Page 31 of Harmony Island Gazette
After last night, I doubted Boone felt that way.
I sighed as I pushed the drawer back into the register after filling it with the starting cash. I grabbed a spray bottle and some paper towels from under the register and began cleaning the glass on the scanner and then moved to wipe down the belt.
Eight o’clock rolled around, so I grabbed the keys and hurried to the front to open the sliding doors.
There was a steady stream of people today, which I was grateful for. It helped keep my thoughts at bay. There was a moment there when the line for my register spilled into produce. I moved to page Boone, but he’d already come to open another register. Once we made our way through the customers, he closed his register, nodded at me, and headed back to produce.
I was sitting on Mom’s stool, reading a magazine, when he walked up to the register at noon. I hurriedly moved to stand, my head pumping as his gaze trained on me. Was this the time? Did he want to talk about Kevin?
“Hey, Boone,” I said so quickly that it came out as a squeak. I swallowed hard, frustrated that I couldn’t seem to get myself together.
He studied me for a moment before he tapped the conveyor belt for the register behind me. “Just wondering if you want me to take over so you can get some lunch.”
Lunch. Of course. What did I think he was here for? My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but I just nodded, hoping he hadn’t noticed. “Yes. Of course.” I set the magazine down under the register. “Lunch would be great.”
He gave me a small smile as he moved to the side so I could get out. My shoulder brushed his chest, and for a moment, I thought I felt him tense. But when I finally found the courage to look at him, he seemed unfazed as he made his way into the register alcove.
I peeked over at him two more times as I hurried to Sal’s meat counter to grab a sandwich. Thankfully, Boone didn’t notice. He kept his gaze forward and focused on something else. When I brought back my lunch, which consisted of a sandwich, Doritos, and an apple, he rang me up in silence.
I thanked him, but he just nodded and leaned against Mom’s chair, not once meeting my gaze. Regret settled in the bottom of my stomach when I realized that I may have just ruined our friendship. Boone was here to support me, and I’d gone and ruined it all by inviting Kevin back into my life.
Somehow, my relationship with Kevin made Boone upset, and I hated that. Boone was the only person in this small town who knew about the baby. That shared secret endeared him to me, and if I’d upset him, I wanted to fix it.
I just didn’t know how.
I finished my food while watching some reels on my phone. My body was tense as if it remembered what happened yesterday and was anticipating it happening again today. I wouldn’t put it past Kevin to make showing up at lunchtime a habit. I just prayed he’d stay away. I wanted to make sure Boone and I were cool before Kevin came around again.
I grabbed my garbage and headed to the trash to dump it inside. I tucked my phone into my back pocket and made my way from the back room to the registers. Boone was helping a customer, and as I neared, I recognized her. It was the same woman from yesterday that had been flirting with him.
And from the way her body leaned toward his, she was back at it again today.
Anger boiled in my gut as I approached. Was this woman never going to take the hint? Before I came into view of Boone and the woman, I saw her reach across the credit card machine and hand Boone a small piece of paper. I froze. He took the note and tucked it into his front pocket. Her smile was way too big, which could only mean one thing—she’d just give him her number.
I don’t know why, but that thought made me want to vomit right there on the grocery store floor. Which was stupid. Boone was a free man. He could date whomever he wanted. Why was I so upset that he was exercising that freedom? At some point, Boone was going to leave. I knew that, though the thought left a hollow feeling in my stomach.
Just because my life was a tangled and matted mess and happiness felt out of my reach, that didn’t mean Boone should be stuck with me. If I were a true friend, I would be celebrating his relationship success. Whatever this weird angry feeling was, it needed to leave right now.
I was going to be happy for my friend even if I didn’t feel it.
So, I forced a smile and approached the register. “Lunch was great. Thanks for taking over, Boone.”
Boone snapped to attention, and his gaze whipped over to me. He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Which was strange, but I just brushed it off.
“I’ll take over from here,” I said as I turned my attention to the woman Boone had been talking to. She was watching me with her eyebrow quirked like she was trying to figure out who I was.
I was more than happy to introduce myself. “I’m Juniper. My parents own this store,” I said as I reached out my hand.
“Meaghan,” she said, taking my hand.
“Nice to meet you, Meaghan.” I pulled my hand back. “Are you getting to know Boone?” I asked as I flicked my gaze over to him. Boone was staring at the counter, not meeting mine or Meaghan’s gaze.
“I am,” she said, her voice turning to sugar. My stomach churned.
“Are you new around here?” I asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the store before yesterday.”
She nodded. “I just moved here from Michigan last week.” Her gaze drifted to Boone.
“Ah.” I leaned forward. “Well, welcome. I hope Harmony has been treating you well.”
