Seed Between Us

Chapter Two: Colin's Return Home

Colin Bridgerton had been away for what felt like an eternity. His travels had taken him far from London, and though they had brought him the usual wanderlust satisfaction, they had also distanced him from the life he had always known. It was only after his return a little over a month ago that things with Penelope had begun to shift subtly, imperceptibly at first, but then with undeniable force. Something between them had changed, and Colin had found himself tangled in emotions he hadn't anticipated. His relationship with Penelope his best friend—was no longer the simple, comfortable bond it once was.When Colin stepped through the front door of the Bridgerton family estate, he was met with the familiar bustle of home, but it all seemed so distant now. The chatter of his siblings, the distant scent of a meal being prepared it was all there, but somehow, Colin felt like an outsider.

His thoughts were far from the welcoming chaos of the house; they were with Penelope, and with the confusing, shifting space between them.At the top of the staircase, his mother, Violet Bridgerton, appeared. She was as poised and graceful as always, her gaze steady and knowing. Violet had always had a way of seeing through him, and today was no exception. She looked at him with that same intuition, her eyes softening as she took in his weary posture.

"Colin," she greeted him warmly, her voice soothing, yet with the edge of concern. "It's good to have you home."He returned her smile, but it was half-hearted, weighed down by everything he wasn't saying.

"Yes, well... it's good to be back. I didn't realize how much I missed being here."Violet's eyes narrowed slightly, noting the fatigue in his frame.

"You've been traveling, I know. But there's more to it, isn't there?" she asked gently. "You don't look like yourself my Son."

Colin rubbed a hand over his face, sighing deeply. He wasn't ready for this conversation, but he knew it was inevitable. Violet was as perceptive as ever. He had been avoiding this avoiding the truth of his feelings, of what had transpired in the past month. But here, in his family home, surrounded by the noise and warmth of everything he had always known, he felt it pressing on him all the more.

"It's Penelope," he admitted, his voice quieter than he intended. "We've spent a lot of time together since I returned, and... well, I don't know what's happening between us anymore."

Violet studied him closely, her face softening in concern. "Penelope? Your best friend?" she repeated, her voice gentle but curious.

"Yes," Colin replied, running a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of the emotions swirling inside him. "We've always been close, but this... this feels different. I think... I think I might be in love with her."

Violet's eyes widened slightly, though there was no judgment in her gaze. Instead, she seemed to be considering his words carefully, as if she had been waiting for him to say them out loud. She didn't press him immediately, choosing instead to let the silence linger for a moment. Finally, she spoke, her voice kind but probing.

"In love with her," she repeated, her tone thoughtful. "That's quite a shift from just being her best friend."

"I know," Colin said, the words tumbling out. "I didn't plan it. When I came back, we just started spending more time together just the two of us. I didn't think it would change anything. But it did. It's like something between us snapped into focus. And now, I can't stop thinking about her."

Violet leaned back slightly, regarding him with that quiet, steady wisdom she always had. "So, what's the problem, Colin? Why does it seem like you're unsure about this?"

Colin hesitated, the frustration building again. He was unsure of so many things. The confusion inside him was like a storm he couldn't quiet. He felt a strange sense of distance from Penelope now a gap between them that he couldn't explain. They had crossed some invisible line, and now he was standing on the other side, unsure of how to reach her.