Chapter Twenty-Five

Dolly

This was phase two of everyone finding out that Boone was Nash's dad. It felt like the gossip surrounding me was a relentless storm, swirling and threatening to pull me under. I was the center of the circus, and the spotlight felt hot and uncomfortable.

At least three times a day, I either overheard customers gossiping about me, or they outright asked what I was thinking, keeping Boone from Nash. The questions ranged from curious to accusatory, as if I'd committed the ultimate betrayal. Thankfully, tomorrow was my day off, and I could just hibernate in my bed and not surface until Friday.

Things weren't any better with Nash. He only talked to me when he absolutely had to, and even then, it was short, clipped exchanges that felt like needles. The atmosphere between us was tense, filled with unspoken words and hurt feelings. I hated it.

About half an hour ago, Nash had walked into the store with his arm still in a sling from his bike crash. He was working on stocking the canned vegetables, his face a mask of concentration, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

Just as I was about to head back to check on him, I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"Dolly!"

Oh hell.

Sam and Renee, two of the biggest gossipmongers in town, had just waltzed in. Great. Just what I needed.

"Hey!" I plastered a smile on my face, the kind that felt more like a grimace, and turned to scan their items. "How can I help you ladies today?"

"How have you been?" Renee asked, her voice too chipper.

"Anything exciting happening?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Nope, not much going on."

"That's not what I heard." Sam bumped her hip into Renee, a conspiratorial grin plastered on her face. "Heard you got a baby daddy now."

Where did these two get their nerve? Seriously.

"I think Boone should get a paternity test just to be on the safe side," Sam continued, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I couldn't believe this. They were talking about me as if I wasn't standing right there. It was like I was invisible. So, I decided to act like I couldn't hear them.

"I wonder how much one of those tests costs?" Renee pondered, her brow furrowed like she was deep in thought.

"I bet if they go on Maury, it won't cost a dime," Sam leaned in, practically whispering to Renee. "Not like Boone has anything to worry about when it comes to money."

I finished scanning their items and totaled them up, forcing myself to focus on the register instead of their conversation. "Seventeen-twelve," I said, keeping my voice steady.

Renee handed me a twenty, and I gave her the change and closed the cash drawer with a little more force than necessary.

I looked up and caught Sam and Renee both staring at me, the satisfaction in their eyes almost palpable. They were trying to get a rise out of me, and I was determined not to give it to them.

"You guys have a nice day," I said, the fake cheeriness in my tone not matching the anger bubbling beneath the surface.

They grabbed their bags, still chattering away about me as they walked out. I wanted to scream, to demand that they just leave me alone. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I watched them disappear through the door.

As soon as they left, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease slightly.

"Hey, Nash," I called out, forcing my voice to sound casual.

He looked up, his expression guarded. "Yeah?"

"Ready to go?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light. I was going to drop him off at Boone's and then head home for a steaming hot bath. The kind that would wash away the stress of the day.

"Yeah."

We drove in silence toward Boone's house. The tension in the car was thick enough to cut with a knife. Nash stared out the passenger window, avoiding my gaze, lost in his own world. I wished I could find the right words to bridge the gap between us.

As we pulled into Boone's driveway, Nash opened the door before the wheels had even stopped rolling.

"Ask him if he can give you a ride home or if I should pick you up," I said, my voice steady but laced with a hint of desperation. "Text me what he says."

"Fine," Nash grunted, already halfway out of the car.

"I love you," I added, hoping to reach him just a little.

The only response I got was the sound of the door slamming shut.

Yeah, I was going home, climbing into my bathtub, and crying my eyes out.

I shifted the car into reverse, my chest tightening as I glanced out the windshield. Boone stepped out onto the porch; his tall frame silhouetted against the evening light. I couldn't bear to look at him. My heart couldn't take it.

I backed onto the street, feeling the familiar ache of regret gnawing at me. I had been so close to having Boone back in my life, but that had slipped through my fingers like sand.

I turned away, focusing on the road as I headed back to my house. Boone and Nash were going to have a nice night together, laughing and reconnecting, while I was going home to cry.

Once I parked in the driveway, I sat there for a moment and stared at the front door. The silence was deafening. I felt as if I were drowning in a sea of emotions, each wave pulling me further under.

I finally gathered myself and got out of the car. The chill in the air bit at my skin, reminding me of how raw I felt inside. I fumbled with my keys, finally managed to unlock the door, and stepped inside.

The warmth of the house welcomed me, but it only heightened the emptiness. I kicked off my shoes and made my way to the bathroom, yearning for the comfort of a hot bath.

As I filled the tub, I couldn't help but replay the day in my mind. Nash's guarded expression, the way he'd shut me out—it all stung. And then there was Renee and Sam. I needed to ban those two from the store.

I sank into the water and let out a shaky breath as the heat enveloped me. The steam rose around me, but I could still feel the coldness inside. I tried to focus on the soothing sensation, but thoughts of Nash and Boone kept intruding.

The memories of the past weeks flooded back—the laughter we shared, the tentative steps toward rebuilding our relationship. But now, it felt like a delicate house of cards that had just collapsed.

I buried my face in my hands, letting the tears flow freely. I was scared of what lay ahead, scared of the damage my choices had caused. I had wanted to protect Nash, to give him a good life, but I had underestimated how much he needed his dad—and how much I needed Boone.