𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 ━━ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥

ꜰɪᴠᴇ

chapter five — dancing queen

A few days had passed since Y/N finally broke up with Tommie. The exhilaration of carving "CHEATER" into his car had faded, and he wouldn't stop blowing up her phone with calls and texts, leaving her in a state of emotional exhaustion. She'd spent most of the past few days holed up in her room at Gray's Bed and Breakfast, avoiding the world outside. The quaint charm of Aeragan, which had once intrigued her, now seemed distant as she grappled with her lingering feelings.

One upside? Her cosmically bad luck had seemingly given her a break, and for the few days since she'd ended things with Tommie, she didn't have any mishaps.

But today, something shifted within her. The walls of her room felt like they were closing in, and she knew she needed fresh air. Deciding that a walk might clear her mind, Y/N slipped into a pair of sneakers and made her way downstairs.

As she reached the lobby, she was surprised to see Boothill standing there, chatting with Betty, the receptionist. He was dressed in his usual attire—jeans, boots, cowboy hat, and a casual button-down that somehow made him look effortlessly handsome. Y/N couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of him.

"Are you stalking me?" she asked, half-joking, half-curious.

Boothill turned toward her, a grin spreading across his face. "Nah, just doin' some repairs and handiwork stuff around here."

Y/N folded her arms. "Why do I feel like there's more to it than that?"

Boothill chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, guess I forgot to mention—my dad owns the place." He pointed to the sign behind the reception desk. "He's the 'Gray' in Gray's Bed and Breakfast."

Y/N blinked in surprise, the puzzle pieces clicking into place. No wonder he was always hanging around the place. "Wait, seriously? So, you're basically... the heir to the inn?"

Boothill laughed, shaking his head. "I wouldn't put it like that, but whatever suits you, darlin'."

For a moment, Y/N was at a loss for words. She'd come to think of Boothill as the rugged, down-to-earth cowboy who had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. But it occurred to her she really didn't know much about him at all.

"So," Boothill said, leaning casually against the front desk, "you plannin' on headin' out now that you've done what ya came here for?"

Y/N hesitated, the thought of leaving Aeragan tugging at her in a way she hadn't anticipated. "Actually, no," she admitted, glancing out the window at the town she'd come to know. "This place has kinda grown on me. I'm gonna stay for the rest of my reservation. Besides, I'm hoping I won't turn into Tommie again... or maybe the humiliation of having 'cheater' carved into his car will be enough to make him skip town."

Boothill's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Can't say I blame ya for stayin'. Aeragan has a way of gettin' under your skin."

Y/N smiled softly, feeling a sense of relief at her decision. The small town that had once seemed like just another dot on the map was beginning to feel like something more—a place where she could start fresh.

Wanting to lift her spirits and get her mind off her cheating ex, Boothill leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a more playful tone. "Hey, there's a barn party tonight. It's a real good time, and I think you should come."