Falling for My Ex Next Door: A Best Friend's Brother Second Chance Romance

Chapter Five

Ididn’t know if I had seen right or not, but I had surely spotted something close to longing in his eyes before I dashed into my house. He had looked at me just the way he would look at me three years ago. I suddenly felt a tugging in my heart, a medley of pain and sweetness. It was a bittersweet emotion. I didn’t know how it came about.

The happy times we had shared were distinctly beautiful to remember. Yet, they couldn’t exist without the sad times when my heart had ached and there had been no sign of ever recovering.

I played the scene repeatedly in my head, the scene of how I had apparently and intentionally avoided him. Though unsure how it had made him feel, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride. I was sure I was doing the best for both of us, the right thing. It was worth it; eventually, no one would get hurt.

As I dedicated time to working on the customer service plans I had for the coffee shop, I came to realize that it was not truly easy to run a business. I knew it was difficult to be a business owner since I had only worked with other organizations. Even when laid off, I had not thought of starting my enterprise. It took a great deal of wits and, yes, funds, the latter of which I was lacking.

Tapping away on my computer, I attempted to create a budget following what I had planned for the coffee shop. I knew I wasn’t going to be done within a few hours, but after I was done, I intended to share my ideas with Old Napoleon. He was experienced with age, and yes, he was a good friend of Aunt Madeline’s. I thought letting him in on whatever was going on with the coffee shop wouldn’t be bad.

I rubbed my eyes, they were beginning to hurt and then-

Was that the doorbell?

It rang again. Who could it be? I had not ordered anything, and I wasn’t expecting anyone.

Oh! Could it be Daisy? That sneaky kitten! Despite how much I tried to get her to tell me when she was going to be coming, she had been adamant. Well, I slipped off the bed; it was going to be fun reuniting with her after all this time.

Crossing the living room, I reached for the door. My heart dropped. That ached. What was he doing here? I never-oh, my God!

“Clara, wait-”

The door refused to close; his long, athletic leg was viciously hindering it.

“What?” I never knew if my facial expression was determined enough to chase him away. I wasn’t going to let him into the house, that was for sure.

“Clara, please, you have to listen to me. Give me a chance to speak to you.” His eyes begged.

“I’m not interested in listening to whatever you want to say. Can we just remain at a distance from each other? That would be very healthy for both of us.”

“I’m sorry,” he moved closer.

I instinctively moved back inside the house, trying as much as possible not to get close to him.

His eyes were then bluer than ever, bluer and manipulative. I looked away. I wasn’t going to be subject to his wicked charm, but I found myself returning my gaze to him.

“I’m sorry. I want to speak with you. I want-” he paused, his figure looming dangerously over me. My heart beat even faster, thumping against its cage for an escape.

I blinked. We were not a thing, after all, I resolved and turned back, leaving the door ajar.

“Nice house.” He said, but I wasn’t going to fall for his compliments.

“What do you have to say?” I crossed my arms in defense.

“Thank you for letting me in. Have this...” He stretched out a dish covered with aluminum foil.

“I don’t want it.” I was assertive. He could not possibly be thinking of bribing me with food, could he?

“Could you please take it? I spent a lot of time preparing it.” He persisted.

“I never asked you to prepare me a meal. I-”

“Please, don’t be stubborn and just have it.” He cut me off. How rude! I was irritated, and with great force, I snatched it from him and angrily put it on the nearby console.

“Won’t you take a look at what’s inside?” He urged, and I rolled my eyes, so very much like him.

Reluctantly, I took off the foil, and there it was, sitting prettily and deliciously inside the pie dish. Chicken pot pie! I restrained my surprise.

“You don’t know how happy I am to see you smile.”

“Me? Smile?”

Did I smile? Was I smiling? How could I smile? How could you do that, Clara? I sighed, I had conspicuously betrayed myself in front of this man. I feel my cheeks burn.

“Yes, you had a beautiful smile just now, could you please take away that frown?” He jovially said. This man couldn’t reappear after three years and expect everything to go smoothly as though nothing ever happened, could he?

“Why are you here?” I returned to the original point of conflict.

“Clara,” he stepped closer.

“Don’t you move any closer. You can speak very well over there, and I will clearly hear you.” I let him know, he took a few steps backward.

“I’m sorry.” He breathed.

I felt butterflies in my tummy. The softness of his voice was my absolute weakness, he knew, and that was why he was here, in front of me.

“So what exactly do you want, Jacob? I don’t have all day.” I intended to sound a little disciplined, but it didn’t go as planned.

An awkward silence fell like a comet between us, and I felt like it was going to devour my entire being. His eyes were on me, and mine tried to wander aimlessly about, but I was blatantly unsuccessful.

“Do you want to watch me eat what you gave me?” The question slipped out of my mouth when he wouldn’t utter a word.

“It will be a pleasure.” He suddenly twitched a small, wicked smile.

I blinked, I had finally shot myself in the leg. Now, he had no cause to leave anytime soon.

I ambled towards the dining room, set the pie dish before me, drew back a chair, and arrogantly sat on it.

“Here,” he passed me a fork. Staring suspiciously at him, he looked happy. I wondered why I was the one having a hard time here. Perhaps I needed to calm down and just flow with the vibe. But I doubted I could bring myself to do that.

“How is it? Do you like it?” His ears and his eyes were searching for answers, but they were not forthcoming. I didn’t want to say anything out of place, so I kept quiet.

It’s like the ones you prepared in the old times, I might have said, but I kept quiet. I just ate it.

He quietly watched, leaning his chin on his hand. Soon, I felt comfortable. I had gotten re-adapted to his ways, his smell, and the smell of his food.

“How have you been?” He was patient enough to wait till I was satisfied with eating.

I wiped my mouth and kept the remainder away.

What did he expect me to say? That I had been miserable since he broke up with me or that I had been doing perfectly fine without him? I was rather unsure.

“I’d rather neither of us ask how the other is or has been faring.” I was quick to say.

He silently nodded.

“It’s okay to be angry with me. I deserve it,”

“Angry with you, Jacob? Oh no, I’m not at all angry-”

“Course you are, Clara, I know it.”

“No, I am not. If I were angry with you, you would not be sitting in my dining room.”

“Clara.” he frowned.

“You know what, thank you for the food.” I prepared to leave the dining table.

“Clara.” Out of the blue, he grabbed my wrist. I felt the urge to relax immediately. His thumb softly touched my skin. I swallowed, ripples of excitement surging in torrents through me.

“I’m sorry about how things ended between us. I admit I was wrong. I admit I was selfish. I want you to find a place in your heart to forgive me.” His soft voice almost tickled my ears. No doubt, the tips of my ears were fast becoming crimson. I wondered if he could see how much his words affected me.

“Clara.” The way he called my name made me feel sensations that were logically alarming.

However, recollecting how his stupid actions ruined our personal relationship and what his sister, Daisy, and I had, irked me.

“It’s not only about us, Jacob. We were not the only ones that were affected by your decision. You literally destroyed the friendship I had with Daisy. We had known each other long before you even came into the picture.” I retorted.

“I know, I know…” he moved closer again. I moved back. “I am very sorry about that. I regret my actions, okay? Do find a place in your heart to forgive me.”

“I can’t forgive you that easily yet.” I just couldn’t bring myself to let go of everything.

“Yet?” He arched his brows.

“Look, I’m only here talking to you because I already let you in.”

His face fell.

Was I expected to say more than that? I briefly saw his Adam’s apple shift.

“I-” he paused in his speech. “I want to win your trust again. Please, give me another chance.” He finally found his tongue.

“I don’t think you deserve one.” I slipped my hand out of his hold. He readjusted in his seat, looking quite lost. I never knew my words would affect him so much.

“I know I don’t, but I’m asking you to give me a chance. I want to make things right between us.”

“Well, the floor is open. You can do whatever you want to do, you don’t need my permission. You didn’t need my permission to break up with me.” I was still very much frustrated.

“Clara.”

“What?”

“Can I sit with you for a while?” He asked, pleading.

I stared at him for a moment. I didn’t really want to succumb to the strange feelings that erupted in me.

“Hm.”

“It’s nice to sit and talk with you again. I miss you.” He confessed, still in his soft tone of voice. He must know what it was capable of doing to people.

“How has everything been with you?” He asked.

“Pretty good,” I responded.

He nodded.

“Ah, lest I forgot, JDB Investment’s anniversary celebration is in three weeks. I was hoping you’d come.”

Was he already extending an invitation?

“I’ll see what I have on my schedule.” I plainly said.

“Sure, sure, ah, why are you - why did you come over to Sunnyvale?” He queried, sounding rather excited than necessary.

“I was called to take over the maintenance of some properties.”

“This house?”

“Yes, and a coffee shop.”

“Oh, that’s great! Daisy once mentioned you had ties in Sunnyvale.”

“Yeah, Aunt Madeline passed not too long ago.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” His facial expression was solemn. I can remember introducing him once to Aunt Madeline; it was in the fall when she came to visit us in Campville.

“It’s fine, thank you. She let me have her house and the coffee shop as she had no children.”

“You must miss her a lot.”

“Of course.” I briefly thought about Aunt Madeline and became sad.

Another wave of silence fell in the room, and I was forced to scuttle to the kitchen. There, I emptied the remnant of the chicken pot pie on the porcelain and placed it in the microwave, likewise seizing the opportunity to un-bottle my anxiety regarding his presence in the house.

“I was thinking you’d ask me why I was here.” He said when I came out of the kitchen, looking more prepared for a new trajectory of conversation. Though I was hardly interested.

“Okay. Why are you here?”

“I needed to get away for some time. I never planned on staying for three years. Sunnyvale has captured my heart; now I’m a prisoner tied to her, the peace and quiet she offers. I am so lucky, ain’t I? Moreover, the head office of the company I work for is located here.”

“You are lucky, I guess.”

“She’s done me an extra favor by bringing you here.” He chuckled.