Page 8 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

“By the way,” Dad said, as though it were an afterthought, “I didn’t tell you that I heard about that little rescue mission youwent on in Cedar Cove. Driving that lady to the hospital? Your cousin Sandra saw you in the ER.”

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “Word gets around fast here, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Dad said, giving me a thoughtful look.

I shrugged, but the truth was harder to dodge in the dim light of the kitchen. “Yeah… I mean, her car broke down, and she needed to get to the hospital to see her son. I thought her resemblance to Elena was just a coincidence.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and I saw something shift in his expression. “Maybe it’s a coincidence,” he said, though his tone didn’t seem convinced. “But if it isn’t, you might have some catching up to do.”

I let out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. It’s… I don’t even know where to start. She might not even be the same person.”

He gave me a small smile, clapping me on the shoulder. “I suggest you check it out. Sometimes, you don’t get a second chance. But if you do, don’t waste it.”

As he headed to join Mom in the living room, I stood in the kitchen, his words lingering in the air. I thought about Elena. I had never found anyone else who made me feel the way she did, not even close. Yet, after returning from my time in the Marines, I hadn’t tried to find her. Perhaps I was afraid of what I might discover or worried that too much time had passed. So, I buried myself in work and tried to let her memory fade. But now, that old fear had been replaced by something stronger—something that told me I could no longer ignore that part of my past.

After a warm evening with my parents, it was time to leave. I hugged Mom goodbye and promised her I’d visit more often, though we both knew that was an easy promise to make and a hard one to keep.

“Take care of yourself,” she said, squeezing my arm, her eyes soft. “Thank you for the beautiful gift. And don’t be a stranger, son.”

“Promise, Mom.” I smiled, feeling the weight of the day settling into my bones, a strange mix of nostalgia and something that felt like longing.

Dad followed me out to the driveway and extended his hand. “Drive safe,” he said, adding, “Remember, Cory. Don’t waste a second chance.”

I waved one last time as I backed out, heading down the road toward Dallas for the start of the work week. The city lights and boardroom demands felt distant, overshadowed by a pull I couldn’t quite shake.

Cedar Cove lingered in my mind, especially thoughts of Elena—or Ellie—and the easy connection I’d felt with Jake. That small-town peace, however fleeting, was something I couldn’t ignore.

Before I knew it, I’d taken the turn back toward the cabin. Just one more night there, I told myself. Tomorrow, I’d swing byReflectionsSalon to see Ellie again and maybe find out when Jake’s next game was before heading on to Dallas.

Four

Elena

The warm Sunday sun shone down as I settled into the bleachers. The soft chatter around me blended with the crack of bats and the cheers from parents. Jake sat with his team, his arm in a wrist brace, but his face lit up with enthusiasm as he cheered for his teammates. It was a relief to see him so spirited after the scare he had at school last week—and even more comforting to know that my old car had only needed a new battery. Today, I could sit here with a sense of ease, at least for a little while.

Spending an afternoon at the game was refreshing because there were no deadlines, no clients, and no reminders of the mysteries that had popped up in my life. It was just me, Jake, and the simplicity of a sunny day. I let my shoulders relax, sinking into the feeling.

“Hey, Ellie!” a familiar voice called, breaking me from my thoughts.

I turned to see Sarah and Nikki making their way up the bleachers, both with their usual warm smiles and bags of snacksin hand. They plopped beside me, instantly making themselves comfortable, as though this was our regular Sunday ritual.

“Well, well,” Sarah began, nudging me with a grin. “You look a little too relaxed today. Spill the tea, Ellie. How’d the date with Luke go?”

“Oh, here we go,” I laughed, rolling my eyes but feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “It was nice! We had dinner and watched a movie—kept it simple.”

“And?” Nikki pressed, leaning in with her eyes glinting. “Did you like him? Are we talking second-date material?”

I shrugged, trying to keep my smile from spreading too much. “Maybe. He was easy to talk to. I actually enjoyed myself.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Nikki. “So… he might see you more often at the gym?”

“Well, that was my plan,” I admitted with a laugh. “Since he owns the place, I’ll ‘bump into’ him during my workouts.”

They both burst into laughter, nudging me on either side. “Look at you, Ellie,” Nikki teased, grinning. “Setting up a whole workout schedule around a guy. Haven’t seen this side of you in ages!”

I chuckled, feeling a little thrill I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was nice to have something—or someone—to look forward to, even if it was just a casual date. I’d kept my focus so much on Jake and the salon that letting myself enjoy a little excitement felt like a luxury.

Jake’s voice rang out from the team bench, pulling my attention back to the field. He was encouraging his teammate at bat, his face lighting up every time the crowd cheered. He seemed to feel right at home here, his usual shyness gone, replaced by an infectious excitement.

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