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It’s been almost a month since my non-date with Finn, and by some miracle, I’ve mostly avoided him. We’ve seen each other around town in passing, giving a friendly wave or making small talk, but nothing further than that. Sure, we see each other in church on Sunday, but I've been sticking close to my parents. It seems childish, but they make a good buffer. Besides, they are show-up-early-and-leave-last type of people, giving me the perfect excuse to keep my contact with Finn to a minimum.
I’ve been reinforcing the walls around my heart. Pushing all my emotions and feelings for Finn deep inside, hoping for them to fade away or for him to lose interest, whichever comes first. I thought things were going well until two weeks ago when the meals started arriving.
It seems someone ratted me out and gave Finn my schedule here at the station. So, every shift, I receive a meal from 365 Diner or even the fancy restaurant at the country club, along with a note.
“What does the note say today?” Dolores asks, placing the take-out box from the diner in front of me and handing me a small envelope with my name on it before taking a seat.
“Probably something cheesy again,” I scoff, but my heart flutters slightly in my chest.
Finn isn’t playing fair. Most men would beg for another roll in the hay, my phone number, or even naked pictures. Trust me, it’s true. But Finn does nothing but send me sweet messages. I’m surprised he hasn’t even asked for my phone number, although I have a sneaking suspicion Dolores would gladly give it to him if he asked.
“Stop complaining. I know deep down you are swooning over every note he sends.”
“Why do you say that?” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Because you keep them all in your top desk drawer.” Dolores giggles, nodding her head toward the left side of my desk.
“I like the photos,” I grumble, popping open the take-out box, exposing one of my favorite meals: fried green tomatoes.
“I don’t believe you at all.” Dolores opens her Tupperware container, holding her lunch, and places it on the desk between us. “Oh, your favorite.”
“I wonder how he figured that out.”
“I have no idea.” Dolores’s eyes twinkle with mirth as she digs into her lunch. “Now, open the card. I’ve been waiting all day to find out what today’s note says.”
“All right. All right.” My heart melts as I read the message inside the card before slipping it closed and sliding it toward Dolores.
The front of the card has a picture of a beautiful Tennessee sunset over the mountains with the message,Almost as beautiful as your smile, scrawled on the inside.
Gah! Could he be any more perfect? I expected him to send me pictures of himself shirtless after a run or when he got out of the shower, but no. He’s been sending me pictures of things that remind him of me. He even had the nerve to send me a picture of him and the most adorable golden retriever puppy I’ve ever seen. Who the hell told him I’ve always wanted a golden retriever puppy? It’s not fair in the slightest. It’s as if he discovered it’s not about what is on the outside. I already like that part of him, but he wants to make sure I know the type of man he is underneath.
I’m brought back to the present by Dolores squealing. “Finn is the sweetest man in the world. I swear he is setting the standard for any man I date in the future.”
“What do you mean?”
Her cheeks are pink as she slides the card back toward me. “I’m sure you can tell I have little experience with men, Marissa. I read more romance stories than I experience in real life.”
“That’s because men are pigs,” I retort. “The right guy is out there for you, Dolores. I just know it.”
Dolores reminds me a lot of my sister when we were growing up. Her black-rimmed glasses are always resting on the bridge of her nose, and her blonde hair is always pulled back in a ponytail. When she isn’t here at the station, I always see her with her nose stuck in a book. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled her back from the curb or steered her body from bumping into something or someone on the street. She doesn’t wear flashy clothes, always choosing to try to blend into her surroundings. The only colorful item I’ve ever seen her wear is a pale pink, threadbare sweater that she’s had for years.
She hasn’t had the best life. Both of her parents passed away when we were seventeen, and she had to drop out of high school to get a job and take care of her younger brother and sister. She did everything for them, working multiple jobs to ensure they had everything they needed. People in town would try and help when they could, but she never complained to anyone. Once her brother and sister graduated from high school, they couldn’t get out of town quickly enough, and we haven’t seen them much since. I know they call her every once in a while, but I have a feeling it’s to ask for something.
“Maybe. Maybe not. Not everyone can get a fairy tale ending like your sister and Colt.”
“Tell me about. Only Sutton would break off her engagement with Max to get engaged to Colt the same day.”
Colt didn’t waste any time getting Sutton to agree to move back to Magnolia and marry him after she broke things off with Max. There were rumors going around that she was pregnant or secretly cheating with Colt, but I’ve squashed them. What happened between those two and how quickly things progressed might not make any sense to anyone, but I’m glad that my sister and Colt found their way to each other.
“You make it sound as if she was the one in the wrong.” Dolores huffs, crossing her arms, “I happen to think its romantic.”
“That’s not how I mean it and you know it. I’ve been their biggest cheerleader for years. My sister and Colt were meant to be together, end of story.”
“And you and Finn aren’t? You shouldn’t keep Finn hanging for too long. Either tell him you aren’t interested or give him a shot at your heart.”
I have a feeling that Dolores is speaking more from experience than anything. Even with working two jobs to support her siblings, I remember seeing her around town with Wyatt, the old mayor’s son. They were polar opposites, but there were rumors that those two were more than friends. But after graduation, Wyatt joined the military, and no one has seen him since.
“Are you talking about Wyatt?”
