Chapter 5
Not Byron. Not even her best friend Lana. She wasn’t ready.
She didn’t even know if she’d ever be.
Now the bell rang.
She froze.
The soft thumping in her chest was drowned by the ring of the doorbell. Her fingers nervously curled around the edge of her sweater as she stood. Quietly, carefully, she walked toward the door and peeked through the peephole.
It was Byron.
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Hello.” She managed a small smile as she opened the door.
“Morning,” was his standard calm look.
He got in when she stepped sideways, “What brings you here?”
He raised the white paper bag in his hand. “Lana said you didn’t show up at the bookstore today, so I figured you could use some coffee and a distraction.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You talked to Lana?”
He smirked a little. “She called me. Said she was worried about you. She’s persistent.”
“That she is,” Jennifer replied faintly.
“Bring the typical cinnamon rolls from that place you like. And two coffees, one with oat milk and too much sugar, just the way you like it.”
When she raised an eyebrow at him, “You remembered?” she asked.
“I remember a lot of things about you,” he said simply.
Her stomach fluttered.
They were sitting at her small kitchen table. Byron took off his jacket and leaned back in the chair like he owned the place. Pregnant silence occupied the space between him and Jennifer sitting across from him, holding the warm cup in her hands, silently thanking for the normalcy he brought with him.
For a short period, there was silence. They just ate and drank coffee. Somehow, it felt okay.
“So,” he said finally. “Are you doing okay?”
She paused. “I don’t know. Everything feels…too much.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“I do. Just don’t know how.”
Byron nodded. “We don’t really have to talk now. We could just sit.”
Jennifer looked at him. The dark eyes were gentle, the expression on the face unreadable, but somehow inviting. There was an absence of pressure with Byron. Just space. Just … peace.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked in almost a whisper.
He stared at her with calm eyes. “Because I care.”
That simple statement tightened her heart.
“I don’t think I’m ready for anything,” she finally said. “My life is such a mess.”
“I’m not asking for anything,” he said. “I just want to be here.”
Jennifer stared at him.
It had been a long time since anyone had offered her that, without wanting something in return.
“You always were nice to me,” she said quietly. “Even when I was with Devlin. I noticed.”
Byron looked away, a small, almost sad smile working its way out of his lips. “Yeah. I tried not to let it show too much.”
She leaned forward, interest piqued. “So you liked me then?”
He shrugged a bit. “I respected your marriage. But yeah, I noticed you.”
Jennifer sat back, surprised by how warm that made her. “I had no idea.”
He held her gaze. “I never expected you to. You looked happy.”
“I thought I was.”
Their eyes held for a long moment.
Between them, the space was silent, yet full.
She felt a pull towards him. Something soft and slow bloomed inside her chest. It wasn’t that fire she’d known with Devlin, that feeling so reckless, so hot, so all-consuming. This was an anchor. A soft place.
Byron broke the spell. “Want to take a walk? It’s not too cold.”
She nodded.
They strolled down the sidewalk together, brushing past trees with branches that swayed lightly in the soft fingers of the breeze. Jennifer inhaled some of the cool air deeply, thinking it might help clear her mind.
“Tell me something I don’t know about you,” she said rather suddenly.
Byron chuckled. “Like what?”
“I don’t know, a secret.”
He thought about it for some time. “Then…I used to play the piano. I still do every now and again. Mostly when no one is listening.”
She blinked. “You? Silent and mysterious Byron? A pianist?”
He smiled. “I am full of surprises.”
She laughed a real laugh, and for the first time in days, the feeling of drowning receded.
They sat down on a park bench, watching a puppy chase a few leaves across the grass.
“I like this,” she said softly.
“So do I.” Turning to him, she said, “I really don’t know what to call this between us.”
“You don’t have to know right now,” he gently pointed out.
“But you can feel it too, right?” He nodded once. “Yeah, I do.”
Jennifer was gazing at him; her heart gave a leap. She feared going ahead, fearful in trusting again. But here, sitting with him, she could not help but want more.
Still…something was holding her back. “Can I ask you a favor?” Byron had asked.
“Anything.” He hesitated. “What went on with Devlin last night? After I left?”
Jennifer swallowed. “He…brought some things…from the past. Tried to make me feel guilty.”
“For what?” Jennifer paused. “For moving on.”
Byron was studying her closely. “So, are you?”
“I want to. I think I do.” He did not press her, only nodded, accepting what she said.
The phone buzzed again, and Jennifer stiffened. Byron noticed, asking, “Is everything okay?”
She just glanced at the screen.
Blocked Number: “If you don’t talk to me, I’ll come to your house. I mean it.”
Blood froze in her veins.
Byron leaned in closer. “Jennifer?” Her palm trembled a little. “It’s fine. Just spam.”
But the expression on his face betrayed his thoughts. She stood up quickly. “Come on, we should go. It’s getting late.”
Walking silently back to her place.
At the door, Byron turned to her. “Know that I’m here anytime you need to talk…or anything, really.”
“I know,” she murmured. “Thank you.”
Their eyes met again, and for a second, she thought he might kiss her. Her heart fluttered at the thought. But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped back.
“Goodnight, Jennifer.”
“Goodnight.” She watched him walk down the steps, and then turn the corner.
