When He Saved Me

t h r e e

I followed Nicky inside, Noah still carrying my duffel bag despite my protests. The house was warm, and the familiar sound of laughter and loud voices echoed from the living room, mixing with the low hum of a TV. It felt like something out of a dream—too cozy, too normal. My heart pounded a little faster, anxiety creeping in with each step I took toward the noise.

As we reached the doorway to the living room, I hesitated. What if none of them liked me? What if I'd changed too much? What if Jake didn't even recognize me anymore? I was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, each one faster and heavier than the last.

Nicky noticed my pause and gently grabbed my hand, pulling me into the room. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone," she said, her voice light, but there was an edge of concern that I almost didn't catch.

I flinched slightly at the sudden touch, but managed to hold it back. Nicky immediately noticed. "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you. You must be exhausted. Let me introduce you to everyone, then I'll show you to your room," she said, her tone softening.

I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak, and let her lead me deeper into the room.

As we stepped into the living room, I took in the sight of four people sprawled across the mismatched furniture. The TV blared with the sound of a hockey game, and Asher and Ethan were leaning forward, eyes glued to the screen. Ethan was shouting at the TV, while Asher's jaw was clenched, his face locked in an intense scowl.

Jules and Brooke were on the other side of the room. Jules, the blonde girl, was scrolling through her phone with an absent look, only half-watching the game. Brooke, with her dark hair, was curled up on the couch, sipping a mug of something hot, her eyes dancing between the TV and the group of people around her.

The first thing I noticed was the soft pink tulips sitting on the table by the door. As soon as Jules saw me, she jumped up from the couch with a wide grin, her excitement contagious. "Madison!" she called out, rushing over to me and holding out the flowers. "These are for you. We thought you'd like something pretty to brighten your room."

I blinked at the tulips in surprise. The pale pink petals were delicate and fresh, their softness a contrast to the whirlwind of emotions I felt. It was such a kind gesture, but my throat tightened as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. "Thank you," I murmured, trying to smile despite the lump in my throat.

Brooke stood up, placing her mug down. She gave me a warm smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Jake's sorry he missed your arrival," she said, her voice gentle. "He's at work, but he'll be home soon." She paused for a moment before adding, "He works in construction, so his shifts can be all over the place."

The mention of Jake working in construction hit me harder than I expected. I hadn't thought about what he might be doing all these years. But it made sense—his strong hands, the way he carried himself, all those memories of him working on projects when we were younger. It made me feel... nostalgic, and a little more connected to him than I thought I would.

I nodded, my smile faint but genuine. "I understand. I'm sure he's busy." My voice caught on the last word, but I quickly pushed it down.

Asher's eyes flicked toward me, but he didn't smile. His gaze was cold, distant. I forced a smile, but it felt stiff and unnatural. He didn't acknowledge me, just turned his attention back to the TV as if I wasn't even there.

Ethan, sensing the tension, stood up with a grin. "Well, we're all just happy to have you here!" he said, his voice loud and bright, trying to cut through the awkwardness.

Nicky, catching my discomfort, stepped in. "Alright, let me show you to your room. I'll help you get settled."

I forced another smile, my chest tight with unease. It wasn't just Asher's coldness that made me feel out of place—it was everything. But I followed Nicky, trying to shake off the feeling of being unwanted, because I had to make this work. I had no choice.