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I pause because, if I’m being honest, I never cared. My ma always tried to keep me informed of what was going on in Magnolia, but I never really paid attention. If it had nothing to do with her or my father, I barely paid attention. If I had, it wouldn’t have taken me this long to find my way back to Marissa. The moment I knew she and Campbell weren’t married, I’d have come right back to town, hoping to have a chance with her.
“I didn’t think so. Campbell dumped her a few months after you left for school.”
“Okay—”
“I’m not finished yet.” Nolan turns toward me. “He ended up married to Emmeline Baker and had a baby on the way six months later.”
“Motherfucker,” I swear, my anger bubbling to the surface. “I knew they had broken up, but I never knew all the details.”
“Yeah, it was the only thing people in town could talk about for almost a year after it happened. The rumors and speculation didn’t die down until she headed off to college.”
“No wonder why she’s so skittish about getting into another serious relationship.”
Marissa must have had her guard up for years. The hurt in her eyes all makes sense now. I have a feeling I’ve been pushing her too hard, but for some reason, I can’t help myself. Marissa being single and clearly into me was the last thing I expected to happen when I came back to Magnolia. But now that I see my opening, I’m going to take it. I’m going to make sure that Marissa knows how much she means to me.
CHAPTERELEVEN
MARISSA
“I’m about to head out. Do you need anything else before I go?” Dolores pops her head into my office, scanning the room for Lord knows what.
“What are you looking for?” I laugh loudly before pushing back from my desk slightly, resting my heels on the corner.
“Don’t let Colt catch you doing that. He’ll have your head.” Dolores scoffs, coming the rest of the way into my office and shutting the door.
“Oh, this must really be serious if you’re closing the door.” I pull my feet off my desk, my eyes locked on Dolores as I try to figure out what her end game is here.
“Can you be serious for a minute, Marissa?” She flops down into the chair in front of my desk, running her hand through her shoulder-length blonde hair. “I wanted to know how you were doing, really.”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Why does it feel like everyone around me knows something I don’t?”
I wince slightly as I watch her shoulders roll forward, as if she’s closing in on herself. Dolores drops her chin to her chest and responds softly. “I di-didn’t mean a-anything b-by it. I j-just wa-wanted to check on you. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.” I sigh, pushing to my feet and strolling around my desk.
Everyone has been acting strange around me for the last few days. Everyone goes silent when I walk into a room, and I see people whispering as I walk by on Main Street. Usually shit like this wouldn’t bother me, but for some reason, this has me on edge. I know if it was important, Colt or someone would tell me, but I hate not knowing, especially if it has to do with me.
“I’m fine.” I give her a reassuring smile. “I promise.”
“I know we aren’t close, but I want you to know you can trust me, Marissa. I don’t have many people in my life that I could call a friend, but I try my best to be there for the people I care about, and I care about you.” She sighs as I take a seat next to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and giving her an awkward hug.
Now I’m even more worried than I was, but I push those feelings to the side. I can tell that Dolores was being sincere when she asked me if I was okay, not searching for gossip like I’m so used to happening.
Ever since mine and Campbell’s epic breakup years ago, every time he comes back into town, the questions and whispers start all over again. People aren’t being malicious, and I truly believe that deep down they are asking because they care, but I also know it’s interesting. So, even though I know very little about Dolores, I believe she’s being sincere.
“Maybe we can even be friends,” she mumbles, shrugging my hand off her shoulder and standing.
“I’d really like that,” I respond, and she flashes me one of her award-winning smiles.
That smile is the main reason Colt hired her. He claimed we needed someone at the front desk that would put people at ease when they walked through the door.
“Me, too,” she responds. Her eyes scan my face, no doubt searching for any signs that I’m lying, but she won’t find any. It’s been a very weird couple of weeks. Discovering my one-night stand is none other than Finn Buckley. Something that, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to forget.
I shake my head, hoping to clear the memories from that night out of my head. I don’t want to think about the way his eyes scanned me from head to toe as if he was ready to devour me, body and soul, or how his voice sent a shiver of pleasure all the way through me when all he said was my name.
Nope, no thinking about it. It will only lead to wanting to spend another night with him, not that I don’t already want to do just that, but it can’t happen. There is no way that things will work out between Finn and me. Maybe before, well, everything, that girl who had an open heart would believe that love could fix anything. But I’m not that girl anymore.
“Fine. I’ll take your word for it, but I want you to know you can tell me if you’re having a hard time. I won’t tell anyone. I promise. Even if they ask.” She smiles before turning on her heels and heading for the door.
