Page 19 of Falling for My Ex Next Door

“Clara.”

“What?”

“Can I sit with you for a while?” He asked, pleading.

I stared at him for a moment. I didn’t really want to succumb to the strange feelings that erupted in me.

“Hm.”

“It’s nice to sit and talk with you again. I miss you.” He confessed, still in his soft tone of voice. He must know what it was capable of doing to people.

“How has everything been with you?” He asked.

“Pretty good,” I responded.

He nodded.

“Ah, lest I forgot, JDB Investment’s anniversary celebration is in three weeks. I was hoping you’d come.”

Was he already extending an invitation?

“I’ll see what I have on my schedule.” I plainly said.

“Sure, sure, ah, why are you - why did you come over to Sunnyvale?” He queried, sounding rather excited than necessary.

“I was called to take over the maintenance of some properties.”

“This house?”

“Yes, and a coffee shop.”

“Oh, that’s great! Daisy once mentioned you had ties in Sunnyvale.”

“Yeah, Aunt Madeline passed not too long ago.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” His facial expression was solemn. I can remember introducing him once to Aunt Madeline; it was in the fall when she came to visit us in Campville.

“It’s fine, thank you. She let me have her house and the coffee shop as she had no children.”

“You must miss her a lot.”

“Of course.” I briefly thought about Aunt Madeline and became sad.

Another wave of silence fell in the room, and I was forced to scuttle to the kitchen. There, I emptied the remnant of the chicken pot pie on the porcelain and placed it in the microwave, likewise seizing the opportunity to un-bottle my anxiety regarding his presence in the house.

“I was thinking you’d ask me why I was here.” He said when I came out of the kitchen, looking more prepared for a new trajectory of conversation. Though I was hardly interested.

“Okay. Why are you here?”

“I needed to get away for some time. I never planned on staying for three years. Sunnyvale has captured my heart; now I’m a prisoner tied to her, the peace and quiet she offers. I am so lucky, ain’t I? Moreover, the head office of the company I work for is located here.”

“You are lucky, I guess.”

“She’s done me an extra favor by bringing you here.” He chuckled.

Chapter Six

Jacob

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