When I woke up next to her that morning, my heart throbbed like never before. I knew she was the one. I’d known since she was sixteen and went out of her way to take care of me when I stupidly got drunk at my seventeenth birthday party.
She looked peaceful, post-sex bliss, I didn’t want to wake her up and see her tears when I left that morning. So, I scribbled down a note on a piece of paper and put it on the nightstand. It said something cheesy like Faith, you’re it for me. Call me when you wake up. I love you. I poured my heart out on that shitty piece of paper. What did I get in return?
She posted on social media. She hung out with Luca. She changed her major in college and became a teacher. Luca kept me updated with some things. Apparently not all since he never shared that she was engaged. I never understood what I did wrong.
Then, I heard from Luca that her school was hiring a gym teacher a month into the school year. I was out of a job because of layoffs at my other school. So, I moved back to Violet Ridge and took the position. I knew I’d run into her, but I didn’t know I would be under her spell just like in high school.
Seven years I tried to forget her, but it did nothing except make me want her more. She broke me, yet here I was, begging for her attention. Again. I was pathetic and she was engaged to another fucking person.
“I’m sorry you have to take me home.” Her angelic voice broke through my thoughts. Her voice always seemed to have a soothing effect on me.
“Not like your fiance was going to,” I said as I snuck a quick glance at her.
She flinched, pursed her lips and stared out the window.
Fuck, why did I say that?
“I live in the brick home. There.” She pointed. “456.”
I pulled my truck into her driveway and cringed. It looked so out of place next to the Mustang. The landscaping was immaculate. The house was perfect. A little too perfect. It made my skin crawl just being here. How did she deal with it? We had grown up in the hills, the countryside. This didn’t seem like the right fit for her, yet here she was. With him, in that house. A pang of jealousy hit me.
“Whose car?”
Her bottom lip trembled, and my fingers itched to reach out and stop it. I balled my hands into fists.
“Preston’s,” she clipped, as her hand hovered over the door handle.
“He’s home but didn’t answer your call?” I gritted my teeth. What an asshole.
She opened the door and slammed it behind her.
I hopped out of my truck and followed close behind her. There was no way I’d let her go in there alone right now. Something in my gut was telling me not to. It could’ve been jealousy, but I had to meet him. I had to meet the guy who stole her heart.
“You don’t have to come in, Asher.”
Hearing my name from her was music to my ears. I’d give anything to hear it again. “I’d like to meet this Preston.”
She stared at me for a moment before she nodded her head. Her nose scrunched up slightly, as if it was distasteful. “If you want.” She opened the door to the house, and Preston was standing by it. He had been watching us.
His black hair was slicked back, he was clean-shaven, and his beady brown eyes watched me like I was his prey. The man gave me the creeps. I furrowed my eyebrows together.
“Who are you?” He sneered. His nose turned upward like I was beneath him.
“This is Asher. He’s Luca’s friend. He’s my coworker now, too.” Faith spoke up as she strolled over and planted a kiss on his cheek.
My blood boiled, and I looked away. The thought of them being together, in the way we had been, made my stomach churn.
“Why is he here?” The tone in his voice as he spoke to her made my eyes snap back to them. Faith’s eyes were downcast, and her shoulders slumped in defeat.
“I’m here because her fiance couldn’t pick up the damn phone.” My jaw ticked in annoyance. The man had started to piss me off. I tried to keep my mouth shut, but seeing Faith standing there like that awakened the beast inside.
The anger that shot through me was not something I’d felt before.
His shoulders shook as he laughed. “Is that so? I didn’t get a call from her.”
“I called you twice,” she said, and nervously twisted the ends of her hair.
That was something she used to do all the time.
His arm slid over her shoulders as he pulled her into him. He gave me a scathing glare. “Asher. Hmm, I feel like I’ve heard your name before.”
Faith’s cheeks were rosy as she stared at me.
“Faith and I were really close in high school. We’re just getting reacquainted,” I smirked.
He looked away from me and narrowed his eyes at Faith.
I rubbed my hands together and adjusted my gaze to Faith. “I live on the back road a few streets down. We should carpool until you get your car situation fixed.”
She nodded and moved away from Preston. “That would be helpful. Thank you, Asher.”
Something about her moving away from him made my chest puff out. I knew I shouldn’t be looking too much into that, but I couldn’t help it. She was the love of my life. No matter how much time had passed. My feelings had never changed.
“Let me know if you need anything. If you ever do, I’m only a call away.” My eyes shifted to Preston, who looked like he was about to explode. I gave Faith a smile before I excused myself.
When I was back in my truck, I dialed Luca to bitch at him for not
