~ 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 ~ 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚓𝚘𝚜𝚑 𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜

"a surprise"

... jake.

i can't believe he is standing right here on the other side of the counter.. the cheater that hooked up with girls at college behind my back for months. i haven't seen him since that day he left for college. my heart starts racing in my chest i can feel it. i see a bunch of his friends walk up to him and they start talking. how did this even happen and how in the world is he here where i live? i start to feel something pouring down my apron. i quickly look down and realize i spilt the iced coffee all over me. i turn around and run to the back room so they don't see me. i throw away the cup and take off my apron. i hear the door open and when i look up, i see zain walking towards me.

zain: you good?

i try to control my breathing and wipe my eyes to stop the tears forming. i thought i'd never see jake a day in my life again.

me: uh- yeah. can you hand me that apron?

i point to the apron hanging beside the door. he grabs it and hands it to me. i start to put it on.

me: i just saw someone that i never thought i'd ever have to see again.
zain: ..oh. im sorry.
me: it's okay-

-the door busts open.

jennifer: kate, what are you doing?
me: changing my apron sorry. and also avoiding someone.
jennifer: who?
me: is that guy gone?
jennifer: no he's waiting for his drink.
me: shit... um so that's jake.
jennifer: woah, wait..like your ex jake?
me: yes..unfortunately. and i don't know why he is here.

(i told her about him)

jennifer: what the fuck is he doing in new york?
zain: check his instagram.
me: smart idea.

i grab my phone and search his account on instagram because i know it's set to public. i look at his story and there's a picture showing him with a bunch of his guy friends from college going skiing. then it clicks. i remember him always talking about the ski trip him and his friends were going to go on in new york when we were still dating. it was a thing his college rearranged. his story says they landed here yesterday so they probably are going to be here for the rest of the week.. great.

me: he's here on a ski trip with his college friends for a while.
zain: damn. out of all the places.
me: for real.
jennifer: don't worry, i'll make his drink. and the chances of you seeing him again are slim.
me: thanks jenn.

she smiles and walks out the door. i put my phone back in my apron. after the incident, the rest of the day was pretty good, but busy and i couldn't get jake and what happened off my mind, and that he was here. it's crazy. can't wait till josh and allissa hear about this. should i tell josh though? he might get mad knowing he's here.

*5:00pm/later*

once my shift ends, i head back to the apartment. i unlock the door and push it open, revealing a surprise i will never forget. it smelled like olive gardens bread sticks, which is my favorite. my attention is focused down where rose petals are spread across the tile floor from the door, trailing all the way down the hall to my bedroom.

me: uhh allissa..?

i put my phone on the island counter and slip off my shoes. i begin quickly following the petals all the way to the hall. i turn around the corner and push my bedroom door open, revealing nothing but a blanket on the floor beside my huge window with the view of the beautiful evening sky over the city. candles are lit on every corner of the blanket and italian food sits on a platter in the center. i look over and see josh's phone laying on the edge of my bed. my mouth drops at the thought that comes to my mind, but can't believe it.