Page 10 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

Sarah’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Ellie, if this is really your long-lost love… are you going to tell him? About Jake?”

I shook my head slowly, feeling the familiar conflict rise within me. “I don’t know. He’s got a life of his own now, probably a family, a career. And Jake… he’s content with the way things are. I don’t want to disrupt his life, or Cory’s, for that matter.”

Nikki gave me a sympathetic smile. “Maybe he’s not the same guy he was back then. Or maybe… he’s exactly the same. Either way, I think you owe it to yourself to find out.”

The idea lingered in my mind like a half-formed wish. I had no idea what Cory’s life looked like now, whether he’d stayed that kind, adventurous boy I’d loved or if time had shaped him into someone different. Perhaps he was even married. But something inside me whispered that I had to know. For Jake. And maybe for myself, too.

“Yeah,” I said quietly, almost to myself. “Maybe I do.”

By the time we arrived at the pizza parlor, Jake had already snagged a booth near the window, waving us over with excitement. He looked as happy as a clam, settled in with a menu in hand and eyes wide with anticipation.

“Hey, Mom! I already picked out what I want,” he said, barely containing himself as he pointed to the menu. “Can we get the one with all the toppings?”

I laughed, sliding in beside him. “You got it. And maybe a side of breadsticks, too?”

“Sweet!” He gave me a high-five, his face lighting up with that unrestrained excitement only kids could pull off. I cherishedthese moments, knowing how quickly he was growing up and how soon he’d be asking for rides to the pizza place with friends instead of me.

Sarah and Nikki slid into the seats across from us; their faces lit with curiosity as we placed our orders. When the pizza arrived, Jake dove in enthusiastically. For a few blissful moments, I managed to push aside my swirling thoughts about CJ—the boy I’d once loved and tried so hard to forget—now transformed into the man—Cory. Instead, I focused on the laughter and conversation around the table, letting the moment settle over me.

A few of Jake’s teammates wandered into the parlor, their chatter filling the space. They spotted Jake immediately, giving him playful waves and thumbs-up from their own table nearby. He looked thrilled to be surrounded by his friends, chatting animatedly about the game as if he’d been on the field the entire time.

I watched him interact, feeling a pang of pride and an odd twinge of… nostalgia. Maybe it was that glimpse of his father’s mannerisms I’d caught at the game earlier, or maybe it was my newfound knowledge that Cory was back. But seeing Jake here, laughing with his friends, I couldn’t help but wonder if Cory would recognize the similarities I saw and if he’d catch the same echoes of his younger self in Jake’s smile.

A few hours later, after Jake was tucked into bed, I found myself sitting alone on the couch. The dim glow of the table lamp cast a soft light across the room. The house felt still, filled only with the quiet drone of the cicadas outside—a stark contrast to the noise in my head.

I leaned back, my eyes drifting to the framed photo on the bookshelf. It showed Jake on his seventh birthday, grinning with a gap-toothed smile as he held up a homemade cake. His resemblance to Cory was subtle but unmistakable, and I wondered what Cory would think if he saw it.

The thought made my chest tighten. I’d spent years building a life where Jake and I were a team, a small but sturdy unit. I’d always put off telling him about his father, believing it was simpler for him to live without that knowledge. And yet… now that Cory was back, even if only by chance, the question had resurfaced, refusing to be ignored.

I thought about my date with Luke, the easy laughter, and the possibility of something new. But the feelings Cory had stirred up couldn’t be brushed aside so easily. That spark I’d thought had burned out all those years ago hadn’t gone out; it had just been waiting, buried under years of quiet routines and cautious decisions.

Sighing, I pushed myself up from the couch and switched off the lamp. The darkness settled around me, and I wished, for the first time in a long time, that I wasn’t facing it all alone.

Tomorrow, I’ll see what the day brings.

Maybe nothing would change, or maybe everything would. But whatever happened, I knew decisions were waiting for me—decisions that might change everything for me, for Jake, and for the life we’d built.

Five

Cory

The late morning air felt refreshing as I stepped out of the cabin and walked towards my car. Last night, I decided to stay just one more night in Cedar Cove and head straight back to Dallas today. I needed to find out if this Ellie person was truly Elena or if the resemblance was just a coincidence.

My plan was simple: I would stop byReflectionsto see if I could invite Ellie to lunch. I would use the excuse of wanting to exchange numbers to stay updated on Jake’s recovery in order to find out if she was, indeed, my high school sweetheart. It seemed easy and straightforward—except it wasn’t, especially with all the thoughts that had been running through my mind since visiting my parents.

I climbed into the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel for a moment, telling myself I had this under control. Yeah, right. The truth was, I hadn’t felt like this in years—antsy, on edge. It was as if being back here had stirred up everything I’d tried to leave in the past.

Pulling out, I made my way into town, half focused on the road, half on what I’d even say to her.

Hey, remember me? Your old high school flame who skipped town and didn’t look back? Yeah, that’d go over well.

I parked across the street from the salon, leaning back in my seat, and took a moment just to watch her through the window. There Elena was, moving around with that easy grace like she’d made a home for herself here. Like she was exactly where she belonged.

EnteringReflections, the waiting area enveloped me in a hushed ambiance. The receptionist, engrossed with a client, spared me only a fleeting glance. My eyes scanned the room and landed on Ellie immersed in conversation with a customer seated in her chair. Their shared laughter echoed softly in the space. A surge of emotions hit me as I studied her somewhat familiar face amidst the environment I had distanced myself from.

Her face isn’t quite the same. But that voice is definitely Elena’s!

As I waited, trying to shake off the nerves, the door opened, and in walked a tall, muscular guy. He moved with that kind of confidence you can’t fake, heading straight for Elena. My jaw tightened as he leaned down, his hand resting easily on her shoulder as he spoke to her, too close, too familiar.

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