Lucy thought back. July, when Jake had visited. March, their first kiss in her apartment. Before that—those early days in Paris when everything was new and exciting.
But the happiness had faded. Been replaced by exhaustion and doubt and the constant questioning of whether she'd made the right choice.
Lucy opened her work email and started typing.
Chef Alain,
I need to give notice. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, but I've realized Paris isn't where I'm meant to be. My last day will be September 30th.
Sincerely,Lucy Chen
She stared at the email for a long time. Her finger hovered over send.
Then she closed the laptop without sending it.
Not yet. She wasn't ready yet.
But soon. Soon she'd have to make a choice—stay in Paris and keep pretending this was her dream, or go home and face whatever came next.
Two more months until December, when her lease ended. She could make it two more months. Figure out what she actually wanted.
Except she already knew what she wanted.
She wanted home. She wanted Uncle Walter and Rei and Mae. She wanted snow in November and Wednesday mornings at the bakery. She wanted to open her restaurant—not in Paris, but in Timber Falls, where she belonged.
And she wanted Jake. God, she wanted Jake.
Even if he didn't want her anymore. Even if she'd burned that bridge beyond repair.
Lucy pulled out her phone and opened Instagram. She'd been avoiding Jake's account for two months, not wanting to see him moving on, being happy without her.
But now she needed to see. Needed to know if there was any chance at all.
His most recent post was from yesterday. A photo of the Wolves at pre-season training, everyone looking determined and ready. The caption:Season starts next week. Let's make it count. #TimberfallsWolves #CoachLife
Lucy scrolled through comments. Marcus had written:Best coach we could ask for!Owen:So excited for this season!!!Rei:Go Wolves!
No mention of Lucy. No indication that Jake was anything but completely moved on.
Which was good. That's what she'd wanted, right? For Jake to be okay without her?
Except it didn't feel good. It felt like she'd made the biggest mistake of her life.
Lucy closed Instagram and stared at the ceiling of her Paris apartment.
Two months. She'd give herself two more months to be sure. To not make another impulsive decision she'd regret.
And then—if she still felt this way in two months—she'd go home.
Even if Jake had moved on. Even if Timber Falls didn't want her back. Even if she'd ruined everything.
She'd go home. Because home was where her heart was.
And her heart had never really left Vermont.
The Wolves' first game of the season was September 15th.
Jake stood behind the bench in his coaching gear—team polo, khakis, headset—and felt like an imposter. This wasn't him. He was supposed to be on the ice, playing, not standing here calling plays.
