Page 14 of Falling For Us Again

The words are a lie, but I don't dwell on it. The thought that he hated me for how I left made it easier.

The coffee begins to brew, filling the kitchen with its rich aroma. I take a deep breath. There’s so much to process, so many emotions I’ve long pushed aside. But for now, I focus on the simple task at hand.

“There’s so much I want to tell you,” Lola says excitedly. “So many things to catch up on!”

I smile broadly. “I have all day.”

The coffee machine beeps, and I pour the steaming liquid into two cups, handing the other one to her.

“Thanks,” she smiles, taking a sip. “This is just what we needed.”

I offer a small smile, the warmth of the coffee seeping into my hands. “Yeah,” I agree softly. “Just what we needed.”

Lola settles into a chair and launches into a lively update about everything that’s happened since I left. Her stories are full of small-town drama and personal triumphs that I’ve missed. For the first time in a long while, I feel a sense of genuine happiness.

As Lola talks, I take in the room around me. My eyes dart to the wall where Dylan kissed me earlier, and a flush creeps up my face. For a few minutes, we put aside our baggage and only pursued our intense desire for each other.

As the conversation flows, I realize how much I’ve missed this—the friendship, the sense of belonging. I’ve been so focused on running away from my past that I forgot the good parts, the ones worth holding on to.

Lola shifts the conversation to lighter topics, filling the room with laughter and warmth. The thoughts of Dylan gradually dissipate, replaced by a comforting familiarity.

But even as we laugh and reminisce, I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. There’s a deeper reason I’ve returned to Hartlow, something I need to know. The broken ceiling, the disarray—it all feels like a metaphor for my life, a life in need of repair and understanding.

The hours slip by, and as the sun begins to set, casting a golden glow through the windows, I feel a sense of peace. It’s fleeting, but it’s there. A glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty.

“I’m glad you’re back, Jenna,” Lola says softly, her hand resting on mine as she makes her way to the door. “We’ve missed you.”

I don’t ask who the ‘we’ referred to. I’m not sure I want to know.

“I’ve missed you too,” I say, squeezing her hand. “More than I realized.”

Chapter 5

OBLIVIOUS

Dylan

My mind is consumed with thoughts of Jenna as I drive back to the café. Our history is complicated, tangled with past hurts, yet the pull between us remains as strong as ever.

How can I hate her so much and still want her just as badly?

My erection strains against my pants at the memory of our bodies entwined earlier. The way she fit against me, as if made exclusively for me, her every response—there’s no denying the attraction is still there.

It’s only physical I try to convince myself. I just want her in my bed one more time, to get her out of my system. I won’t care if she leaves town again without saying goodbye.

My only desire is to see her naked, begging for me to satisfy her.

My hands tighten around the steering wheel. I can’t stop thinking about making her pay for how she hurt me, and ifsleeping with her was going to do it, I refuse to feel an ounce of remorse.

The café comes into view, and I park in my usual spot It’s quieter than usual this afternoon as I step inside.

Maggie is behind the counter, carefully creating latte art.

“Hey,” I greet her.

She looks up with a smile. “Feeling better?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Did I say I wasn’t fine?”

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