Page 6 of The Rookie's Second Chance

The rest of the evening went by with more laughter and stories, and by the time the clock struck midnight, I was ready for bed.

Chapter Three

JAKE

We said our goodbyes, but as Mandy and Lexi chatted a few feet away, sharing a private moment, I pulled Luke aside, eyebrows raised. "What the hell, man? Why'd you volunteer my place without asking?"

Luke just grinned, that ever-present mischief in his eyes. "Consider it payback for that whole fake engagement stunt you pulled with Lexi."

I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "C'mon, that ended up working out perfectly for you two. Without that, you might never have made a move."

Luke leaned in, clapping me on the shoulder. "Exactly. And maybe this will work out for you, too."

I paused, glancing over at Mandy, her laughter echoing as she hugged Lexi. "Look, she seems nice. But after seeing Kayla today? That shit threw me for a loop. I’m not exactly in the mood to dive into anything new right now."

Luke sighed, nodding. "I get it, man. But you know, sometimes life throws curveballs. Just be a good host. If anything, you two might end up good friends."

I shrugged, admitting, "Yeah, I can do that."

As Mandy wrapped up her conversation with Lexi, she walked over, her eyes bright and curious. "Ready to head out?"

"Sure thing," I replied, leading the way.

Climbing into the truck, Mandy took a deep breath, clearly taking in her surroundings. "Silver Creek’s smaller than I imagined," she remarked, her eyes roaming over the town’s familiar structures.

"Has its charm, though," I replied, shifting the truck into drive. The radio hummed softly in the background as we made our way through town. Every so often, I’d catch her looking out of the window, curiosity evident in her eyes. This was all new for her, and part of me envied that fresh perspective.

As I pulled into the driveway of my modest home, she looked around, her gaze settling on the house. "It's not the massive ranch Lexi and Luke have, but it's got character," I joked, hoping to break the ice a bit more.

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. "It's lovely. Honestly, after months of hotel rooms, any place that feels like a home is a welcome change."

We headed inside, and I gave her a quick tour of the ground floor. Our conversation flowed surprisingly smoothly, considering we’d just met. We shared a bit about our pasts, her life on the road with the book tour, and my experiences in Silver Creek.

The hour grew late, and I could see the weariness in her eyes. "Let me show you to your room," I offered.

She nodded gratefully, following me up the stairs. Stopping in front of the guest room, I reached for the doorknob, the cool metal familiar under my touch. "Here you are," I said, opening the door to reveal the neatly made bed and soft lighting.

"Thank you, Jake," she replied, her voice sincere.

There was an expectant look in Mandy's eyes, something I couldn’t quite place. She lingered for a moment, her posture suggesting she was waiting on... something. For all my experiences, reading cues was still a challenge sometimes.

“You're welcome,” I finally said, more to break the tension than anything. “Good night, Mandy.”

She nodded, a hint of disappointment briefly crossing her face. “Night, Jake.”

Closing the door behind her, I took a deep breath and headed for my own room. The day's events pressed on my shoulders. Damn, Luke had planted that seed, hadn’t he? The idea of something new with Mandy.

But as I settled into bed, my thoughts drifted, as they often did, to Kayla. It was hard to shake off our past. The feel of her skin, her laughter, the way she would look at me when no words were needed. The memories were both sweet and painful, a contradiction that gnawed at me.

Tossing and turning, I tried to push those thoughts away, focusing on the warmth of the sheets and the soft hum of the fan. But there she was again, in every closed-eye fantasy and half-remembered dream. Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I settled deeper into the sheets, trying to chase away the nagging loneliness with sleep. The new day wasn't far off, and with it came the promise of new challenges. And while Mandy was an unexpected twist, I knew better than to confuse the past with the present.

The next morning came quicker than I’d have liked, the dawn seeping through the blinds, pulling me from the remnants of a restless sleep. The day ahead promised to be long and demanding, yet the previous night's memories clung to me.

The morning light peeked through the blinds as I squinted, my alarm blaring its harsh reminder of reality. Groaning, I shut it off and sat up. Pushing the lingering thoughts of the previous night aside, I geared up for another day at the station.

Upon entering, I immediately noticed Kayla seated at her desk, engrossed in her work. Her profile against the ambient office lights was all too familiar—a reminder of countless days spent working together.

"Hey," I ventured, nodding towards her.

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