Page 34 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

I let out a breath, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll swing by before I pick up Jake.”

Her expression softened. “You okay, Ellie? You seem… distracted.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just catching up on everything.”

“Well, take it easy,” she said, reaching for her mug. “You’ve had a lot going on.”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. “Thanks, Sarah. And thank you for taking care of Jake. I owe you a girls' night out for sure.”

“Looking forward to it,” she said with a grin.

I stood, hugging Sarah’s neck. “I’d better get moving. School will be out soon, so I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks again, my friend.”

“Anytime,” Sarah called as I left the room.

As I stepped outside, the late afternoon air felt refreshing. I hoped the conversation with Luke wouldn’t be as nerve-wracking as I feared, but there was only one way to find out. For now, I focused on the fact that everything atReflectionswas running smoothly—one less thing to worry about in an increasingly complicated week.

The gym was alive with energy as I pulled into the parking lot. Through the glass doors, I could see a few people working out. The rhythmic clatter of weights and the hum of treadmills reached me before I stepped inside. The familiar scent of rubber mats and faintly lingering sweat hit me as I pushed the door open.

Luke was by the counter, his arms crossed as he chatted with a trainer. When he saw me, his face lit up, and he waved me over. “Hey there, glad you could stop by.”

I managed a smile, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Sarah said you wanted to see me.”

“Yeah,” he said, motioning toward the lounge area near the juice bar. “Come on, let’s talk.”

As I followed him, the weight of anticipation settled in my chest. Now seated, Luke leaned back in his chair, a sheepish expression crossing his features.

“I’ve got a confession to make,” he started, rubbing the back of his neck. “While I was at my sister’s birthday party, I ran into someone. My ex, actually.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” he said, letting out a chuckle. “Turns out, she’s been thinking about reaching out to me, and… well, we talked. A lot. We’ve decided to give things another shot.”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Relief and surprise tangled together in my mind. “That’s… wow, Luke. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks,” he said, smiling. “I wanted to tell you in person because I respect you. You’re great, but I think we both know things weren’t really going anywhere between us.”

I nodded, relaxing a little. “You’re right. And, honestly, I’ve been reconnecting with someone from my past too.”

He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident. “Really?”

“Jake’s father,” I admitted, watching his reaction closely. “It’s been a lot to process, but… it feels right.”

Luke leaned back, letting out a low whistle. “Well, how about that? Looks like we both got our hands full with the past coming back around.”

I laughed softly, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie. “I guess so.”

He leaned forward, his expression warm. “Just so you know, I’m happy for you. And if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Luke,” I said, standing up. “And good luck with your ex. I hope things work out.”

“Same to you,” he replied, his grin returning. “Oh, and don’t think you’re getting out of those workouts. I expect to see you here next week.”

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. “You got it.”

The tension I’d been carrying melted away as I left the gym. Luke’s confession had taken an unexpected turn, but I welcomed it. Now, I could focus on what really mattered—Jake and figuring out what the future held with Cory. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt like things were falling into place for the first time in a while, especially since he hadn’t really changed even with his billions.

When I arrived, the school parking lot was buzzing with activity. Kids streamed out of the doors, some rushing to meet waiting parents, others lingering with their friends, laughing and chatting. I spotted Jake near the basketball court, his backpack slung casually over one shoulder. He was deep in conversation with some of his friends, gesturing animatedly as he talked.

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