Where Love Lingers

Chapter 21

Ava

The diner felt like a second home, a place where the smell of coffee mingled with the chatter of regulars. I always felt a sense of comfort behind the counter, the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. Yet today, even the familiarity felt tainted.

As I wiped down the counter, my mind wandered back to the party and the chaos that had erupted. I couldn't shake the image of Tyler's angry eyes when he'd kissed me—how the heat of it had ignited something within me, even as the fight had left me shaken. The confusion swirling in my heart was suffocating, and I needed a distraction.

That's when I saw him.

Jake was a new face, a newcomer who had recently moved to town. He had this easy charm about him, with dark hair that fell just above his eyes and a warm smile that lit up the entire diner. He sat in a booth with a couple of friends, laughing and joking as they perused the menu. I couldn't help but watch him, intrigued by his carefree nature.

I noticed how his laughter drew attention, how the other patrons seemed to gravitate towards him. He was magnetic, and for the first time in a while, I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest.

"Hey, Ava!" a voice called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

It was Mia, her ponytail swinging as she entered the diner, looking bright and cheerful. "Can you believe how busy it is today?" She slid onto a barstool, glancing at Jake and his friends. "Who's that? He's cute."

"Yeah, he is," I replied, trying to play it cool, though my heart raced. "New guy in town, I think."

"Why don't you go talk to him?" Mia suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You deserve to have some fun, especially after everything that happened."

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. "What if he's just a player or something?"

"Then you'll know and move on," Mia said with a grin. "But what if he's actually a nice guy? You'll never know if you don't try!"

With a deep breath, I steeled myself. "Okay, I'll do it."

As I walked over to Jake's booth, I felt a rush of nerves. My heart pounded as I approached, but I forced myself to smile. "Hey, can I get you guys anything?"

Jake looked up, his expression brightening. "Yeah, I'll take a coffee, please. And maybe a slice of that pie I saw on the counter?" His voice was smooth and inviting, making it hard to focus.

"Sure, coming right up," I replied, trying to keep my composure. I jotted down the order, and as I turned to head back to the counter, I caught his eye again. There was something warm and genuine in his gaze that made me feel lighter, even amidst my turmoil.

As I filled his order, Mia leaned over and whispered, "You've got this, girl. Just be yourself."

"Yeah, easy for you to say," I replied, my cheeks flushing.

I returned to the booth with the coffee and pie, setting them down in front of Jake. "Here you go! One coffee and a slice of cherry pie."

"Thanks, Ava," he said, his smile wide. "So, what's it like working here? Do you get to try all the food?"

I laughed, a genuine sound that felt foreign after the tension of the past few days. "Yeah, you could say that. But I'm still waiting for a free meal that doesn't involve cleaning up someone's spilled coffee."

"Hey, maybe I could take you out for a proper meal sometime," he suggested casually, taking a bite of the pie. "If you're not too busy working all the time."

I felt a thrill of excitement at his words. "I'd like that," I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart raced.

As we continued to chat, I found myself forgetting the weight of my worries, if only for a little while. Jake was funny, easy to talk to, and he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. We talked about everything—our favorite foods, our childhood memories, and what it was like living in this small town.

Just then, Mia chimed in, teasingly, "You should ask her about her last boyfriend! She has the worst luck!"

I shot her a warning glance, but Jake laughed, clearly intrigued. "Now I really have to know. What happened?"

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about Tyler and the mess I'd gotten myself into. "Let's just say I've learned to be careful who I let into my life."

"I can respect that," Jake replied, nodding. "But if you're open to it, I'd love to show you around town. There's a lot to see."

I felt a flutter of hope. Maybe this was what I needed—a chance to breathe, to move on from the chaos that had become my life.

Tyler 

I sat at the diner with Lucy, trying to pay attention to what she was saying, but my thoughts kept drifting to Ava. I stole glances at her as she laughed with Jake, feeling an uneasy mix of emotions churning inside me.

"Tyler, are you even listening?" Lucy's sharp voice snapped me back to reality.

"Yeah, I'm here," I muttered, but my focus was still on Ava.

"Why don't you just go over and talk to her?" Lucy suggested, her tone laced with annoyance.

"Maybe I don't want to," I replied, my irritation surfacing.

"You've been acting weird ever since that stupid party. Are you still hung up on her?" she pressed, her eyes narrowing.

"No. It's not like that," I shot back, but even I could hear the lack of conviction in my voice.

Lucy scoffed, crossing her arms. "Whatever. You're just making it obvious how much you like her. Maybe I should tell her to back off."

"Why do you care so much?" I asked, genuinely puzzled by her reaction.

"Because I thought we had something, Tyler! And now you're just ignoring me for her!" she snapped, her voice rising.

I sighed, rubbing my temples in frustration. "Lucy, I'm not ignoring you. We were just having fun."

"Fun? Is that what you call it? She doesn't care about you like I do!" Lucy exclaimed, her anger boiling over.

I turned to see Ava again, and my heart sank at the sight of her. She was laughing, her smile lighting up the room, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. "Maybe she does care," I muttered, mostly to myself.

"What did you say?" Lucy demanded.

"Nothing," I said quickly, trying to brush it off.

Just then, Jake leaned in closer to Ava, and a surge of protectiveness washed over me. I stood up abruptly, needing to get out of the diner before I said something I would regret. "I'm done here," I said, not looking back as I left, the door swinging shut behind me.