Chapter Two

Boone

I wasn't an idiot.

I knew the second I pushed open those old wooden doors of Magnolia Mart I was walking straight into my past. And I knew my past had a name. Dolly Hanes. It had been years—hell, over a decade—but the memories of her were as clear as the day I left Magnolia Grove.

I couldn't help but hesitate as the bell above the door jingled. The familiar scent of fresh pine cleaner hit me, and I was instantly transported back to all those afternoons I spent hanging around here, waiting for Dolly to finish up her shift. Magnolia Mart hadn't changed much. The shelves might've been restocked with different brands, but the heart of it was the same. Same creaky floors, same lighting, and—if I wasn't mistaken—the same damn aisle signs hanging from the ceiling.

But it wasn't the store that had me caught up. It was the woman standing by the bananas, talking to Mrs. Linda like nothing had changed in the world. She hadn't even noticed me walk in. Part of me wanted to just rip the damn bandage off, face her head-on, and get it over with. Instead, I found myself wandering down the nearest aisle like a coward, pretending to be interested in a jar of pickles I sure as hell wasn't planning on buying.

I'd spent a lot of time in this place back in high school. Magnolia Mart was practically a second home. Dolly had always been stuck behind that register after school, and I would hang around, leaning on the counter, waiting for her to finish up. Everyone knew we were together, and everyone—hell, even me—thought we'd be married by the time we were twenty.

That hadn't happened, though. A lot had happened. And none of it was what we'd planned.

I grabbed a case of beer and a loaf of bread—bachelor staples. I wasn't in the mood to spend much time browsing. Truth be told, I was barely ready for this moment. But hell, there I was, standing in the middle of Magnolia Mart, facing down a memory I thought I'd tucked away years ago.

As I made my way to the register, I saw her again. Dolly. She was reading a magazine, completely unaware that I'd walked in. For a moment, I thought about just backing out and saving us both from the awkwardness that was about to follow, but then the bell above the door chimed, and it was too late.

She tossed the magazine under the counter and straightened up. Then she saw me.

Her jaw dropped open, and I swear, time stood still for a second.

She looked almost exactly like she did the last time I'd seen her our senior year. Long, wavy brown hair still tumbled down her back, streaked with those lighter shades of brown that always caught the light just right. Her eyes—big and brown—widened as she stared at me, and for a second, I felt like I was eighteen again, waiting outside the school for her to finish cheerleading practice.

Back then, Dolly had been the prettiest girl in Magnolia Grove. Every guy wanted her attention, but somehow, I was the one who had it. Time hadn't changed that. She was still gorgeous, maybe even more so now, with the kind of elegance that came with growing older.

But right now? She was pale. Really pale, like she was looking at a ghost, which I suppose, in a way, she was. Fifteen years is a long time.

I set the beer and bread on the conveyor. "Hello, Dolly," I drawled, trying to sound casual, even though my chest felt tight like I'd just been punched.

Her mouth moved, but it took a second for any sound to come out. Her hands gripped the edge of the counter like it was the only thing holding her up, and for a moment, I thought she might just fall over.

"Boone," she whispered, her voice barely there, like she couldn't quite believe I was standing in front of her. Her eyes scanned my face, searching for something—maybe for proof that I wasn't just some figment of her imagination.

I gave her a nod, forcing a tight smile. "In the flesh," I said.

The silence that followed was thick and almost suffocating. Neither of us moved. It was like we were both trying to figure out what came next after all these years.

"I didn't think…" she started but trailed off, her eyes darting down to the case of beer and loaf of bread in my hands. "You're back?"

"Yeah," I replied, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. "Figured it was about time."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded slowly. I could see the emotions warring on her face—surprise, confusion, maybe even a little guilt.

"You look… good," she said finally, her voice soft, but there was something behind her words that made me feel like there was more she wasn't saying.

"You too," I said, and I meant it. "You always did."

Dolly blinked as if the compliment had caught her off guard, but then she recovered. She squared her shoulders and gave me a nod.

"Magnolia Mart hasn't changed much," I commented.

Dolly looked around the store as if she hadn't spent her whole life here. "Yeah, I guess it hasn't." She stared at me for another long moment, and I could see the questions brewing in her mind. Before she could ask them, the bell above the door chimed again. Another customer walked in, breaking the moment.

Dolly's eyes flickered to the newcomer, then back to me, and I could tell she was about to shift into professional mode.

I nodded at the beer and bread and reached for my wallet. "Guess I'll let you get back to work," I said.

"Yeah," she replied, though I could tell her mind was still spinning. She rang up my stuff quickly, her hands moving a little more shakily than usual, and handed me the bag.

"See you around?" I asked, knowing full well that in a town this small, it wasn't really a question.

She hesitated, then gave me a tight smile. "Yeah. I guess you will."

I nodded, then turned and headed for the door. I stepped outside, then let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

Seeing Dolly again wasn't going to be as easy as I'd hoped.

I had hoped I wouldn't feel anything when I saw her.

Fifteen years was a long time, and life moved on.

Right?