Page 18 of Falling For Us Again

Wait, are they... together?

I tear my eyes away, embarrassed by my reaction to seeing him act like that with another woman. I really don't care. I have no reason to. After all, we haven't had anything to do with each other in years.

“Hello!” A young lady with a bright smile greets me. “What can I get for you today?”

I return her smile, brushing away my annoyance. “Hi. I'm waiting for a friend, but I’ll take a latte and two donuts while I wait. Thank you.”

“Of course. Just a moment.”

I steal a glance at Dylan, who is still talking to Maggie, watching as his green eyes crinkle when he smiles, and his laughter fills the small space, stirring up a rush of emotions I’d rather keep buried.

I look away preferring to take in the atmosphere, the soft hum of conversations, the clinking of coffee cups, and the faint sound of a local radio station playing in the background.

There’s a scent that hangs in the air that’s uniquely Hartlow. The Hartlow I loved before my mother died and my father became abusive.

The knot in my stomach returns.

I close my eyes briefly to slow the riot of emotions that comes with thinking about my parents. When I feel the moment pass, I open my eyes. My gaze latches on a bulletin board filled with community notices and flyers. There’s a poster for the upcoming Hartlow Art Fair, a reminder of the small-town traditions that still endure.

My eyes dart to Dylan once more; he looks up, and our eyes meet. I see a flash of something—surprise, curiosity, I can't tell. Maggie also turns, and she whispers something to Dylan as she sees me.

He walks towards me, and my palms become clammy under the table.

“Jenna, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I don't look up at him, afraid he might see how nervous his presence makes me feel.

“Lola asked me to wait for her here.”

His presence constricts the space between us, making it feel smaller as his tall figure looms over me. My body is hyper-aware of his presence; a warmth rests between my thighs at his closeness. I cross my leg over the other.

“Welcome then.” He gives a small smirk. “Has your order been taken?”

“Yes, it has.”

A notification chimes on my phone. It’s an email from my publisher, requesting some documents. Luckily, I’ve got my laptop with me.

“Do you mind if I use your Wi-Fi?” I ask Dylan, pulling my laptop out of my bag.

“Sure,” he replies, scribbling the password on a piece of paper and handing it to me. “Got work to do?”

“It appears so,” I reply dryly.

The young woman returns with my latte and donuts, and I thank her. Dylan leaves with her, and I release a breath I don't even realize that I've been holding.

I connect to the Wi-Fi, burying myself with work. I focus on the screen, the outside world fading away as I sift through piles of emails and documents.

“Jenna Goldberg?”

A familiar voice calls, drawing me out of my work haze. I look up to see Ms. McCormick, one of my former high school teachers, standing before me with a warm smile. Her hair has grayed a bit, but her eyes still sparkle with the same kindness I remember. She was always my favorite teacher.

“Ms. McCormick! I exclaim, rising to give her a hug. “It’s been ages.”

She envelops me in a tight embrace. “It’s so wonderful to see you, Jenna. I heard you were back in town. I’m so thrilled to see you dear. You look lovely.”

“Thank you, Ms. McCormick. You look fantastic as well.”

“When did you get in?” she asks as we step back.

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