Page 3 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

“Hello?” Her tone shifted, filled with that edge of a mother’s worry. I didn’t mean to listen in, but she didn’t exactly have anywhere private to go.

“What?” She stiffened, the color draining from her face. “He’s where? At the ER? How bad is it?”

My stomach dropped. ER? I didn’t know her, not really, but something about the fear in her voice hit me hard. She was standing just a few feet away, but she may as well have been in another world, gripped by panic.

She listened for a little while longer—eyes darting around the room like she was already halfway out the door. “I’ll be there as fast as I can. Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

Ellie hung up, fingers trembling as she shoved her phone back in her pocket. Her usual calm was gone, replaced with an urgency that left no room for anything else. I could tell she was barely holding it together.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, not sure if it was my place, but I just couldn’t seem to stay quiet, either.

She nodded quickly, a forced motion. “It’s… my son. He got hurt at school, and they took him to the ER just to be safe.”

Without another word, she turned to gather her things, every movement brisk and efficient, but there was no hiding the worry shadowing her face. I felt something stir deep in my gut, an urge to help, to do something. I barely knew her, but damn it, that didn’t seem to matter right now.

As she rushed out after explaining to her coworkers what had happened to her son to her coworkers, I noticed the curve of her back and how her body moved with a kind of grace that felt strangely familiar. There was something about the sway of her hips as she walked, the way her shoulders held a quiet strength even in the face of worry.

It hit me with another flicker of déjà vu, that feeling like I knew her… but that didn’t make any sense. I didn’t know any woman named Ellie. I brushed it off again, telling myself it was just my mind playing tricks.

She glanced back at me for a split second, just enough for our eyes to meet, her vulnerability stark and raw. And then, just like that, she was out the door, disappearing into the daylight outside.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, staring at the empty space she’d left behind. The sound of the door closing still echoed in the silence, and the usual salon chatter seemed to fade, leaving an odd quiet around me.

What the hell was that?

I’d just come in for a haircut. No ties, no complications, nothing more. Cedar Cove was supposed to be an escape, a break from everything and everyone. And yet here I was, feeling a pull I hadn’t felt in years, the kind that made me want to step in, help, maybe even stick around a little longer.

Reaching into my pocket, I casually tossed my credit card toward the receptionist and waited for a beat, my thoughts consumed me. As I stepped outside, the sun was bright—almosttoo bright—and the warmth did little to settle the gnawing feeling in my chest.

I was supposed to head back to Dallas, back to the grind. But as I got into my SUV, an unwelcome but persistent thought crept in.

This town was supposed to be my escape, not a walk down memory lane.

Two

Elena

“We’re here if you need anything, Ellie!”

I waved a quick hand at Misty, our receptionist, in response, hoping they couldn’t see how frazzled I was. “Please cancel all my appointments for the remainder of the day.”

My heart raced as I made a beeline for my car, and my hands shook as I fumbled in my bag, searching for my keys. “Come on,” I muttered, finally gripping them, and hurried to unlock the door.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I jammed the key into the ignition, not even giving myself time to catch a breath. I just needed to get to Jake—everything else could wait. I turned the key, but all I got was a sputter, a pitiful stutter from the engine that sent a jolt of frustration through me.

“Of all days for this to happen,” I muttered through clenched teeth, twisting the key again. But the engine only groaned in protest before going silent, leaving me alone with nothing but the pounding of my heart. I tried once more, but it was no use. The car was as stubbornly silent as ever.

Another wave of panic hit me. I gripped the steering wheel, banging my fist against it, feeling my carefully held composure slip. Jake needed me, and I was stuck here, helpless.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and glanced around, desperate for a solution. Then I spotted him—Cory, just a few steps away, about to climb into his SUV. The last thing I wanted was to ask for help, especially from a stranger. But at this point, I didn’t have a choice.

Swallowing my pride, I rolled down my window and called out, “Cory! Could you… give me a hand here?”

He looked up, surprised, and then his expression softened as he took in my flustered state.

“What’s going on?” he asked, glancing at my car, his expression soft but steady.

I let out a frustrated sigh, motioning to the steering wheel. “It just… won’t start. I tried everything I could think of, but it’s dead.”

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