Page 91 of Love so Hot

"Where will you go?" he asks, following me as I walk to the front door.

"Anywhere but here." I don't owe him explanations. Not after everything.

"Let me help—" but I'm already at the front door, the cool air from outside seeping in as I open it wide.

"Goodbye, Lawrence." My voice doesn't waver. It's firm, final.

"Please." There's a crack in his polished exterior, a pleading look that almost pierces through my resolve. Almost.

"Please, don't," I say, stepping over the threshold and into the brisk embrace of Greenwood Hollow. I can't look back. If I do, I'll break.

The door shuts with a soft click behind me. One foot in front of the other, I tell myself. Just keep moving.

As I reach the gate, I pause and take one last look back at the house that had been a beautiful lie. My chest aches, a physical pain to match the emotional turmoil. But I turn away, the gate creaking as I push through it, leaving the chapter behind me.Because whatever we had, or could have had, it's lost now in mistrust and unspoken words.

"Goodbye," I whisper to the wind, to the house, to him. And then I walk away.

Chapter Forty-Two

Lawrence

18 yearsold

I stand on Lauren's porch, my heart doing its best impression of a jackhammer. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the quaint houses of Greenwood Hollow, but I barely notice. My hand hovers over the door, shaking slightly. Breathe, Larry. You've waited years for this moment.

I knock, three sharp raps that seem to echo through the quiet street. My mind races, replaying that day under the old oak tree. Her lips on mine, soft and sweet.

The door swings open, and suddenly, there she is. Lauren. My breath catches in my throat. She's even more beautiful than I remember, all honey-blonde hair and bright blue eyes. But something's... off.

"Larry?" Her voice is hesitant, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

I force a grin, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. "Surprise! I, uh, thought I'd drop by. You know, for old times' sake."

Lauren's eyebrows knit together, her expression a mix of confusion and... is that discomfort? "That's... nice. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

I nod, words failing me for a moment. This isn't going how I imagined. Where's the joyful reunion? The passionate embrace? I clear my throat, determined to salvage the situation.

"Yeah, it has." I wink, hoping my charm will break through whatever's causing this weird tension.

Lauren shifts her weight, glancing over her shoulder into the house. "Larry, I?—"

"Can I come in?" I blurt out, desperate to keep this moment from slipping away. "We've got a lot of catching up to do."

She hesitates, and I feel my heart sinking. What's happening? This isn't how it was supposed to go. Not even close.

Lauren steps aside, reluctantly letting me in. I stride into her living room, my eyes darting around, taking in the cozy space. Photos of her with friends I don't recognize line the walls. It feels like I'm looking at a stranger's life.

"Lauren, it's me. Larry," I say, turning to face her. "Don't you remember?" The words tumble out, tinged with desperation. Maybe she's just forgotten what I look like. Yeah, that's gotta be it.

She gives me a brief, awkward hug that feels more like a formality than a reunion. "Of course I remember you, Larry. I'm just... surprised. What are you doing here?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. This is it. The moment I've been waiting for. "I've come to get you, Lauren. We're adults now. We can be together, just like we always talked about."

Her eyes widen, and I fumble in my pocket, pulling out the letter. The paper is worn, creased from countless readings. I hold it out to her like a lifeline.

"Remember this? You wrote it to me right after I had to move away. You said when we grow up, we can be together. The adults can't tell us no anymore."

Lauren takes the letter, her fingers brushing mine. For a moment, I feel a spark of hope. But then she looks up at me, and my heart plummets.

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