Finding Us (Christian Interracial Romance)

Beneath the Oak Tree

Jeremy 

The tightness in my chest returns. Four years. Four years of anger and silence, of letting Hannah's lies fester between me and Cece. Between me and Athena. Four years since I lost two of the most important people in my life. And now, with a few words, I've admitted the truth to Athena, but the hard part is ahead.

Seeing Cece again.

Griffith Park. It looks the same as always, sun streaming through the trees, birds chirping like they've got nothing to lose. It's cruel, really, how the world doesn't stop when everything inside you feels like it's breaking.

I'm at the bench under the oak tree where we used to hang out as kids. The same bench where we'd sit for hours, talking about anything and everything. My leg bounces uncontrollably as I wait, my hands twisting together in my lap. Every passing second feels like an eternity.

And then I see her.

She's hesitant, her steps slow, like she's not sure she wants to be here. Her hair catches the light and for a moment, I'm back in those easier days, when her laugh could fix anything. When we were inseparable. But her expression pulls me back to the present—there's pain there, anger, and something deeper that I can't name. Something that tells me I might not be able to fix this.

"Hey," she says softly, stopping just a few feet away. Her voice is quiet, almost fragile.

I stand, swallowing hard. "Hey." My voice comes out hoarse. "Thanks for reaching out to me."

She nods, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. There's so much I want to say, but the words feel heavy, like they're stuck in my throat.

"I..." I rub the back of my neck, glancing at the ground. "I don't really know where to start."

Her eyes pierce me, guarded but expectant. I take a deep breath. If I'm going to do this, I need to be honest. Completely. 

"If it wasn't for Athena, I wouldn't be here." 

My brows knit together, wondering what she means about if it wasn't for Athena. "What do you mean?" 

"Your sister sent me the recorded audio of you telling off Hannah." Cecilia answers, matter-of-factly. "Athena texted me the audio yesterday, followed by her forgiving you." 

I narrow my eyes. "She did?" 

She nods her head, confirming the question I ask her. 

I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a soft groan. Not only did Athena audio recorded me washing my hands off Hannah, she sent it to Cecilia. I'm unsure if I should laugh or apologize. 

"I've got to say, Jeremy. I didn't know you could be so... direct. And I'm glad Athena texted me the audio because she thought I'd want to hear you come to your senses, as the recorded audio is a sign of closure."

I exhale a deep breath, running my hands over my face and my arms fall to my sides. 

"I messed up, Cece," I begin, my voice trembling. "I believed her. I believed everything Hannah said about you and Athena and I... I should've known better. I should've trusted you." My gaze flickers up to meet hers. "But I didn't. And I'm so, so sorry."

She flinches, like my words are reopening old wounds. Her lips part and I can see her trying to hold back tears.

"You hurt me, Jeremy," she says, her voice tight. "You believed the worst about me. About your own sister. And you let her—" Her voice cracks, but she pushes through. "You let her destroy everything we had."

"I know." My voice is barely a whisper. "I know and I hate myself for it."

She shakes her head, her arms falling to her sides. "Four years, Jeremy. Four years of you choosing her lies over me. Over Athena. Do you even know what that did to me? To us?"