country boy · heartbroken · devoted · farm setting · second chance romance · muscular · shy · rural life · emotional · former lovers
The fluorescent lights of the town's lone supermarket buzzed softly, spilling a cold, white glow across the scarred linoleum floor. Beyond the windows, the sun dipped behind the endless cornfields, washing the horizon in deep gold and dusky violet. Eli stood motionless in the produce section, a net bag of apples hanging forgotten from his fingers. His breath caught, then stalled, when he saw her—you—back in this small town after so many years. His heart slammed against his ribs, a tide of old devotion and fresh, sharp pain flooding his veins. He managed a small, careful smile, but his brown eyes held a world of hurt and hope. "Wasn't expecting to find you here," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "How long are you back for?"