Page 9 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

“So, I have to ask…” I began, feeling a bit hesitant but pushing myself to continue, “Do you two remember that guywho came into the salon earlier in the week? His name was Cory.”

Sarah’s brows lifted, and Nikki’s expression turned curious. “Yeah, I remember. He was cute! Why?”

I shifted in my seat, glancing back at the field to avoid their eyes. “I know this sounds strange, but… he seemed really familiar. Like, I couldn’t shake this feeling that I’d seen him before.”

Nikki leaned in, giving me a nudge. “Are you saying he’s a long-lost crush?”

“Not quite,” I said, laughing softly. “But… well, he reminded me of my high school boyfriend, CJ.”

Sarah tilted her head, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Now that you mention it, I think he did have that ‘high school sweetheart’ kind of vibe.”

“Maybe... but.” I felt a strange sensation settle in my stomach, equal parts excitement and unease. “It’s probably just a weird coincidence. I mean, he’s obviously not the same guy. He’s much more muscular than CJ was back in the day.”

“Back in the day? People do mature, you know,” Sarah teased.

Hold up,” Nikki said, a mischievous smile curved her lips. “Did he pay with a card? Because if he did, we could check his full name on the salon system. You know, just to satisfy your curiosity.”

I felt a flicker of hesitation but also a growing urge to know. “Actually… he did pay with a card,” I admitted. “I guess we could check. Just to be sure, right?”

Sarah grinned, giving me a wink. “Right. After the game, we’ll swing by the salon. Consider it a little field investigation. Besides, this is a small town. We’re practically obligated to investigate coincidences.”

I laughed, feeling my own curiosity spark to life. The thought of this stranger sharing a name—and something more—with my high school boyfriend was too strange to ignore.

After the game, we waved goodbye to Jake’s team and walked back toward the salon, Sarah and Nikki chattering about the game while I tried to focus on anything other than the growing curiosity. I felt a bit silly—this was just some stranger who’d come in for a haircut, after all. But something about him kept tugging at me, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to let it go until I knew for sure.

I spotted Jake lingering near the door of the salon texting someone. “Hey, Jake,” I called, gesturing down the street. “Why don’t you head to the pizza place and grab us a table? We’ll be there in just a minute.”

He grinned and took off, excited for the promise of food. Once he was out of sight, Sarah and Nikki gave me understanding looks, and I relaxed. Now, without his curious eyes, I could finally be candid.

“All right, let’s check this out,” I said, giving them a sheepish smile as I logged into the computer. “I mean, this is ridiculous, right? This Cory guy is probably just a lookalike.”

“Or a head fate,” Nikki murmured with a smirk, folding her arms as she leaned over the counter.

“Hey, you never know,” Sarah added, though her voice held a trace of something gentler. She glanced at me, then carefully over her shoulder to make sure Jake hadn’t come back. She lowered her voice, her expression softening. “Ellie… if this is him, is thisthehigh school sweetheart? Jake’s father?”

I froze for a moment, her words hitting harder than I’d expected. Jake’s father. It wasn’t a phrase I heard often—not out loud, anyway. But I nodded, keeping my voice low. “Yeah. CJ was… well, he was everything back then. But I’ve never told Jake. And if this is just some random guy, I’d rather leave it that way.”

They both nodded, respect in their eyes, and I felt grateful that they understood. Jake didn’t know his father, didn’t even know his name. As far as he was concerned, his dad was a blank slate—a decision I’d made a long time ago, knowing we would have a conversation one day, but this changed everything.

“All right, let’s see,” I muttered, scrolling down the list of recent clients until I spotted the transaction.

The name popped up on the screen—Cory James Harrison—and my breath caught. Harrison. That was CJ’s last name. I stared at it, half-expecting the letters to rearrange themselves into something different. But no, it was there, plain as day.

“Oh my God,” Nikki whispered, leaning in with wide eyes. “It really is him, isn’t it?”

My hands felt numb, hovering over the keyboard as I took it in. Cory Harrison. He’d always gone by CJ, never Cory. The memories came flooding back—prom night, summer afternoons by the creek, the secret dreams we’d shared before he’d gone off to join the military. And just like that, the past felt like it was colliding with the present in a way I couldn’t ignore.

Sarah placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Ellie, are you… okay?”

I nodded, though my heart was pounding. “Yeah, it’s just… it’s been years. I never thought I’d see him again, let alone have him walk into my salon.”

Nikki let out a low whistle, a mix of disbelief and excitement in her expression. “Talk about a twist. And you’re seeing Luke, too. Girl, it’s like the universe just threw you into a love triangle.”

I let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through my hair. “Well, let’s not get carried away. I haven’t even talked to him since high school. He probably doesn’t even remember me.”

“Are you kidding?” Sarah shook her head, giving me a look of disbelief. “You were his high school sweetheart. If he doesn’t remember you, he must have a memory like a sieve.”

Glancing out the window, my gaze drifted down the street, landing on the neon sign of the pizza shop. The weight of my discovery settled in my chest, and a whirlwind of feelings stirred inside me—a blend of anticipation tinged with apprehension, all underlined by a fragile strand of confusion.

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