What if Lucy got bored of Timber Falls again? What if another opportunity came along and she left? What if Jake opened his heart to her and she broke it again?
His phone buzzed. Marcus:Heard you saw Lucy. How did it go?
Jake:She wants to try again. I told her I need time.
Marcus:Do you need time? Or are you just scared?
Jake:Both.
Marcus:Fair. But Jake—don't let fear make this decision. If you still love her, if you want to try again, you should.
Jake:What if she leaves again?
Marcus:What if she doesn't? What if she really has changed? What if you spend the rest of your life wondering what could have been because you were too scared to try?
Jake pocketed his phone without responding.
He needed to think. Really think. About whether he could trust Lucy again. Whether he could risk his heart.
Whether love was worth fighting for.
Or whether it was safer to just let her go.
Chapter 20
Jake spent Sunday night lying awake, staring at his ceiling.
Lucy was back. After three months of healing, of learning to live without her, of building a life that felt complete—she was back. Wanting a second chance. Wanting him.
And Jake had no idea what to do about it.
Monday morning practice was brutal. Jake was distracted, calling plays that didn't make sense, correcting players on things they were doing right.
"Coach, you okay?" Owen asked after Jake snapped at him for the third time.
"Yeah. Sorry. I'm just—distracted."
"Is it about Miss Lucy? Everyone's talking about how she's back."
Of course everyone was talking about it. This was Timber Falls.
"It's complicated, Owen."
"My mom says love is always complicated. But it's worth it." Owen skated off, leaving Jake standing there feeling lectured by a teenager.
After practice, Tommy appeared. He'd been retired for months but still showed up occasionally to check on Jake.
"Heard Lucy's back," Tommy said without preamble.
"News travels fast."
"It's a small town. How are you handling it?"
"I don't know. She wants to try again. I told her I need time."
"Do you? Need time?"
"I think so. Tommy, she left. She chose Paris over me. How do I trust that she won't do it again?"
