Cassidy’s eyes swept the place, embarrassed by the greeting but also pleased. However, she didn’t want an audience, and she was relieved to find the place mostly empty. A couple of teenagers were eyeing the snacks selection. “Hi, Lonnie.”
“How are you feeling?”
Taking up an arm basket, she answered, “I’m fine, Lonnie.”
His super-bright red head bounced. “Sweet!”
Had he been this enthusiastic the last time she’d made a reappearance? She couldn’t remember.
Gracing him with one more smile, she went about her shopping. Wine. Croissants. M&Ms. She added eggs, too, for good measure. And because she was out, a box of macaroni and cheese. And a jar of mayonnaise.
Walking by the coolers in front of the milk, she paused.
Here.
It had all begun here.
Did she wish those romance novels she claimed not to read could happen, and she could be transported back through time via a wormhole to the beginning of the season? Did she wish she could have her dog back again, not know the pain of gaining a friend only to lose him again because he wasn’t honest with her? Did she wish she’d never known Mac—his touch—both the one that set her on fire and the one that’d broken her?
That wasn’t fair; it hadn’t been his touch, but his words.
Yes. Yes, she wanted a re-do. Erase her mistakes because every step in his direction had been a mistake. He’d warned her. He’d told her to pay attention to the instinct to run.
A tear stole down her cheek as she stared into the glass container at the rows of milk.
Wasn’t it enough to conjure something to send her back in time to be standing in the exact spot, crying?
A hard, warm body brushed her, a masculine arm reaching for the door next to her, for the beer. “Sorry, darlin’.”
Cassidy sucked in a breath, eyes flying to the man.
But even before she turned, she knew.
No force of nature, no run of electricity along her nerve endings at the contact. Voice wasn’t deep enough; sardonic enough. He sounded polite, genuinely apologetic for having bumped into her. He was wearing a faded trucker’s hat, a thin flannel shirt over a T-shirt, and well-loved jeans.
As she side-stepped, he didn’t even glance her way. He grabbed a case of Miller Lite and ducked back out of the way.
Her heart fell. Opportunity for time travel missed.
Stupid notion anyway.
Wiping at her cheek, she headed to wait in line behind the man who’d barely acknowledged her existence on this earth, not that she wanted him to do so.
When it was her turn, Lonnie smiled again, checking out her face in an exaggerated manner. “Don’t look worse for wear. No scars, nothing out of place. Hair’s a bit tragic.”
Cassidy managed a small laugh. “Thank you for the assessment.”
“I heard you’d been banged up pretty good.”
She didn’t comment.
“But you’re feeling good?”
“I am,” she answered patiently.
“Awesome, Mrs. Teague.” He transferred items from the handbasket to a paper bag as he rang them up. “Thought I’d lost two of my favorite customers all in one go.”
“Sorry to have worried you,” she said with veiled amusement.