Book 2: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Hey, gorgeous"

He spoke while I continued to stare in disbelief. It's not every day that something like this happens. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would see each face to face again. There he was with his black curls and deafening blue eyes, looking at me with a fondness. Only this felt awkward and out of place. He was not supposed to be here. My heart wasn't ready for such a meeting, but there was no other choice.

My hand covered my mouth as the tears welled in my eyes. The emotions I felt ran over me like a semi-truck. Part of me wanted to run into his arms and never let go. However, the other part of me wanted to yell at him for leaving the way he did. He thought he could show up and everything be ok? Because that's not how this was going to work. No matter how deliciously handsome he looked, Autumn Monet would not cave. Not even for him!

Realizing I hadn't said anything, my throat cleared as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Um...what-what do I say?" That was a dumb thing to ask.

He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "A hello would suffice."

"Hello, Jason," I said dryly.

I can tell he winced when I said that. "Damn, you're mad at me," hell yeah, I was.

"All she said was hello, and you knew she was mad at you. I'm impressed." Kira chimed in, amused by this whole situation.

Jay laughed, responding to Kira. "Oddly enough, she only calls me by my full name when she's upset with me," it kills me that he still knows that. "Of course, I expected nothing less."

Something about him seemed different. His demeanor was not what I was not familiar with. Even the tone of his voice was different. This wasn't the person I knew a year ago. He seemed to have himself together. Even though this was the first time, we were meeting in a year. Things were bound to be different. We were bound to be different after being apart for so long. There was still that old Jay deep inside of him. It just needed to be brought out again.

It didn't make things any less awkward, though. We didn't get to say goodbye once he decided to leave. I didn't even know he was leaving to begin with! Seeing him again stirred wild emotions inside of me. Talking wasn't going to be enough for us to settle things. Especially this late at night. I mean, what was he even thinking?

Jay focused his attention back on me, his smile never fading. "If you don't mind, Autumn, I would love to speak to you...alone."

"What is there to talk about?" There was a bit of hostility to me, but that was just the frustration.

"There's a lot to talk about." His tone shifted to what I was used to hearing—a little sweet but with a bit of an attitude.

Kira looked at me as I looked at her deciding whether I should hear him out or not. We did have a history, and I needed an explanation. Ending things on a sour note wasn't ideal. This was our opportunity to fix our relationship possibly. I'm not saying rekindle our spark but at least be friends again. We shared some personal moments. We shared the same pain of losing a parent. There was too much history not to be friends again.

Kira got the memo nodding her head. "Ok, I'll be in the back if you need anything," she gave me a sympathetic look before walking to the back.

I smiled at her before looking back at Jay. This conversation would not be as pleasant as I wanted it to be. There was no way to expect what he was going to tell me. Did he have the same feelings as he did before? We haven't talked in so long it's hard to tell where his head is. Regardless, he came here for a reason, and it was time to find out.

We sat down at a table in the far corner across from one another. My mind couldn't stop thinking about what he was going to say. It's sort of like I didn't know him, but I did. The person who showed himself to me was still there.

Jay sat back in his seat, almost mesmerized. "You cut your hair?" He sounded amused. "I like it."

For some reason, I blushed. "Tha-thank you." Why was I stuttering?

His face fell hearing my response. "I fucked up, huh?" He was good at reading the room.

I sighed, putting a strand of hair behind my ear. "Well, I'm not exactly happy about what you did," I'm not sure why I whispered, but I did. "You left without saying anything. Leaving me with a goddamn piece of paper, Jay!"

He gave me a tight-lipped smile sitting back in his seat. "I'm sorry," was all he said.

The tension between us was a little thick, but nothing we both couldn't handle. I expected a bit more of a fight, but he quickly apologized. Jay did some soul searching while he was away. The usual combative energy he possessed vanished. This guy was newfound, and I would lie if I said I didn't like it. However, part of me misses the old Jay. Everything that made me attracted to him seemed to dissipate. Or he was putting on an act so we could have a heart-to-heart.

I was ready to hear his side no matter how much he changed. As Kira said, he had reasons for leaving, and somewhere in me knew that. My stubbornness wouldn't let me think straight, which is why this needed to happen. Who knows if this opportunity will present itself again?

Now I sat back in my seat, trying to be more sympathetic towards him.

"So, tell me what happened." I opened the floor for him to speak.

Jay ran his fingers through his curls, probably feeling put on the spot. "Did you read the note?" He asked with a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

I nod, not seeing how that's relevant at the moment. "Of course I did."

"Autumn, I was a stupid boy back then and not in control of my emotions," he started to explain. "Everything said in the note was true, adding to the fact that I didn't know what Cyrus' choice would be."

He was right about that, and I wouldn't say I liked it. Everything Jay did was because he was unsure of what would happen. Cyrus made it clear to us that he was choosing me. However, I'm still mad at Jay for not at least communicating with me on the matter. He didn't need to leave me with a piece of paper. A piece of paper that told me exactly how he felt. Feelings that I would have reciprocated had he said it to me to my face.

"You still could have talked to me about it. You locked me in a room all day long, for crying out loud!" I yelled a little playfully at him. Looking at his face, it was hard to stay mad because I missed him.

He chuckled, taking responsibility for that. "I know, I know, and I've changed a lot since then," he sounded excited about it. "I've worked on myself to the point where you wouldn't have to worry about communication problems any longer."

I smirked, loving all the work he's put into being better. "That's the thing, Jay, it didn't matter to me that you struggled to communicate," I start to state my case. "I liked you for you and nothing else."

His face fell. "Past tense, I see."

I didn't think he would take it that way. My feelings for him were unchanged. Little did he know, I've always thought of him. When I'm sleeping, eating, or hanging out with the girls, Jay pops into my head just as much as Cyrus did. They both had an effect on me that would never happen with anyone else. Of course, I shot myself in the foot with my wording.

Shaking my head, I grabbed his hand, only to be met with a whirlwind of tingles shooting through my body. You'd think this wouldn't happen since it's been a year of no physical contact. But things between us were the same. Only we were both a little more mature this time around. Judging by the smile on his face, he felt it too.

"I just meant that before everything happened, all I wanted was you. Flaws and all." I hoped he understood that.

"Any chance of that happening again?" He questioned with hopeful eyes.

I smile, giving his hand a light squeeze. "In time, Jay."

He stood up feeling relieved. "That's good enough for me!" He exclaimed.

I laughed, walking him to the door to say goodbye. The conversation went better than expected, and the hug he embraced me with made my knees go weak. He smelled the same. A scent that my nostrils loved to inhale. His body felt even more impressive than it was a year ago. He was leaving me curious to see what it looked like now. We were going to take things slow this time, though. Last time we rushed it since our feelings formed from thin air. This time we could get to know each other without any other complications. It'll feel more natural, in a sense.

He smiled at me one last time before his facial expression turned serious. I'm not sure what he was thinking about, but it was something I was hoping he wouldn't bring up. There wasn't an honest answer I could give him right now because I was afraid.

"My only question would be do you feel the same?"

I knew what he was talking about, but I didn't want to answer. He still had those feelings for me. They don't just disappear like that. What do I say? There was lying, but it would be impossible to lie to him. Then telling the truth was the best choice, but I wasn't ready. Things always became more complicated when I was in the picture.

I licked my lips nervously, trying to form words with my mouth. "Um, I-"

"Don't even say anything; it's ok." He smiled, understanding I wasn't ready.

Sighing with relief, I hugged him one last time before he left out of the bakery. My palms were sweaty as I mentally started freaking out. Who would have thought Jay would show up here of all places today? It was a mystery to how he even found me, but there was a sneaking suspicion that a certain someone was in cohorts with him. That man and his meddling!