Page 21 of Secret Southern Promises

I didn’t like that thought. I didn’t like the idea of her life continuing without me in it. But the truth was, she had moved on. She had a kid now, a life that didn’t include me. And that was something I had to accept if I wanted to be part of her world again, even just as friends.

But I didn’t want just friends.

I wanted to be in her life. Not on the outskirts, not just the guy she used to know. I wanted to be the one she called when she needed something. The one who was there for her, for her kid. The one she could count on.

I drained the beer and set the bottle down on the patio table.

Tomorrow, I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’d go see her at the store and ask her about dinner again. Keep things casual, like I said I would. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t casual for me.

Friends was just the beginning. And I wasn’t about to let this chance slip through my fingers.

Tomorrow, I’d find a way to remind her who we used to be. And maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to that.

Chapter Twelve

Dolly

I was lying in bed scrolling through my phone, mindlessly flipping between social media apps, when Nash walked into my room.

“Can I stay the night at Jason’s Friday night?”

I glanced up from my phone, a little surprised by the question. “What are you guys going to do?” I asked, setting the phone down on my lap.

He shrugged and leaned against the doorframe. “Probably play video games, eat pizza, and just hang out.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And his parents will be home?”

Nash rolled his eyes and gave me that look only a teenager can manage. “Yes, Mom. Of course, they will be.”

I figured they would, but it was my job to ask. “Are you going over there after school?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “What time do I have to be home on Saturday?”

I stretched, giving it some thought. “Well,” I drawled out, “I normally need your help in the morning on Saturdays, but I think I can handle things by myself this weekend. How about being home by four?”

His face lit up like I’d just handed him a gift. “Really? I thought for sure you were going to tell me I had to be at the store by eight. I’m totally cool with four.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Nash was a good kid. He never complained about helping out at the store, but I didn’t want him to resent it either. I’d taken over Magnolia Mart because it was the family business, but I didn’t want Nash to feel like he had to do the same. I wanted him to have options, to figure out what he wanted for himself.

“Home by four,” I said, “and then maybe we can have a movie night?”

“Heck yeah,” he said, excited. “Think we can rent the newTwistersmovie? I heard it’s really good.”

I nodded, feeling a little tug at my heart. These movie nights were becoming less frequent as he got older, so I wanted to hang on to them while I could. “Sounds like a plan, honey.”

“Awesome. Thanks, Mom.” Nash flashed me a grin before turning and heading back down the hall, leaving me in the quiet of my room again.

I sighed and picked up my phone once more, but I did not really pay attention to the screen this time.

Boone had wanted me to come over to his place to show me how to cook, and I really didn’t want Nash to come along. Boone and I were friends, but I wasn’t ready to cross the bridge of Boone and Nash meeting.

I stared at my phone, thinking about how, with Nash at Jason’s, I wouldn’t have to come up with some excuse about why Nash wasn’t coming along with me to Boone’s place. I bit my lip, suddenly feeling the nerves that had been simmering beneath the surface all day.

This was perfect.

I took a deep breath and pulled up Boone’s contact info. The familiar tightness in my chest returned, the same one I always felt whenever I thought about him.

My fingers hovered over the screen. I just needed to get this over with—simple, straightforward—and I didn’t have to make it into a big deal. I typed out the message.I’m free Friday night. I can give you a few pointers on cooking if you want.

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