Then he carried the box to Lucy's old apartment—the one she'd sublet for the time she was gone.
The new tenant answered the door—a grad student named Sarah who looked annoyed at being interrupted.
"Can I help you?"
"I used to date the woman who lived here before. Lucy Chen. She left some things at my place. I thought—" Jake held up the box. "I thought maybe you could keep these? In case she ever comes back for them?"
Sarah took the box, looking confused. "Sure. I guess."
"Thanks."
Jake walked back to his apartment and looked around. No more traces of Lucy. No more reminders everywhere he looked.
This was good. This was progress. This was moving on.
So why did it feel like he'd just thrown away the best part of his life?
Jake pulled out his phone and did what he'd been putting off. He changed his lock screen photo—from Lucy in Paris to a team photo of the Wolves.
There. Done. Moving on.
His phone buzzed. A text from Mrs. Henderson:Jake, dear, I just heard from Lucy's uncle that she's coming back to Timber Falls. End of October! Isn't that wonderful?
Jake stared at the message.
Lucy was coming back. To Timber Falls.
His heart started pounding.
Jake:Are you sure? Where did you hear this?
Mrs. Henderson:From Walter, of course. He told the Knitting Circle at our meeting today. Lucy is moving home! She realized Paris wasn't for her after all.
Jake set down his phone and sat on his couch, trying to process.
Lucy was coming home. After three months in Paris, she was coming back.
Because she'd failed? Because she'd run out of money? Because she missed home?
Or because she missed him?
Jake wanted to hope. Wanted to believe that Lucy coming back meant something for them.
But he'd spent three months learning to live without her. Three months building a life that didn't include her. Three months moving forward.
Could he go backwards? Let her back in? Risk his heart again?
His phone buzzed again. Marcus:DUDE. Rei just told me Lucy is coming back. Did you know???
Jake:Just found out. Mrs. Henderson told me.
Marcus:How do you feel?
Jake:I don't know. Confused. Scared. Hopeful. All of it.
Marcus:Are you going to see her?
Jake:I don't know. Should I?
