Page 54 of Falling For Us Again

Lola grins, satisfied. “That’s all I ask.”

As the afternoon fades into the evening, the studio fills with the sound of Lola’s brushstrokes and the occasional burst of laughter. For a little while, I let myself forget about the memories, about Dylan, about everything that’s been weighing on me.

But even in the quiet moments, when the studio is filled with nothing but the soft scrape of paint on canvas, I can feel it lurking at the edges of my mind. The memory. The unanswered questions. The fear that I might not be ready for what I’ll find.

And yet, I know I can’t keep running from it.

Sooner or later, I’ll have to face whatever it is my mind is trying to forget.

Chapter 18

NIGHT VISIT

Dylan

It’s late by the time I pull up outside Jenna’s house, the streetlights casting long, uneven shadows over the cracked sidewalk. I sit in the car, staring at the porch lights, debating whether I should even be here.

It’s not like I had a real reason to come by.

Maggie mentioned Jenna and Lola stopped by the cafe earlier, and it’s all I’ve been able to think about since then.

I need to see her.

With a deep breath, I shut off the engine and step out of the car, the cool night air wrapping around me. My feet carry me to the front door before I can change my mind.

I knock once, twice, and then I hear the soft shuffle of footsteps on the other side.

The door swings open, and there she is, standing in the soft glow of the hallway light, her eyes widening just a little when she sees me.

Faint shadows under her eyes give away the fact that she’s tired and hasn’t been sleeping well.

“Dylan,” she says, her voice soft and surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Maggie mentioned that you were at the cafe earlier,” I say, shoving my hands into my pockets.

Jenna steps aside for me to come in. I brush past her, my shoulder grazing hers for a brief second, and that small contact makes my pulse quicken.

There are traces of her everywhere—the half-empty coffee cup on the table, the stack of books piled haphazardly near the couch, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air.

The house finally feels like it has come alive after all these years.

“So, what’s up?” she asks, leaning against the arm of the couch, her arms crossing over her chest. She’s watching me closely, waiting for me to say something, and for a second, I feel like a smitten teenager, fumbling for the right words around her.

“I saw Brian a few days ago,” I say, the words coming out filled with anger. “With another woman.”

Her expression falters, the softness around her eyes hardening just a bit. She doesn’t speak right away, but I can see the disappointment settling in. “That piece of shit.”

“Wait, you already know he’s cheating on her?” My brows furrow to a frown.

She tucks her hair behind her ears before nodding.

“Wow. So, Lola already knows.” I say without any doubt.

Jenna says through gritted teeth. “She said they were going to work through it. They were in therapy. She was willing to forgive him.”

“When did you see him with the other woman?”

“A couple of days ago.”

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