Page 20 of Your Second Chance
I huffed, leaning back into the seat, equal parts annoyed and intrigued. Whatever he had planned, I wasn’t sure whether to brace myself or relax. But there was something about the spark in his eyes that made me bite back my questions and let him drive.
Two hours later, we were still driving, and the peach was making mestarved.My stomach grumbled loudly as I stared out the window at the countryside unfurling before us.
“Are we almost there? Where the hell are we?” I groaned, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice.
Ollie glanced over, smirking like he was enjoying my misery.
The landscape changed the farther we drove from the city. It was October, and the rolling hills were a patchwork of golds, deep reds, and burnt oranges, dotted with stone walls, sheep grazing lazily, and tons of cows. Narrow, winding roads were lined with trees that arched overhead, their leaves fluttering down like confetti. Smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of cottages with thatched roofs, their gardens bursting with the last blooms of the season.
“I feel like I’m being attacked by a faerie kingdom out here,” I muttered, half to myself.
Ollie chuckled, then turned down a long, gravel driveway flanked by towering oaks. At the end of the drive stood a sprawling stone mansion, its weathered facade glowing faintly inthe golden light of late afternoon. Ivy climbed its walls, and the tall windows reflected the autumn sky like mirrors.
“What the hell is this?” I asked, my mouth slightly gaping.
Ollie didn’t answer right away. He drove past the mansion, following a path that curved around to the back of the property. Nestled among the trees was a smaller building—a guesthouse with large windows, a cozy-looking porch, and flower beds still clinging to a few brave blooms.
He stopped the car and turned to me, his smirk softening into something more earnest.
“My home.”
8
ollie
I had no idea why I brought her here. Initially, I was planning on something simple—a market or maybe some touristy spot to get her out of her head—but instead, I brought her to my family home in the Cotswolds.
I hadn’t called my mum or dad to let them know I was going to use the guesthouse. It wasn’t busy this time of year, and Mum never expected me to pop in during the season because I was always wrapped up in work with the team.
Yet when I ran into her flat and asked her roommate to pack her a bag, Luna wasthrilled.She didn’t even question it, just stuffed a bag full of clothes and handed it over with a grin like she knew something I didn’t. That egged me on, made me feel like I was doing the right thing, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing.
Here we were. No turning back.
“My parents live in the big house,” I said as we stepped out of the car, nodding toward the mansion at the end of the drive. “But I’ve always used the guesthouse.”
Nova raised an eyebrow, clearly unsure what to make of the setup.
I shrugged. “No siblings, so it’s not like anyone else was fighting me for it.”
She glanced at the guesthouse, her expression unreadable as she took in its cozy charm. “And you... live here when you’re not in London?”
“Pretty much. I mostly come here during the summer.”
“Why am I here?” she asked, stepping out of the car and walking toward the back of the property, where the trees stood tall and vibrant, their leaves a mix of fiery reds, deep oranges, and golden yellows. She stopped and turned, watching as I grabbed our bags from the back seat.
“What are those?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Wait... no.”
She shook her head, her curls bouncing slightly with the motion. “I cannot be staying here. That’s... No. Absolutely not.”
“Your roommate packed it.” I held the bags. “It’s one night. I wanted to show you something that’s not... urban.”
She flicked her eyes to the bags again and shook her head more fiercely, tears starting to form.
Shit. This wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t bring her here to make her cry. I thought, with everything going on with her personal life, this would be a break.
“Nova.” I dropped the bags onto the porch and stepped toward her. “It’s a quiet night. Nothing big, nothing overwhelming. I thought you could use some space. A break. There are two bedrooms.”
“Obviously,” she bit back and turned away, swiping at her face quickly like she didn’t want me to see. “I don’t need space. I need... I don’t even know what I need.”
