Sometimes it only takes something as banal as a text message to change the course of your life.

You think you know what you're doing and that life couldn't be better.

But then...

Then, your past comes knocking on your door, daring you to reevaluate your life and confront the feelings you've buried deep inside a long time ago.

GRAN: Change of plans. We're not going on a cruiser anymore. I decided to throw myself a party to celebrate my 70th birthday instead.

Rereading her message, I take my shoes off and sit down on the couch, already feeling the beginning of a headache forming in the back of my skull. I've just got home from a long day at work where everything seemed to go wrong. I was hoping I could relax after a day of bulshit. The last thing I want is to make plans to go back to Rose Town.

Sighing, I have no option but to call my dear grandmother and see what the heck she's up to now.

"Hello, sweetheart," she answers after the first ring.

"What do you mean you're throwing yourself a birthday party?" I ask, my head shaking when she lets out a chuckle on the other side of the line.

"It means I'm not getting any younger, and that I deserve to have my beloved ones with me to celebrate my seventieth birthday," she says.

"But we were going on a cruiser, remember? You've always wanted to go on a cruiser," I try, even though I know she won't give in. She's the best grandmother in the world, but also the most stubborn person I know.

"We can always go another time," she says as if things were that simple. It was a miracle I could get this ten-day vacation time without having to mess with my client's schedules. Being an interior designer has been my dream for so long that I'd hate to let anyone down. I want my clients to tell others I'm great, not that I can't finish things on time.

"I never ask for anything." She sighs, making me chuckle.

"You asked me to buy you a motorbike last week. A motorbike. That's what you asked for your birthday, Gran."

"Right! But how cool would it be? Those old ladies from church would have a heart attack if they saw me on the back of a Harley." She laughs, and it's like I can see the mischief in her eyes.

Lola is a crazy old lady and the best person I know. And because she knows I have a hard time saying no to her, she uses it to her advantage from time to time. Like right now, for example.

She knows that coming home, even if for a quick visit, is not in my plans.

I've been avoiding it for ten years. I was hoping I could keep it like that for another ten.

"Let's try to keep those ladies alive," I say, smiling at how sassy she is.

"So, it's all set, then. You'll travel next week and help me with everything. We'll have a wonderful time together. I miss you so much," she says, and my heart squeezes tightly in my chest. She's been asking me to go home for a visit pretty much since the day I left ten years ago.

"I miss you too, Gran," I whisper.

"You sound tired. Are you eating well?" She goes from sassy to worried in a heartbeat, and I can't help but miss her even more.

"My fridge is stocked with healthy food."

"I mean actual food. Not that rabbit food you've become so keen on," she says, making me chuckle.

"Things are good, really. I got a big client today. I'm thinking about moving to a new condo soon. Life is... good," I say, skipping the part where said client tested all my limits today.

"Yeah... I just think you work too hard. Weekends are for us to relax and unwind, but I'm sure you spent the whole day at the office." She sighs, making me smile. We've been having this talk for years now.

"It's Saturday, Gran. I'll take it easy tomorrow."

"Humph! Is that boyfriend of yours planning to move in with you?" She tries to sound nonchalant, but I know her better. This is dangerous territory for us.

"We're kind of on a break right now... We'll see," I say, even though, deep down, I know Will and I won't be taking this next step any time soon.

"Well, I saw Matt today, and..."

"There we go." With a groan, I pull myself from the couch and make my way to the kitchen in search of some aspirin and a bottle of water.

"I'm just saying..." Her words come out strained, and it's like a thousand warning signs are being thrown in my face.

"I don't want to know, okay? We've been over for ten years, Gran. I'm sure he doesn't even remember me by now." Drinking my medicine, I head to the bathroom to start a bath, but I change my mind and go to my closet, putting her on speaker while I change into a pair of running shorts and a tank top. A quick run will make me feel better.

"I'm sorry," she says, making me feel guilty for snapping.

Matthew Hunt is the one person from my old life who is still able to affect me, even after all these years. He was once my best friend, my first kiss, my first everything.

But I was young and stupid then and believed we could have it all.

How silly of me!

"Sorry for snapping, Gran. You know I love you more than anything in this world. I'm excited to spend these ten days with you. Your party will be a blast!" I say, trying to block out the feeling of dread that is slowly bubbling up inside me.

"So, you're coming?" she asks, and the excitement in her voice makes me pause.

"You know I'll never be able to say no to you and that nothing would make me miss your seventieth birthday party," I say, meaning every word.

"Oh, sweetheart. I can't wait to have you back home."

*****

"You're traveling?!" I hear the surprise in Will's voice, and it makes me stop packing and turn to him. He arrived at my place about an hour ago but has been on the phone with a client for the last forty minutes.

"Uh, yeah? I told you I was visiting my grandmother for her seventieth birthday." I resume my task, wondering how many pairs of heels I should take.

"I thought we'd be working on our relationship. How the hell are we supposed to work on anything when you're leaving me for ten days?" He stops in front of me, forcing me to look at him.

When we first met some years ago, I was immediately taken by his captivating blue eyes and warm smile. I thought I had found my perfect match. Not only does his body look like it was carved from marble, and his features are so attractive that every woman can't help but look twice, but he is also determined and driven when it comes to his goals. He's the definition of hard-working and ambitious — qualities I've always admired in a person.

He's two years older than me and just as career-driven. We hit off immediately, both of us ready to conquer the world and make a name for ourselves. Not that he ever needed one, being the son of one of the most prestigious lawyers in the state. But he's always wanted more, and that clearly attracted me to him.

However, as I look at him now, I can't even remember the last time we kissed or went on a date, just the two of us. He's one of the most attractive guys I've met with his big blue eyes and perfectly stylish black hair. Yet, I seriously can't remember the last time we slept together. How pathetic is that?

"You could take some days off and come with me," I offer, already knowing he won't go for it. His schedule is as busy as mine, and he's as much of a workaholic as I am.

"You know I can't." He lets out a deep, exasperated sigh, looking away.

"The party will be two Saturdays from now. Maybe you can try to go or... Or we should just take a break for good, you know? Use this time apart to think. We can talk more when I get back, see where we'll go with our relationship, then."

"Yeah, I guess," he says, but his attention is already on his ringing phone.

*****

"What the..." I look at the car panel and try not to panic when all the lights go off.

"Oh! No! No! No!" I cry out when the car I rented stops running, and I have to pull off the road.

I knew this trip was not a good idea. I'm just about four miles from my grandmother's, but there's no way I can walk over there. Considering this place might be seriously cursed, I get my phone from my bag only to realize it's dead.

YEP! Should've stayed home.

With no other choice, I venture the half-mile journey to the nearest gas station, feeling the scorching sun on my back. I had completely forgotten how intense the heat can be in this area. As I enter the convenience store, I can feel the sweat dripping down my back, but the blast of cold air from the air-conditioner is definitely a relief.

Even after all these years, Mr. Orwell's store has remained the same. I almost expect to find him still behind the counter, scolding the kids who are trying to get away with stealing some candies. What I don't expect, though, is to see Vivian Smith, once considered the most beautiful girl in school, stressed out and very much pregnant, with twin toddlers having a tantrum right in front of her.

As I make my way towards her, I notice that her hair is a mess and her clothing is lightly stained. Her exhaustion is clear and the dark circles under her eyes show me she hasn't probably gotten much sleep lately.

"Vivian?" I say, trying to help in a way.

"Jenny? Oh my God!" She looks from her kids to me for a second before looking back at them. "Enough, you two! Or I won't be buying anything," she half shouts, which seems to do the trick.

"Hi..." I say after some time, still shocked to see her so worn out.

"I can't believe it's you. It's been what? Eight, ten years?" she asks, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

"Ten years," a voice I swore I would never hear again says from behind me.

Matt.

Damn it! I hate how my body still responds to him. I hate how aware it makes me feel, how goosebumps run from my neck to my arms, and how my heart squeezes with a mixture of longing and hurt in my chest.

Wishing this silly heart of mine would stop beating so fast, and that it would finally catch up with my brain once and for all, I close my eyes for a second. There's nothing left when it comes to me and this man.

Looking past me, Vivian's smile goes bigger, and I have to take a deep breath before turning to him.

"Jen," Matt whispers, his eyes going soft and his lips parting as if he can't also believe I'm real. That I'm standing in front of him doing the only thing I swore I'd never do: come back.

But then, in a split second, something passes behind his eyes and they harden right before mine.

I wish I could say that looking at him, so handsome, so different from that boy I left behind, doesn't affect me, doesn't unsettle me, but it does. We broke each other's hearts, both of us too sure of what the best for our relationship was; both of us too proud to fix the mess of our last day together.

Matt, once the man of my dreams, is the reason I've been avoiding coming home.

And it looks like I was right.

He doesn't look so happy to see me either.

Only I know him better.

I know that look.

He's fighting this pull.

Just like me. 

_____

A/N: So glad you found this story! Hope you fall in love with Jen & Matt as much as I did! :)

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Celeste❤️