One Day

Part 38 - The Fight

My body automatically reacts to his arms wrapping around my shoulders. I lean into his chest and my arms make their way around his waist, clasping behind his back. I close my eyes and breath in his familiar scent, allowing myself a moment to go back to the time before everything was so complicated.

He brings his lips to the top of my head before pulling away. The space that he was just encompassing feels empty as he looks away.

"Sorry," he stutters before looking back at me. "Old habits die hard, I guess," he says referring to the gentle kiss he placed on my head.

"It's fine," I smile trying to ease the tension that is now between us. I reach for my door handle the same time he does and I pull my hand back letting him open the door for me. I duck under his arm and sit in the seat leaving my left leg out. I lean back in my seat and look up at him as he holds my door open with his left arm and rests his right arm on the top of my car looking down at me.

"I'll talk to you later then," he says as I search in the darkness to read his facial expression. The warm glow from the light inside of my car is barely illuminating his face.

I nod and bring my other leg inside the car, "I'll text you later."

I expect for the car door to close and am surprised when I feel his face next to mine. "I'll never stop loving you," he whispers in my ear. He lips barely graze my cheek before the door closes and he is gone. I'm frozen in place as I hear him start his truck and watch as he backs out of his spot and onto the road.

The ding of my phone brings me back and I glance down to my lap to see Jace's name across my phone.

"You home?" his text reads and I glance at the clock. It's nearing 10:00 so I suspect that he is on his way home from the archery tournament.

I quickly respond before starting my car and heading toward our house, "On my way."

I use the five minute drive to sort through what just happened. I want to believe that Jacob's intentions of this meeting were innocent and that he really did just need to ask me for my forgiveness but I now have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind wondering if this meet up was just another tool in his bag of tricks to try to manipulate me back into a relationship with him. He's pretty much done everything in his power since our breakup to sneak his way back in. He made me feel guilty, talked negatively about Jace and our relationship, made me feel jealous, threatened to end his life, and now, I wonder, is he trying to come back as my friend to make me remember all the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place?

My anger seeps in just a little before I picture his broken face and push it back. This time he seems different – he seems better. His eyes weren't filled with hate but rather a hope that I haven't seen in a long time.

I'm still debating his reasoning as I pull into the driveway and see Jace leaned against his Jeep watching as my car pulls in beside his. I turn the car off as I take a deep breath and open the door and step out. I expected Jace to be waiting outside my door but he is still leaned against his Jeep staring off into space with his arms crossed.

I'm not sure why I'm nervous again but his behavior is throwing me off a bit. "Hey," I say as I close my car door and slide my phone into my back pocket.

"What did he say?" he asks, his voice filled with worry and a touch of anger. I walk to where he is standing and wrap my arms around his waist but his crossed arms are barricading me from getting any closer. "You smell like him," he says as he stands up forcing me backwards and away from him.

I'm shocked and stumble over my words as I try to fathom his change towards Jacob. "He wants my forgiveness," I simply state as I reach my arm out to touch his. He doesn't move or look my way. "What's wrong?"