Short Romantic stories || Complete

30: Unspoken Love

Kendall sat by her window, the fading summer sun casting long shadows across the town. Her fingers traced the worn pages of an old photo album, each picture a fragment of memories she'd buried deep. There, smiling back at her, was Larry—her best friend, her first love, and the father of her child. He didn't know that last part, though.

They had grown up together in this small, quiet town, where everyone knew everyone else's business, but there was something special about her and Larry. He had always been her confidant, the one person who saw her not just as another face in the crowd but as someone who mattered. They'd shared laughter, dreams, and on one unforgettable night, something far more intimate. It was the night everything changed.

But the next morning, Larry was gone. He left the town without a word, no goodbye, no explanation. Kendall's heart shattered, but she had no time to mourn. She soon discovered she was pregnant. The little boy who now slept peacefully upstairs was a beautiful reminder of that night—a child Larry never knew existed.

Years passed, and Kendall poured all her love into raising their son, Charlie. He had Larry's eyes, that same mischievous glint that once made her heart race. But no matter how many times she considered reaching out, the words never came. How could she tell him? Would he even care?

"Kendall?" Her friend Annie's voice broke through her thoughts as she let herself into the house. "You're not going to believe who's back in town."

Kendall's heart stopped for a moment. "Who?"

"Larry. He just showed up. No one knew he was coming." Annie's words tumbled out in excitement, but to Kendall, they landed like stones.

Larry was back. After all these years, he was here again, and the flood of emotions she thought she'd buried rushed back with him.

Later that evening, Kendall took Charlie to the park, hoping to clear her head. It was one of the few places that hadn't changed since they were kids. She stood watching Charlie play, her mind racing with what she would do if she saw Larry again.

And then, as if summoned by her thoughts, he appeared.

"Kendall?" His voice was deeper now, but it still sent a shiver down her spine. He looked older, more weathered, but there was no mistaking him. It was Larry.

Kendall swallowed hard, her eyes locking onto his. She had imagined this moment countless times, but now that it was here, she didn't know what to say.

"Larry," she breathed.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stared at each other, a thousand unsaid things hanging in the air. Then Larry smiled softly, the kind of smile that used to make her feel like everything was going to be okay.

"I didn't know if you'd want to see me," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I—uh—I left pretty suddenly."

"That's an understatement," Kendall said, her voice betraying the pain she still carried.

Larry took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just disappear like that. Things were...complicated."

Kendall nodded, but the words felt hollow now. There was so much more she needed to say, but where would she even begin?

Just then, Charlie came running up, his laughter ringing through the air as he clutched a soccer ball in his small hands. "Mom! Look what I found!" He grinned, his face bright and full of joy.

Larry's eyes shifted to the boy, and Kendall saw it happen in slow motion—the recognition, the realization. His smile faltered for a second as he looked between her and Charlie. "Is he...?"

"Yes," Kendall whispered, her voice barely audible. "Larry, this is Charlie. He's...he's your son."

The words hung between them, heavy and raw.

For a long time, Larry just stood there, taking it in. He looked at Charlie, who was now busy kicking the ball around, completely unaware of the storm brewing between the two adults. Then Larry turned back to Kendall, his eyes full of emotions she couldn't quite read.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked softly.

"I didn't know how," Kendall admitted, her voice cracking. "I was scared. You left so suddenly, and I didn't know where you were or if you'd even want to know. By the time I thought about reaching out, too much time had passed."

Larry nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Charlie. "He's perfect," he said quietly.

Kendall felt tears prickling the corners of her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away. She had braced herself for anger, for rejection, but Larry's calm acceptance took her by surprise.

"I don't know what to say," Larry admitted after a moment. "This is... a lot."

"I know," Kendall said. "But he deserves to know his father. And if you want to be part of his life..."

Larry cut her off, his voice firm but gentle. "I do. Of course, I do. I missed so much already. I don't want to miss any more."

Kendall exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her. She had been terrified of this moment for so long, but here they were—Larry, Charlie, and her. Maybe it wasn't too late to fix what had been broken.

Over the next few weeks, Larry spent more time with Charlie, gradually getting to know his son. The more time they spent together, the more Kendall saw the old Larry she had fallen in love with. And something shifted between them, too. The wall of hurt and regret began to crumble, and slowly, they found their way back to each other.

One evening, after Charlie had gone to bed, Kendall and Larry sat on the porch, the stars twinkling above them. Larry reached over and took her hand, his fingers warm against hers.

"I'm sorry for everything," he said, his voice low. "I never should've left you."

Kendall looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. "We can't change the past," she whispered. "But maybe we can write a new future."

Larry smiled, and in that moment, Kendall knew they were going to be okay. They had found their way back to each other, and this time, they weren't letting go.

And as they sat there under the stars, with Charlie asleep inside, Kendall allowed herself to believe in a future where they could finally be a family—whole and happy, just as they were always meant to be.