From the start (Joel Miller x Reader)

Chapter 17

As Joel stood there, you grappled with a whirlwind of emotions. His presence invoked a mix of relief, anger, and confusion. You hesitated for a moment before stepping back, silently inviting him inside. He entered cautiously, his eyes mirroring the unease he felt.

Once seated, a heavy silence hung in the air, neither of you sure how to break it. You were apprehensive about addressing the elephant in the room, about acknowledging the hurt you felt from his absence.

"I'm sorry," Joel began, his voice cracking slightly, "I should have reached out sooner."

Your emotions were like a turbulent sea, but you found the courage to speak. "Why didn't you?" The words slipped out, laced with a blend of frustration and pain.

Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been a mess, the divorce, Linda's accusations... I didn't know what to do."

Your heart softened at the vulnerability in his eyes. "Accusations?"

"Linda claimed I was cheating on her with you, that I was using our... our relationship to get money from her," Joel explained, his voice tinged with disbelief.

You shook your head, struggling to comprehend the depth of the situation. "I thought you were separated when we... when things happened between us."

"We were," Joel admitted. "But she's trying to turn everything against me now, making it worse."

"It's not just about Linda, Joel. I needed you, and you weren't there," you express, your voice tinged with disappointment.

"I get it. I want to make things right. I care about you," Joel reassures you, his tone earnest.

You felt a surge of empathy for Joel. Despite the confusion and hurt, you knew him well enough to discern the honesty in his eyes. The weight of the situation was evident, and you realized that, once again, life had thrown both of you into a tumultuous storm.

As you contemplated the complexity of it all, Joel reached out, tentatively holding your hand. "I don't want to lose you," he confessed, his gaze fixed on yours.

A jumble of conflicting emotions clouded your mind. You were hurt, yet you cared for Joel deeply. The questions and uncertainties lingered, but for now, you chose to focus on the present.

With a heavy sigh, you squeezed Joel's hand gently, offering a small semblance of reassurance. "Let's take it slow," you suggested, your voice barely above a whisper.

Joel nodded in agreement, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. The weight of the world seemed to lighten just a fraction as you both sat, navigating the fragile space between uncertainty and possibility.

The living room was bathed in warm afternoon sunlight, casting a golden hue on the plush sofa and the cozy rug beneath. The curtains swayed gently with the breeze that drifted in through the open window, carrying the faint scent of nearby flowers. The air was calm, but the atmosphere inside was tense.

Joel sat perched on the edge of the sofa, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, betraying the unease he felt. He fidgeted with the corner of a throw pillow, his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm. His eyes flitted across the room, avoiding direct contact as he attempted to fill the silence.

You, on the other hand, lounged in the armchair across from him. Your posture was stiff, arms crossed protectively over your chest. Your gaze wandered, occasionally flickering towards Joel, then darting away as if to shield yourself from vulnerability. Tension etched into your features, your brow furrowed in a mix of confusion and guardedness.

The silence hung heavy between you, broken only by the distant chirping of birds outside. Both of you seemed uncertain, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.