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Tears instantly collect in her eyes as she winces as if I smacked her. She immediately drops her head to her chest, hiding her face, but I saw it. The pain of heartbreak was written all over her face.
“Wyatt and I were good friends in high school, but nothing more. Besides, I haven’t heard anything from him since graduation.”
“Yea, he didn’t even come back to town for his grandfather’s funeral.”
Dolores doesn’t say a word, only nods her head as she pushes her fork around inside her Tupperware container. Most people would continue picking at her wounds until they found out all the details, but I pull back. I know what it’s like for your heartbreak to be the source of town gossip.
We both sit there in silence. I eat my lunch while Dolores continues to shove hers around in the container. She takes a few bites before giving up completely and begins packing it up.
“What do you plan to do about Finn?” Dolores questions, her voice barely above a whisper as she places the last container into her bag.
“Nothing. I figure eventually, he’ll tire of sending me lunch and not getting a response from me, and then things can go back to normal.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” She rolls her eyes and pushes to her feet. “Is that what you want?”
No. Yes. I don’t know. A part of me wants Finn to lose interest, to leave me alone and let things go back to normal. But an even bigger part of me wants him to keep pushing, to keep picking away at the walls around my heart, and that part is terrified. I need to hold out a little longer until he finds someone better. Someone that can give him her whole heart the way he deserves because mine is broken. Battered. Damaged beyond repair.
Someone knocks on the door to my office, interrupting my thoughts.
“Don’t think I forgot you haven’t answered my question.” Dolores giggles as she heads for the door.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I respond as she pulls open the door, and Colt comes strolling in.
“Good afternoon, ladies. How have you been?” The words drip from his lips like honey.
“Good. What do you want?”
“Why do I have to want something?” His eyes shift to Dolores as she slightly shakes her head no before sliding out the door.
“You don’t, but based on the way Dolores just went slinking out the door, I have a feeling you’re about to tell me something I’m not going to like.”
Colt reaches up to rub the back of his neck, his eyes moving around the room and looking anywhere but at me.
“Come on, spit it out,” I growl, wanting to know what’s going on.
“We’re getting a recruit next week. I’m going to need you to work all weekend to get him trained before the mayor’s gala next week.”
“You were right. I don’t like that.”
I haven’t had a full weekend off in almost a month. I mean, we are a small department, with only three deputies, but Waylen and Aurora got married a few weeks ago and are leaving on their honeymoon tomorrow, which leaves Colt and me as the only two deputies at the station until they get back in two weeks.
“I’ll give you a full week’s vacation when he gets back. You don’t even have to take your phone. Consider it a thank-you for all the time you’ve put in at the station.”
“You know it’s my job.” I groan but know exactly how I want to use my time.
Peyton has been bugging me to go camping at Watauga Lake for a girls’ weekend. I’m not the outdoorsy type, but Peyton loves the place. She keeps going on and on about how immersing ourselves in nature is cleansing for the soul or something. She has had the whole thing planned out since a couple came through town on their way home to Nashville after spending the weekend there. But heading out of town for a few hours has a certain appeal right now, especially as I’m trying really hard to avoid a certain someone.
“But I want a week of vacation and every weekend off for a month when I get back. The new guy can cover for me.”
“Done,” Colt responds without a second thought.
“That was too easy. What else do you have to tell me?”
Just as Colt opens his mouth to respond, my phone vibrates across the desk.
“I’ll leave you to your phone call. He’ll be here Wednesday of next week.” Colt gives me a salute before turning on his heels and heading out the door as I answer the phone.
“Hello.” The smile disappears from my face the moment I hear the voice on the other end of the phone. I’ve been ducking calls from my mother for weeks, sending her to voicemail or downright ignoring her calls. I see her in church on Sundays, but duck out as soon as possible, avoiding any chance of me spilling the beans about what’s going on with me and Finn. I knew I’d have to talk to her eventually, but I couldn’t risk her asking me over for dinner or to visit the Buckleys with them. That would throw a very large monkey wrench into my plans for continuing to ignore Finn and not wanting to talk about it with anyone, especially my mother.
