Once the last student left, she flipped the sign on the door to Be Back Soon and turned back, not at all surprised to see Connie and Gertie waiting.
“Look, darlin’, we can’t take it anymore,” Connie announced. “That handsome sheriff of yours is gone, and it’s killing us to see you sitting home alone.”
“You’re too young and too pretty to be this sad.” Gertie nodded solemnly. “I have another nephew who’s single. Very steady. This one owns a hardware store.”
“Forget the nephew,” Connie cut in. “My cousin Jimmy just divorced his wife. He’s on those dating sites all the time now, looking for love.”
Lily stifled a shudder. “Thank you, but no. I’m not dating right now.”
Both women raised their eyebrows.
“You know what they say about riding a horse,” Connie said. “The best way to get over one is to get under another.”
Gertie smacked her arm. “That’s not how it goes.”
Connie shrugged. “Same idea. All I’m saying is there are plenty of men in Northfield who’d line up for a nice girl like you. Georgie Clairmont told me last week that her grandson Grant’s moving back home soon. He’s a handsome fellow too.”
“Law enforcement.” Gertie nodded knowingly. “There’s just something about a man in uniform.”
“I know!” Connie beamed. “Why don’t I call Georgie and set something up between you two when he gets back?”
“No—I—” Lily began, but Connie was already pulling out her phone.
She shoved her glasses down her nose and squinted. “I can never see the damn screen,” she muttered. “They make these so tiny.”
Gertie patted Lily’s hand with grandmotherly concern. “We just want to see you happy, honey.”
Lily tried again, firmer this time. “Thank you, but no. I’m perfectly capable of setting up my own dates—when I’m ready,” she added quickly. “But thank you for thinking of me,” she added when they looked taken aback.
Connie and Gertie exchanged a look that said plenty. “Well, if you’re sure,” Gertie said doubtfully. “Let us know when you’re ready.”
The door opened, and when Lily glanced up, she did a double take. Tucker stood in the doorway.
“Hi, Lily,” he said. He glanced at Gertie and Connie, who glared at him. “Can we talk?”
“When I said get back on the horse, I didn’t mean this one,” Connie murmured on her way out.
“He’s more of an ass,” Gertie sniffed, closing the door after them.
“What’s up, Tucker?” Lily asked when they were alone, bracing herself. Thankful for small mercies, she’d avoided running into him or Madison over the last month. Looked like her luck had just run out.
Although as she studied him, he didn’t look cocky or smug. In fact, he seemed kind of… small. Not in stature. He was still a linebacker, but for the first time in years, he didn’t seem all puffed up with that excess pride she’d once mistaken for confidence.
He walked toward her slowly, tugging at his tie like it was strangling him. “I’ll get right to it.” He cleared his throat and met her eyes. “I owe you an apology, Lily. For all of it. For Madison. For not being the man you deserved.”
He stepped closer and took her hands in his. She was so surprised she let him. “I ended it with her,” he said, misery on his face. “I don’t even know why I ever—God, I panicked. The wedding was coming, I could feel you pulling away, and instead of talking to you, I did the stupidest thing of my life. I’m sorry. I am so damn sorry I hurt you.”
He raked a hand down his face. “For what it’s worth, Madison never meant for anyone to see that photo. She tried to send it to me after you ran out, but she hit AirDrop instead of text. She didn’t mean to humiliate you,” he said quietly. “But she did, and I let it happen. I’m sorry, Lily.”
Huh. She’d spent weeks imagining those words, and somewhere along the way, she’d stopped believing they’d ever come. The mystery of who sent the photo—finally solved. And yet it felt strangely hollow.
She drew in a slow, steady breath, her fingers brushing the rose quartz at her throat.
I am a still lake, she reminded herself.Not the storm. Not anymore.
The anger and humiliation that had once burned eased, not because she forgave him but because she didn’t need to carry it anymore.
When she finally met his eyes again, calm settled over her—more peace than she’d felt in weeks. “Thank you,” she said, because it felt right. “That means more than you know.” Relief flashed across his face, and she realized she meant it. “What you did was shitty, about the shittiest thing you can do to someone.”
