Page 12 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

From here, I could see her car parked out front, could see people moving in and out of the salon. I’d sit here, wait, and when she was done, I’d find a way to talk to her. To say what I should’ve said years ago.

The lake stretched around me, the water calm and still as the sun dipped lower in the sky. I sat there, watching the quiet town, feeling like I was on the edge of something I couldn’t name. Maybe it was stupid to think there was something to salvage here.

What the hell would I even say if she came out? That I’d been driving through and thought I’d check up on Jake. Maybe throw in a casual mention about catching his next ball game, like this was nothing more than a friendly check-in. At least that way, I wouldn’t come across as someone trying to turn her life upside down.

But then there was Jake, that lingering possibility I hadn’t fully faced. Was he my son? The thought stirred something deep in me, something I’d never planned on wanting. I’d always toldmyself I was fine on my own, that I didn’t need kids, didn’t need that kind of tie to keep me grounded. But now, the idea felt different. It was less about what I wanted and more about what I might have missed out on.

Still, fear gnawed at me—the fear of what she might say—the risk of rejection. What if she shut me down? What if she looked at me like I was just a ghost from her past, someone she’d already let go of? Part of me wanted to turn the boat around, return to the cabin, get back in my car, and drive straight to Dallas without looking back. I could keep my questions to myself and leave the past alone.

As the minutes ticked by, the weight of what I didn’t know pressed down harder, making it impossible to ignore. I wasn’t leaving Elena without an answer.

Not this time.

Six

Elena

Monday morning was already off to a whirlwind start at Reflections. Clients came in and out, filling the space with cheerful chatter and the vibe of small-town life. I’d just finished trimming Mrs. Warner’s hair and was cleaning up my station, feeling settled and content in the familiar rhythm, when a flicker of movement caught my eye.

I glanced over at the waiting area—and froze.

Cory.

There he was, sitting calmly, his gaze wandering around the room like he had all the time in the world. He definitely looked older, of course. More polished, more rugged in a way that was hard to pin down. But the intensity in his eyes, that unmistakable glint, was still there. It was a jolt, pulling me back to another time, another place. In an instant, the steady rhythm of the morning broke, and I felt a sharp twist in my chest as if the air had suddenly thickened around me.

A familiar scent seemed to drift through the air for a moment—his old cologne, maybe, the one that used to cling to mysweaters long after he’d left. The memory hit hard, sharp, and unwelcome, pulling me back to the present. I fumbled with my combs, trying to ground myself, reasoning that he was just here to set up another appointment, nothing more.

I took a deep breath. I had lunch plans with Luke. Cory was nothing but an unexpected distraction… wasn’t he?

Yet, as I watched him out of the corner of my eye, my heart refused to settle. Why was he here, really? He hadn’t said a word since he rescued me days before. He just sat there, observing, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the years between us melted away, and all I saw was the boy I’d once known—the one who used to look at me like I was his entire world.

And yet, here he was now, a stranger in my life, a relic from a past I’d told myself I’d left behind.

I forced my eyes to look away, grounding myself in the salon’s chatter. I’d decided I was ready to take things further with Luke. It was time, wasn’t it? But now, with Cory just a few feet away, those plans suddenly felt tangled up in questions I hadn’t planned on facing.

A warm hand rested on my shoulder, snapping me back to the present again. “Ready for lunch?”

I looked up to find Luke, his easy smile right in front of me. I managed a small smile back, grateful for his warmth. Here was someone stable and dependable who had no complicated history with me, no tangled mess of unresolved emotions.

Nodding, I grabbed my bag as he took my hand and guided me toward the door. As we walked, I stole one last glance at Cory, unable to help myself. He was watching us, his expression unreadable, but for a second, I thought I saw something in his eyes. Hurt? Curiosity? It was impossible to tell, but a strange vulnerability flickered there, gone as quickly as it had come.

I swallowed, feeling exposed as if he could see right through the polite mask I’d put on for Luke’s sake. I turned away quickly,pulling Luke a little closer as if that could silence the sudden roar of emotions rising in my chest. Cory was part of my past, a chapter I’d told myself was over. I had no reason to let his presence affect me now.

Luke’s arm rested comfortably around my shoulders as we walked down Main Street toward the café. I tried to pay attention to what he was saying—something about the new equipment he’d ordered for the gym—but my mind was still back in the salon with Cory, trying to untangle the questions swirling in my head.

When we arrived at the café, Luke motioned to a booth by the window. Instead of sitting across from me, he slid in beside me, close enough that our knees brushed together under the table. The closeness made me tense, but I forced myself to relax. This was good, I told myself. Luke was here, steady, a man I could rely on.

But even as I tried to settle into his presence, my thoughts kept straying back to Cory. His expression, that unspoken question in his eyes, haunted me. What did he want? And why did I still care?

Luke’s hand slid onto my knee, and I felt the gentle weight of his thumb circling in slow, easy movements. There was undeniable chemistry between us, a pull I hadn’t fully explored yet. As he leaned closer, his fingers pressed into my thigh, and again, my mind flashed back to Cory’s expression when I’d walked out with Luke.

Get a grip, Elena.

I took a breath, mentally returning my focus to Luke. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to move forward without all the baggage of my past. Luke was here. He was kind and caring. This was what I wanted—wasn’t it?

“So,” Luke’s voice broke the silence, his tone casual but interested. “You’re really happy here, aren’t you?”

I blinked, a little surprised by the question. “Of course. Cedar Cove has been everything Jake and I need. It’s safe, supportive… it’s home.”

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