Page 52 of Curvy Wives of Willow Creek 5-8

Her eyes soften, and she gives me a small, appreciative smile.

"I wouldn't have expected that from you, Aaron. But... thank you."

I give her a sidelong glance, my heart thumping in my chest.

"Do you still think I'm the same rebellious kid from high school?"

She's quick to answer, her tone frosty. "Some people never change, Aaron."

Her curt response catches me off guard, and I fall silent. I get it. Whatever happened, she needs space, time.

I nod, staring out at the road ahead. Maybe I'm not the person she remembers from high school, but if she's willing, I'd like to show her the man I've become.

For now, though, I'll keep my eyes on the road and my mouth shut. Patience, after all, is a virtue.

But minutes go by, and the silence stretches on, growing thicker with each passing minute. Every so often, I steal a glance at Chloe. She doesn't return them, her gaze fixed on the golden hues of the sunset beyond the window.

I drum my fingers on the steering wheel, my heart pounding a rhythm of doubt in my chest. Is this it? Are we destined to spend the next hour and a half in a suffocating silence?

Despite it all, I find myself clinging to a thread of hope. Maybe there's a universe out there where Chloe can look at me with those vibrant blue eyes filled with love. A universe where I can tell her I've loved her for years, where I can put into words just how beautiful she is to me.

But, in the meantime, the dying sun casts a warm glow on her face, and I see her in a new light. She's stunning, ethereal even, and I know I can't just give up. The universe has granted me this chance; I'd be a fool to let it slip through my fingers.

"Did you ever become a librarian?" I ask, hoping to break the silence.

She turns to me, surprise etched on her face.

"How did you know that was my dream?" She pauses, then continues, "Yes, I did. I've been working at the town library for the past four years."

A sense of pride swells within me.

"I remember you mentioning it once, and I always knew you could achieve anything you set your mind to."

For a fleeting moment, I see a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. But as quickly as it comes, it disappears, leaving a ghost of warmth in its wake.

I decide to keep the conversation going, opening up about my life.

"I followed in my father and grandfather's footsteps and became a lumberjack," I tell her, "I worked with the same company for years but recently quit to become an independent contractor. That's why I returned to Willow Creek."

She turns to face me, her eyebrows knitting together in a question.

"Why return now, though?"

I stutter, taken aback by her directness. I scratch the back of my head, searching for the right words.

"I... I wanted to return earlier. But... I guess I felt ashamed."

Her eyes widen, surprise evident as she asks, "Ashamed? You? I never thought you'd feel that way about anything, Aaron."

The truth stings, but I suppose this is my chance to show her how much I've changed. I was never good with words, but maybe, with Chloe, I can learn to be better.

"I... I was a different person back then," I begin, feeling the need to explain my actions. "I was a terror to all the teachers, and they were probably right about me. If I had kept going in the same direction, I would've ended up as a nobody."

Chloe interrupts me, her interest piqued.

"What made you change?"

I offer her a small smile, preparing myself to reveal a part of my past that only a few people know about.

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