Page 19 of Always Mine

“How old are you again, Dr. Phil?” I tease, trying to change the subject, but also, not kidding, she should be a therapist. I look around, thankful and surprised that no one has stopped to talk to us yet. Dropping my voice, I lean in so no one else can hear me—not that there are many people around to begin with. “And who said I still love him?”

“You’re joking, right? It’s so obvious.”

My face scrunches in amusement. “Well, please enlighten me.”

“You’ve been grumbling around, on edge since you got here. Your eyes linger in specific places too long when you think no one is looking. My guess, you’re thinking about memories you’ve shared with Wyatt.” She pauses, pursing her lips before snapping her fingers as another thought hits her. “And you’re still wearing the necklace he gave you in high school.” Screw the therapist idea, she needs to be a detective with those skills.

My eyes widen in surprise and I reach up, rubbing the chain through my shirt. “I don’t even know what to say.” I didn’t expect anyone to realize this was the same necklace. Hell, how does she even remember that?

“Admit I’m right and let’s go inside?” She motions for me to follow her to the store, but I stop her, grabbing hold of her arm and dragging her back to me.

I hate that she can read me so easily. “But what if he’s inside?”

“He won’t be. Use your brain. Three years changed some things, but not the Claytons. They’re all down at the farmer’s market like they are every weekend. If Wyatt isn’t there, he’s either working on their farm or out with Coop—” She stops herself, slamming her lips together and looking away from me.

I cock my head, not understanding her reaction. “And?”

“And what?” Her voice is too high, the confidence from seconds ago long gone. Not to mention she still isn’t looking at me.

“Why would it matter if he was hanging out with Cooper? They’ve always been friends.”

She’s already bobbing her head before I finish speaking, and then she releases some weird high-pitched chuckle thing. What is happening right now? “Yeah, exactly, and Hunter too.”

“Okaaay and?” I'm clearly missing something.

“Nothing.” She grabs my arm, pulling me toward the store, her attempt at ending the conversation. “Let’s go in. You need some new boots, right?”

She’s dodging the question. What’s that about? “Lily—”

Her hand shoots out, pointing past my shoulder, effectively cutting me off. My hackles rise, thinking about who she could be seeing. Shit, is it Wyatt?

Fuck, not yet. I’m not ready.

“Birdie is across the street. We need to hurry inside before she sees us.” Okay, I changed my mind. I think I’d rather face Wyatt than Birdie.

I don’t say anything else, letting her tug me the rest of the way inside so I can avoid Birdie like the plague. The last thing I need is one of the town gossipers getting ahold of me. I wouldn’t escape that unscathed. Especially if it was Shirley, Wyatt’s Nana.

I practically shiver at the thought of seeing her. Any of the Claytons really. Who knows how they’ll react to me being here again?

Ma hasn’t said much about any of them, per my request, but I know she still sees Wyatt’s mom, Jacey. They’ve been best friends forever and I don’t expect that to change because Wyatt and I broke up.

“So, boots,” Lily says, dropping my arm but continuing toward the back of the store. “You said you wanted brown ones, but you can at least get some flare. What do you think about tassels?”

“I think you’ve lost your mind,” I tell her, skipping past the boots and heading straight for the tennis shoes. They have several styles and I snag a pair of plain Nike Runners. I forgot to bring workout shoes with me, and that is a must so I can jog. “Can you go ask if they have these in a ten?”

“Why? What’s wrong with your voice?” she sasses while browsing all the shoes on display.

Damn, this girl.

“Lily.” I hunch forward, trying to plead with her. I’m not above begging. “I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself.”

“You know people are going to spot you eventually, right? You can’t hide forever. Whether it be here or the next store. Everyone will know you’re here before long. You can’t change that, no matter how badly you want to.”

She’s right, regardless of how much I wish she wasn’t, but still, maybe I can have this reprieve for a little while longer. “Please.” I hold out the shoe. “Just this once.” Then I give her my best ‘feel sorry for me’ look and she concedes, but not without having her way.

“Fine.” She takes the shoe and stops in front of the display of cowboy boots. “But you’re also getting these.” Then she grabs a pair I’d never agree to, running toward the front of the store before I can protest.

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