Page 13 of The Truths We Find

He lifts his hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. The sensation sends a quiet shiver through me, which is unwanted and unwelcome. I step back before it can turn into anything more.

“Why not?” he whispers. “Clearly there’s still something here.”

I push his hand away and keep moving back. “I’ve moved on with my life.” I muster with everything I have. “I’m in a good place with someone and I’m finally happy.”

“You have a boyfriend?”

“I do.”

Gavin’s eyes go wide. Shock flashing across his face.

“What did you expect?” I scoff. “You told me all those years ago you didn’t love me. You thought I would just become celibate and sit around pining?”

“I guess I thought us finding each other again after all this time was meant to be or something.”

“No! You don’t get to do that.” Now I’m pissed. “You don’t get to decide after all this time that you’re finally ready because of fate or whatever. It doesn’t work that way. You blew it. You used me all those years ago.” I walk towards the door. “Even if I wasn’t with someone, if you think I would ever give you another chance, you must really have an ego on you.”

I open the door, slamming it shut behind me.

Quickly grabbing my things and rushing to the parking lot, I hear Gavin chasing after me, yelling my name.

I turn to find him trying to catch his breath. “I’m sorry for what I said. I guess I’m just a little jealous. But I also shouldn’t be surprised you found someone. The fact is the universe did bring us together again. And I would rather have you in my life as a friend, than not at all.”

“I don’t know if I can do that, Gavin.”

“Dani, please. I promise no funny business. Just friends.” He holds up two fingers together. “Scout’s honor.”

I read his face, studying every line, every flicker of expression. His eyes are steady, almost convincing in their sincerity, but there’s something else. Hesitation, guilt, a shadow of the man I once knew. I see the weight of what we lost, and for a moment, it almost throws me off balance.

But I’m not ready to let him back into my life. Not outside of work. I can’t risk slipping back into the person I once was. Madly, deeply in love. Completely consumed with Gavin.

When he left, I was shattered. Pieces of me vanished in ways I can’t even name. I hate that he had that kind of power over me. That he could leave me hollow like that. It took years to rebuild, to trust that love could exist without destroying me.

I can’t let him back in. Not as a friend, not even close. The part of me that loved him still exists, and I can’t make it vulnerable again. I can’t trust him. Not now, maybe not ever.

“I’m sorry, Gavin. I can’t. We can obviously work together, and I promise to be civil inside the station. But anything outside of that, I just can’t.” I turn back towards my car and get in.

Luckily, Doolies Bar isn’t far from the station. I snag a parking spot right in front and step inside.

The place leans more toward a sports pub than anything fancy. TVs broadcast games from every angle, neon beer signs buzz softly, and the faint scent of fried food mingles with spilled beer on the floor. The chatter of regulars and clinking glasses fills the air. Drinks are cheap and strong, and the bartenders know most customers by name.

I spot Alexa at the bar and slide onto the stool next to her.

“About time you showed up,” she says. “Here, I got you your vodka tonic, extra limes.”

“Wow. I really am predictable,” I sigh.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just something Gavin said. Even after ten years, he knew what to order for me at lunch today.”

“You’re not predictable. You just know what you like. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I guess.”

“Speaking of Gavin, you need to tell me what happened today. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to run interference.”

“It’s fine.” I take a large sip of my cocktail. “It’s probably better you weren’t. A lot of revelations came out, and a lot of tears.”