When Hearts Heal

Chapter 31

A week had passed since Dominic’s birthday, and although we hadn’t seen each other, we’d been texting constantly. He had to go out of town to tend to one of his other hotels, and while I understood, I missed him. Every morning, I woke up to a sweet message from him, followed by little check-ins throughout the day. It wasn’t quite the same as seeing him in person, but it helped ease the ache of missing him.

Now, standing in my apartment, I was practically vibrating with excitement. Dominic had texted me that morning to say he was back in town and couldn’t wait to see me. We agreed to meet at my place, and as the hours ticked by, I couldn’t help but smile every time I thought of him. This past week had only confirmed what I already knew: I was falling for him.

When the knock finally came at the door, my heart leapt. I opened it to find Dominic standing there, looking as handsome as ever in a crisp, dark jacket and jeans. His smile was bright, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of relief, like he had missed me just as much.

"Hey, beautiful," he said, stepping inside and wrapping his arms around me. The familiar warmth of his embrace made me realize how much I’d missed this—missed him.

"Hey," I whispered against his chest, squeezing him tighter. "You’re finally home."

He pulled back slightly, gazing down at me with a smirk. "I am. And I’ve missed you like crazy."

I smiled up at him, letting out a small laugh. "You and your work trips."

He rolled his eyes playfully, then kissed me—slow and tender, as if he were savoring the moment. When he pulled away, he sighed. "I wish I could’ve taken you with me."

We spent the next hour curled up on the couch, catching up on everything that had happened over the week. I told him about my crazy shifts at the hospital, and he shared stories about dealing with hotel staff, renovations, and balancing three properties. I could tell the work had stressed him out, but now, here with me, he seemed to relax. It felt like we were falling into an easy rhythm, something I hadn’t had with anyone in a long time.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" Dominic asked suddenly, glancing out the window where the late afternoon sun was casting golden hues over the street. "It’s a beautiful day, and I feel like I’ve been cooped up in hotels for weeks."

I nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that sounds perfect."

We stepped out into the fresh air, walking side by side down the quiet streets. The trees swayed gently, and the scent of nearby flowers filled the air. It was a perfect autumn afternoon, and for a while, we just walked in comfortable silence, occasionally bumping shoulders and laughing at small jokes.

It wasn’t until we reached the park that things shifted. I spotted him first—Jared. He was sitting on a bench not too far from where we were walking, his head buried in his phone, oblivious to the world around him. My heart skipped a beat, and all the memories came rushing back. The lies, the fights, the way he’d made me feel small and insignificant. It had been a year since we broke up, but seeing him now, it felt like no time had passed at all.

I froze, my feet rooted to the ground as my pulse quickened. I hadn’t seen Jared since the breakup, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for this.

Dominic, noticing the change in my demeanor, followed my gaze. "Adeline? You okay?" he asked gently, his voice full of concern.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away from Jared and back to Dominic. "Yeah, I just… I wasn’t expecting to see him."

"Who?" Dominic’s brow furrowed as he glanced back toward the bench.

I bit my lip. "Jared. My ex."

Dominic’s expression softened, and he reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Do you want to leave?"