Page 39 of The One Who Saw Her: Boone

Speaking of which, Vivi walked past Buns and Guns and around a cluster of women in their Sunday best who were looking at her like she was an alien from Mars. She gave a polite smile followed by a chipper "Afternoon." And since today's Glow Up exercise was to compliment a stranger, she added, "You ladies aren't a squad—you're a walking Instagram feed. Keep up the good work."

Man oh man, did they smile. Ear to ear and from the soul. And so did Vivi. Making someone's day seemed to make hers right back.

She stepped off the curb and crossed the street toward Hammered and Nailed, Bridlewood’s only hardwood and metal art store. Situated on the south end of Main Street, right next to Granny’s Grocer’s and Grain, Hammered and Nailed was a red shiplap building with a plaque by the door.

Established in 1874 by Mary and Jack Button, this hardware store has been in the Button

family ever since—three generations of tools, tradition, and not fixing what wasn’t broken.

Vivi shoved through the door and a cowbell clanked in her wake. The scent of two-by-fours, motor oil, and all things home repair greeted her. So did Spud's voice.

"Be with you when I can," he grumbled from beneath a piece of art made from soldered car parts.

Behind him was an organized display of shiny metal and smooth wood stacked in neat towers. Rows of nails glinted like tiny soldiers under the fluorescent lights, while cans of paint lined the shelves in a rainbow gradient that made the whole aisle feel like a candy store for DIYers. Hammers hung from hooks like polished trophies, next to a pegboard of screwdrivers, and beside them was a bin of random tools labeled Odds & Ends.

Above it all, a hand-painted banner announced, “Bridlewood Sunflower Spectacular July 25th.”

Spud peeked his head over the workbench and smiled. He had magnifying goggles on that made him look like Mad-Eye Moody from Harry Potter.

"She's a beaut, ain't she?" Spud asked, making his way toward Vivi.

Vivi wanted to point out that she was an interesting pronoun for a penis sculpture but decided to keep that opinion to herself given the pride gleaming through his smile.

Today he was wearing a dusty flannel that hugged him like armor, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms that had clearly seen more hard work than most people could imagine. In his hand was the aforementioned steel penis with bolts for balls.

"A man special-ordered it and then returned it," Spud continued. "Said the shape wasn't family friendly. Not family friendly? Can you imagine someone saying that about such a unique piece?"

"I cannot imagine," Vivi said noncommittally.

Spud was the gatekeeper between her and the bunkhouse being a success. She needed lumber—and a lot of it. She also needed it fast if they were going to finish in time and Hammered and Nailed was the only place in town that could deliver lumber ASAP. The next closest location was Big Sky, a two-hour drive away, and ordering from there would take weeks.

She'd already asked Jo to donate coffee for the day of the “barn raising” and Jo had agreed. All she needed now was doughnuts and a baker's dozen volunteers to help demo and refurbish the bunkhouse. It was good to know she had supporters.

What was not good was that the town gossip vine was still chattering. And even though she'd proven she wasn't going to turn tail and run back to the city, there was still talk about the nature of her and Boone's “relationship”. So, it was time she set the record straight.

"You know that orgasm we were talking about?" she said. "You can spread the word that I'm still working on it."

Spud's face turned red from neck to ears. "Well, that wife? No luck there either."

"What's holding you back?" Vivi asked.

"No prospects," he said solemnly.

"How about you?"

"No prospects."

"So, you and Boone?"

She shook her head vigorously. "Most definitely not. He's just my landlord."

Spud threw his arms around her and gave her a hug that nearly crushed her sternum. "Well, you just won me a hundred bucks, young lady."

"You didn't think⁠—?"

"Heck, no," Spud said, pulling back. "You're a lady through and through. Plus, that boy's still mourning his parents. There's no room in his heart for happiness with all that grief."

No room in his heart for happiness?