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Thinking about my conversation with Catherine and what I could do next, I started packing my things to head home.
I knew I needed to talk to Maya and figure out what was happening between us. I also needed to be honest with Maya about my feelings. It wouldn't be easy, but it was the right thing to do. I needed to give this second chance at a relationship the best chance to grow and not fuck up like I did years ago.
As I drove home, I couldn't help but think about Maya and how easily we fell back together and how quickly our bodies remembered each other. Overall, it was incredible to realize how much I still cared for her. It was scary to open up to someone again after losing my wife, but I knew I couldn't keep my feelings bottled up forever. I needed to take a chance on love, even if it meant risking getting hurt again.
Maya
I loved my job and work rarely felt like a slog. But today, I couldn’t concentrate. Whenever I tried, whenever I had a quiet moment, my mind kept wandering back to the cabin with Jack.
To say I was confused about the situation was an understatement. I was surprised by how quickly we turned from cold and awkward to hot and very,veryfamiliar.
I figured I just needed someone to talk to about the whole thing. And who was better to talk to than Brielle?
Brielle was always positive. She was always peppy. Sometimes it was annoying, but sometimes it was exactly what I needed. Like today.
I dropped into a chair in her office, and she flashed her signature bright smile. Wearing a bright pink sweater dress, she practically glowed.
"Hey, Maya! What's up?" Her face was so open, making it always easy to confide in her.
I shook my head and sighed.
"I can't concentrate.” My voice was heavy and full of frustration. One corner of Brielle’s lip threatened to pull down in a frown, but she quickly recovered.
Brielle cocked her head to the side and gave me a knowing look.
"It's Jack, isn't it?"
My brain stuttered at her acknowledgment of Jack. Had I been that obvious?
I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up.
“Yep. It's Jack." I drummed my fingers on her desk and looked down at my feet. "So, we may have slept together,” I admitted, looking sheepishly up at her, steadying myself for her reaction.
"You what?" She squealed, her voice so loud that I shrunk into the chair, afraid a coworker would see me with her through the frosted glass doors. I watched as she internally processed and gathered her composure in the space of ten seconds.
“Okay,” she finally said slowly. Dragging each syllable out impossibly long. “Is that a problem?”
I hesitated. I didn’t even know where to begin about what a problem this was.
“I don’t know,” I finally answered honestly. “It’s been so long and so much has happened. He’s different–very different–and I’m different. I’m afraid we just fell back on what was comfortable but in the end, it was all a huge mistake.”
Brielle tilted her head to the side, considering.
“I get it. Have you talked to him?”
I shook my head.
“Well, that’s probably a good place to start. If you want to. And if you don’t want a relationship moving forward, you should probably tell him that, too.”
I nodded, apparently losing my entire ability to speak. I took a few deep, long breaths. Brielle was right. No matter what, I did owe Jack a conversation. At least to tell him I wasn’t interested in pursuing anything and the time at the cabin was just a fun–and enjoyable–trip down memory lane.
There were too many complications.
I looked up to find Brielle leaning closer, a conspiratorial look on her face.
“But, seriously, Maya. Jack is gorgeous, successful, and incredibly wealthy. I vote that you get to know him now that you’re both full-fledged adults.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling a headache start to form.
