Chapter Five

Dolly

I needed a bagel.

Not just any bagel. A cinnamon raisin with honey pecan cream cheese. I knew it would go straight to my hips, but twice a week, I couldn't resist. Some days, it was a sausage, egg, and cheese kind of day, all savory and satisfying, but today? Today was a sweet day.

It probably had something to do with the stress—the kind that made me feel like my shoulders were permanently clenched. Like I was one deep breath away from screaming into the void. So yeah, I needed something comforting. And for me, that was a sweet, sticky bagel that would melt all the tension away, at least for a few minutes.

"Here you go, Dolly," Jo called from behind the counter, her voice cut through the comforting scent of fresh-baked bagels. "One cinnamon raisin bagel with honey pecan cream cheese. I really need to try this one."

I smiled and made my way over to her, grabbing the bag as she handed it across the counter. "You say that every time I order it. Next time, I'm going to order two and give you one," I laughed.

Jo chuckled, shaking her head as she wiped her hands on her apron. "Yeah, that might be the only way I try it. I've got a long list of bagel combinations to work through, but I'll move it up the list if you make it that easy."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'll hold you to it," I said, taking a deep breath as the scent of the warm bagel in the bag hit me. My stomach growled in approval. This was exactly what I needed.

With the bag in hand, I turned toward the door, weaving my way through the tables. It was still early, so the usual breakfast crowd hadn't fully descended yet. Just a few people here and there, sipping their coffees, scrolling through their phones, or chatting quietly with a friend. It felt peaceful, and for a moment, I let myself relax into it.

"Have a nice day, Dolly!" Jo's voice rang out again just as I reached the door.

I glanced back over my shoulder and waved with the bag in my hand. "You too, Jo! I'll see you next week!" Or possibly tomorrow if this bagel didn't help fix all of my problems.

As I turned back around, everything happened in slow motion. One second, I was looking forward to my bagel and the next, I was crashing into something—or someone—solid. I stumbled, my feet losing their grip on the tiled floor, and teetered backward as the bag flew from my hand. My arms flailed as I tried to catch myself, but gravity had other plans.

Before I could hit the ground, a pair of strong hands grabbed me, steadying me before I could completely lose my balance. My heart pounded as I blinked up at the person I'd just run into, breathless from the near fall and embarrassment.

And there he was. Boone West.

What were the damn odds?

My breath caught in my throat, and for a second, I couldn't move, couldn't even think. His hands were still on my arms, holding me steady, and I could feel the warmth of his touch through my jacket. His eyes met mine, just as blue as I remembered, though there was something different in them now. Something heavier, maybe. The boy I used to know wasn't the same man standing in front of me.

"Whoa there, you all right?" His deep voice rumbled, concern laced in the words.

I nodded, though my heart was still racing. "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine. Just... wasn't watching where I was going." Obviously.

He let go of my arms, but not before giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Good thing I was, then."

I swallowed, trying to find my voice again as I bent down to retrieve the bag that had unceremoniously fallen to the floor. Boone crouched down at the same time, his hand brushing against mine as we both reached for it.

"Here," he said softly, picking it up and handing it back to me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Saved your breakfast too."

I took the bag from him, trying to ignore the way my skin tingled where his fingers had touched mine. "Thanks," I mumbled, suddenly feeling like I was back in high school, all awkward and unsure.

He stood up, towering over me in that way that used to make me feel small and safe all at once. "Didn't think I'd run into you here, Dolly," he said, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to figure out if I was real or just a figment of his memory.

I swallowed again, feeling the weight of his gaze. "Yeah, well, Magnolia Grove isn't exactly a big place."

"No, it's not," he agreed, his voice low and thoughtful.

An awkward silence settled between us, the kind that only happened when two people had too much history to fit into a single conversation. I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words hanging between us like they were just waiting to burst out.

Boone shifted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You... still get bagels from here, huh?"

"Yeah." I looked down at the bag in my hand, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Guess I'm a creature of habit." The Bagel Bin had been my vice all the way back, starting in high school.

He nodded slowly, his eyes still on me. "Same ol' Dolly. Sweet or savory today?"

I couldn't tell if he meant it as a compliment or just a statement of fact, but either way, it hit me harder than I expected. Because I wasn't the same old Dolly, not really. Not after everything that had happened. But standing in front of Boone, it felt like I hadn't changed at all. Like all the years that had passed between us didn't matter. "Uh, I went with sweet today," I muttered. "I should probably go," I said, shifting on my feet. "Don't want to be late for work."

Boone looked like he wanted to say something else, his mouth opening slightly, but then he just nodded. "Right. Of course."

I turned toward the door again, my heart still pounding, but just as I was about to step outside, I glanced back at him. He hadn't moved, just stood there watching me, like he was trying to figure out if this was some kind of dream.

"Take care, Boone," I said softly, almost like I didn't want him to hear it.

His eyes met mine, and for a second, I saw a flicker of something in them—something that made my chest tighten in a way I hadn't felt in years.

"You too, Dolly," he replied, his voice rough around the edges.

I turned and pushed open the door. I stepped out into the cool morning air, but even as I walked away, I could still feel his eyes on me.

There went my plans of avoiding Boone West.