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

Chapter Nine

Shrouded in the warmth of my duvet, my eyes slowly opened to gaze upon the bright sun’s rays that played in through the window. I was feeling sick in a way I couldn’t explain, but then I couldn’t remain in bed for the entire day.

From the comfort of my bed, Sunnyvale slowly unfolded what that morning held for me; a pretty blue sky brushed with strokes of golden yellow, pink, and white. A passerine bird perched on my window. It was morning, which could only mean I had slept through the night.

I had never thought I could get myself to sleep after that close encounter between me and Jacob.

I could remember how I had just stood there, my hands fidgeting nervously. I had wanted to turn and disappear inside the house to escape the situation’s awkwardness, but I had not been able to move for a moment. It was the most uncomfortable I had ever felt, and I just wanted to disappear.

My fingers absentmindedly touched my lips.

I felt a tugging in my heart, a medley of sweetness and melancholy. I felt like I was longing for something I had once had but had then been lost.

What was he thinking? I breathed heavily and turned on my back. My eyes began staring widely at the ceiling.

His eyes had boldly spelled disappointment after the kiss had not come through. He had looked as though he had been denied life and breath. I had hardly brought myself to say harsh words to him, but I was thankful I managed to let him know my mind.

Did he think he was doing me a favor by flirting with me? Did I appear to be starved of affection?

He deserved to be disappointed. Though I was curious as to why he chose to do that, I could only conclude that he wanted to play around with me. I would never allow that to happen. I had long been resolved about the status of our relationship, and I couldn’t see a change soon.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t let go of the memory. It was stuck in my head, and it rendered me helpless. However, I tried to register the fact that it was not right. It was not right to try to kiss your ex. It was only right I avoided the kiss, yet it was not right that I could not stop thinking about what would have happened if I had not.

Determined, I flung the covers off my body and slid down the bed. I must prepare breakfast and immediately get down to business.

While my sunny side up simmered, my mind would shift into oblivion, and I would renege on my initial resolution. The event that preceded our last passionate kiss before we broke up slowly appeared clearly in my head, and it felt just like yesterday when it was not a crime to gaze lovingly at each other and lock lips.

Jacob and I had gone on a date at some fancy restaurant one May evening and took a short stroll afterwards.

The night breeze, cool and refreshing, swayed both my hair and the skirt of my dress and carried with it the scent of rain and dampness. It was not a cold day, and I felt relaxed by the gentleness of the air and the lovely illumination of the moon. The night was peaceful and still. Jacob was standing very close to me, a hand in one pocket and the other settled on my hips.

The car was a short distance from us, and its lights bounced back and forth on our skin.

“Let’s get away from here for some time.” He proposed. I felt it was spontaneous and not very much like him.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere. What matters is that you and I can be alone together.”

“I’m cool with it,” I said, smiling.

“Then I’ll find somewhere for us,” he said.

“Are you okay, Jacob?” My thoughts had prompted me to ask.

“Sure. Why?”

“You are not very much yourself,” I confessed.

He was quiet. I touched the bridge railing. It was cold, but I liked it.

“I won’t force you to say anything to me. It’s fine to say nothing,” I added, “My legs ache,” I murmured to myself, but he heard.

“Come on, let’s take these heels off.” He said, bending down to remove my shoes. I leaned on him, grateful for his support. He carefully removed the shoes, his hands gently massaging my feet. When he finished, I was relieved to get them off my feet.

Then he briskly walked to the car to get a pair of sneakers, leaving behind my heels.

“Wear these.” The sneakers never left the premises of his car. He knew how my legs were weakened by heels, he once told me.

After he had assisted me in putting them on, he cupped my face towards his.

“What would you do without me?” He teased me.

“What would I do without you?” I smiled.

He reached out to take my hand, holding it carefully, as if it were the most invaluable thing in the entire universe. I felt a rush of emotion. Could I ever be more loved by a man?

“You have the most beautiful smile ever; it’s like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky,” he affectionately pinched my cheek. “And the most gorgeous body.” He drew me closer. My breath kissed the nape of his neck while he inhaled the air around me.

“I want to take you home.” He whispered before gently pressing his lips against mine. As our lips met, I felt the heat of his breath. The kiss had been gentle at first, but then it deepened as our passion grew. I felt a sense of completeness, and the moment seemed to last forever. And on and on, we continued kissing, wanting each other, supported by the steel guardrails of the bridge.

Funny how I wanted the feeling to consume me as it had once done. At that moment, I never thought we would have to separate. It had been so sudden and heartbreaking for me.

I was so startled by the ringing of the phone that I bit on my lips, and blood began to trickle out in tiny dots. I simultaneously reached for the stove and switched it off.

It was an unknown number.

“Hello. Who is on the line?” I asked warily.

“It’s Lex, from Custom Builders on behalf of Joe Griffin,” The voice responded.

My heart leaped double fold. Is Joe Griffin again?

“How may I help you?” I tried to sound as collected as I could be.

“I called to re-present the offer on behalf of our CEO. Now, he is willing to double the bid for the coffee shop to two hundred thousand dollars,” the man said.

“I can remember telling you that I am not at all interested in your offer, Lex,” I expressed.

“I must let you know that this proposal is an exclusive deal. Don’t you think you are making a mistake by refusing such a hefty sum of money for an ancient building on the verge of foreclosure?” He sounded gruff and arrogant.

His wicked tongue ran on.

“I have no more to say to you. I do not care whether you listen to me or not, but I implore you not to bore me with your “generous offer” anymore.”

And I hung up.

My eyes suddenly grew heavy and began to shut by themselves. I couldn’t steady my weight, so I supported myself by leaning on the counter. The air around me had grown thick, and my body uncontrollably trembled. My heart pounded in her chest, and my breath came in short, shallow gasps.

My eyes welled up in tears as I painstakingly tried to steady myself.

A sore feeling arose from within me, and I hiccuped. A spell of dizziness came over me, and consequently, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.