to show you the error of your ways?” She looked down at the glass in front of her, then to him, and took a sip. “It’s the same as every year... Di and I are gonna get drunk off spiked hot chocolate eventually.” 

“–Fancy seein’ you here.” The bar’s been mostly empty all evening - probably thanks to the festival going on. He’s wiped down every surface of the bar so many times, it’s practically glistening. It’s probably the most clean The Whiskey Barrel’s ever been in the last three decades; there used to be a permanent layer of dust before Colton wiped the entire bar clean out of boredom. He was taking a break, leaning against the back of the counter as he watched a game, when Annie walked in - he knew it was Annie, even before he turned to look at her. He always knew. “What can I get ya?” @dcrlins​ 

“Figured you could use some company,” Annie murmured, glancing around the bar. There were only a couple other patrons besides her, all seemingly wanting a break from the holiday cheer going on outside. “It must be a real bummer that y’can’t celebrate the festival with the rest of us, huh?” She leaned against the bar, not quite willing to take a seat just yet. “Rum n’ Coke, please.” 

“Merry Christmas, Annie.” Jamie handed her a little bag and smiled. “I hope it’s okay. It’s not much, but I thought you might like it.”

@dcrlins​

“Jamie, you are just too sweet, y’know that?” Annie grinned, taking the bag from his hands. “I’m just grateful t’have been thought of.”

“Me too,” he admitted, pressing his forehead against hers. “I wanna be with you all the time, just like this– holding you and kissing you and being with you because I can’t get enough of you– but I also haven’t felt so at peace in a really long time,” he murmured softly, cradling her face in his hands, thumbs on her cheeks. “Ever since you walked into the bar, back into my life, I’ve just wanted you and it was hell pretendin’ I was okay with livin’ like I didn’t, like I don’t need you in my life to feel complete.” He pressed his lips against hers again, tightening his arms around her again. “I can’t wait for us to start just… livin’ our lives. Comin’ home to each other…. gettin’ married. Startin’ a family.” 

Annie was touched by Colt’s words, so much so that she was speechless. Instead, she met his lips, her hands threading through his hair. For a fraction of a second, when she needed to take a breath, the blonde sighed happily, pressing her forehead against Colton’s. “We’ve got all the time in the world,” she murmured, pecking his lips. “But I sometimes can’t help but feel like there’s so much to make up for, considerin’ how much time we lost. It was torture pretendin’ not to be in love with you for so long. You’re my person, Colton Rollins. In all things, in every sense of the word.” 

Colton laughed as  Annie suddenly started to climb into his lap– he quickly set his food back into the basket as carefully as he could, before his hands came to rest on her waist as she started to kiss him. “Oh, I’m gonna, just watch,” he murmured against her lips. And he did– he moved his arms around her, pulling her flush against him, moving his lips against hers until he wasn’t sure whether it’d been minutes or hours– time seemed to freeze when they were together. Nothing else mattered. He sighed against her lips before he pulled back slightly. “I love you, y’know that?” he asked her, looking adoringly into her eyes. 

Time stood still whenever she was with Colton --however, at the same time, Annie felt like she had to savor every moment. Hiding from the public eye meant moments like this were few and far between, unless they were covered in darkness from the night sky. “I love you,” she grinned, placing a hand gently under Colt’s jaw. Annie smoothed her thumb back and forth against his stubble, her hazel eyes searching his brown ones. “I am so in love with you, it drives me nuts. But in a good way, y’know?” 

Colton chuckled, moving to wrap his arm around her as she scooted closer to him. “I like puttin’ in the work, though.” He took a long sip of his beer, finishing it off and grabbing another before he turned back to her, grinning. “There’s apple, rhubarb, and chocolate cream. Mama was in a bakin’ mood. –Me too. It’s hard, pretending like I don’t wanna kiss the hell out of you every time I see you walkin’ down the street or doin’ anything aroudn here. I wanna shout from the rooftops that you’re all mine.”

“Chocolate cream? Colton Rollins, I could kiss you! --In fact...” Annie covered her food and placed it beside her, before abruptly (and without any regard for his food) climbing into Colt’s lap. “‘M gonna,” she grinned, leaning in to press her lips against his. “Y’can kiss the hell out of me now, though...” 

“–Is that right? Well, damn. Here I was tryin’ to charm my way into gettin’ you to have a roll in the hay,” he teased, Colton’s gaze twinkling with amusement as he watched her eat– he loved watching her do just about everything. “You gotta save room for dessert, there’s some pie in here too,” he replied, grabbing a fork and his own container of food, groaning softly as he ate. “This date’s been long over due, I’ve missed you.”

“Y’don’t gotta charm me, all y’gotta do is ask,” Annie grinned, taking another bite. She scooted a little closer to him, as if there had been any room between the two of them to begin with --any closer and she’d be in his lap. Much like always, she and Colton were glued to one another’s sides. “What kinda pie,” she asked, arching an eyebrow. “If you say apple, it’s pretty much a done deal. --I missed you too, I’m gettin’ tired of ignorin’ you in public.” 

Morgan held up the two bathing suits examining them herself again as she waited for Annie’s advice. Her head nodded in agreement at the statement putting down the two piece and keeping the one piece in her hand. “I think you’re right, I didn’t even consider that. And this one has the cute side cut outs.” She held it up for Annie to better see. “Good. Because if you weren’t Di and I woulda dragged ya out, no excuses.” She smiled before putting the bathing suit back and sitting on the couch. Having been friends with the girls for a while and feeling comfortable there. “Have you figured out which bathing suit you’re gonna wear? Or do we need to do some shoppin’?”

“Go with the one piece,” Annie confirmed with a nod of her head. “‘M not sure yet... I’ve got a couple’a new suits I thought would be cute... A one piece, most likely. I’ve got this cute one with flowers all over it and it laces up the front. Cute, but functional, right?” 

“We’re gonna have to agree to disagree on that, baby,” Colton replied with a chuckle. “‘Cause it’s definitely you.” He watched her with an amused grin, leaning back and getting comfortable beside her. “….Is it workin’?” he teased, giving her a shit-eating grin. “–I’m with you, I’m always lucky, darlin’.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Eat up.”

“God, you’re cheesy. It wouldn’t take much t’get me in the sack with you,” Annie grinned, picking up a fork to dig into the container containing brisket. The brunette took a bite, all but moaning. This had to be her favorite meal. “But this is definitely helpin’... I just hope I’m not too full.”

“Okay, I need your expert advice.” Morgan said as she walked into Annie and Di’s place, putting her bag on the first surface she came in contact with. She immediately opened the bag and pulled out the contents. “Which one do I choose for tubing this weekend?” She held up the options of bathing suits. “And please tell me you’re coming, right?” @dcrlins​

“How can ya choose when they’re both so cute!?” Annie examined each suit, finding herself almost as perplexed as Morgan, which probably wasn’t the help her friend was looking for. “Maybe the one piece,” she murmured. “You’re always safer wearin’ a one piece when you’re tubin’. --I’m plannin’ on it!”

“Nah, I can already hear him sayin’ ‘Amanda Marie, I don’t need your help. I can find a date myself, if I want one. You’re worse than Mama.’” Amanda made the motion with her hand that looked like someone talking and rolled her eyes.

“And do you think he wants one?” Annie arched an eyebrow towards her friend. “’M just curious, is all.” 

“It does but in the best way. I like you keepin’ me on my toes. I like us bein’ spontaneous. And sexy. Though that’s more your job,” he teased, smirking slightly. He nodded towards the basket, pulling out a beer for each of them and popping the tops off of them. “I do. I know you pretty well, I’d say. And you deserve the best, so that’s what you get,” he murmured with a smile. “For you,” he handed over a beer, taking a sip of his own and watching her with a small smile on his face.

“Sexy? You’re thinkin’ of the wrong person in this relationship,” Annie laughed, taking a sip of her beer. “If anyone’s sexy, it’s you.” She took another swig and placed it carefully beside her, making sure it was balanced just enough so it wouldn’t fall. “Good lord, look at this spread! You’ve outdone yourself. It’s like you’re askin’ t’get lucky tonight.” 

“That’s the one I’m goin’ to use! I want him to be happy too, after all. I’m not completely selfish in this. Once I get enough messages, I’ll give him control of it. I’m not about to talk to girls pretendin’ to be him.”

“’M sure there’s lots of single ladies lookin’ for a hot farmer, you’ll have more matches than y’can count on your fingers ‘n toes. Y’think he’ll be interested in takin’ control of that?”

“I know what to expect from horror movies– you, however, tend to keep me on my toes.” Lips turning up into a slight smirk, he considered kissing her again, but decided they’d have plenty of time for making out– it was date night, after all. “I love you too, baby. –I got some of your favorites. A little bit of this, little bit of that..” He opened the picnic basket to reveal their dinner. 

“So you’re sayin’ that scares you? Ain’t that the mark of a good relationship? We’ll always stay spontaneous ‘n sexy,” she laughed, taking a peek at the contents of picnic basket. “Shit, there’s brisket in there. You really know the way to my heart.”