Laura
The drive back to the hotel was thick with silence. The air inside the car seemed suffocating, heavy with all the unspoken words and lingering emotions. Jake didn't even look my way. He was staring out of the window, jaw clenched, lost in his own thoughts. I was doing the same, trying not to think about everything that had happened. It was too much, everything. The kiss, the sex, the rejection. The silence between us seemed louder than any argument we could have had.
I stole a glance at him, wondering what was going through his mind. He looked calm, distant, completely unbothered. It hurt more than I'd like to admit. How could he just brush everything off like this? As if it didn't mean anything? Maybe I had misjudged everything. Maybe I was the only one feeling this... whatever it was. The pain of that realization gnawed at me, and I turned away, biting my lip to stop the tears from falling.
By the time we got to the hotel, we didn't even say goodbye. As soon as the car stopped, I got out and headed straight to my room. I didn't look back. I couldn't. My chest felt tight, and my head was spinning. I just needed to get out of his orbit, away from him, from this mess.
The next morning, we were both on the first flight back home, and just like the car ride, the silence followed us. We didn't speak a word to each other. We were seated close but miles apart emotionally. I spent the flight staring out of the window, pretending to be interested in the endless expanse of clouds, when in reality, I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Jake was engrossed in his laptop the entire time. He didn't even acknowledge me, which was fine because it gave me space to gather myself, to build walls around everything that had happened. I had to get a grip. I wasn't some fragile girl who would crumble just because a man didn't want her. But this wasn't just some man. This was Jake, my boss, the man who had somehow managed to weave his way into every part of my thoughts, my emotions. And I had let him. I had fallen for him, stupidly, recklessly.
When we landed, it was the same story. We grabbed our bags, exchanged a curt nod, and went our separate ways. It was clear. Whatever we had, or thought we had, was done. Over. And maybe that was for the best.
This continued throughout the following week.
I threw myself into work as soon as we got back. There was no other way to cope, no other way to ignore the growing knot in my chest every time I thought about Jake. And thankfully, there was plenty to do. The backlog from the trip was enormous… emails, meetings, contracts to be reviewed. I barely had time to breathe, let alone think about him.
And Jake? He was just as busy. We crossed paths several times at the office, but he kept it strictly professional. There were no stolen glances, no moments where our hands brushed or eyes lingered too long. It was like that trip never happened. And honestly, I preferred it that way. I had spent the first few days back worried about how I'd balance my feelings for Jake with the responsibilities of my job. I didn't want to become that girl, the one who loses her head over her boss and ruins her career in the process.
But Jake had made that decision for me. By ignoring me, by staying buried in his work, he had taken the pressure off. At least, that's what I told myself.
One week passed like that. No words exchanged, no lingering glances. Just work. And for a while, it was enough. I convinced myself I was okay. I convinced myself that this was better, easier. But the truth was, I was avoiding my own feelings, burying them under the mountain of emails and deadlines. Every time I saw Jake in the hallway, my heart still skipped a beat. Every time I heard his voice in a meeting, it sent a ripple through me that I couldn't ignore. But I pretended. I was good at pretending.
That weekend, I decided to take a break from everything and have some fun. Arlene is ever my go-to for that, the one person who knew me better than I knew myself.
We went to a cozy café not far from her place. As soon as we walked in, the waiter spotted us, waving us over with her usual wide smile.
"She looks as put-together as always." I muttered to Arlene who nodded affirmatively.
"Hey, strangers!" she greeted us as she led us to a table and we took our seats.
"You guys have been MIA for over a week. What's going on?" She asked.
"Nothing, just busy with work." Arlene replied and I nodded to confirm I support the same answer too.
"I'll get your orders here soon." She let out and disappeared.
Arlene had this way of seeing right through me, and today was no different. She narrowed her eyes, studying me carefully before speaking again.
"Okay, spill," she said, leaning forward. "I know you didn't just bring me here for fun. Something's up. I can tell."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I knew I couldn't hide it anymore, not from her. "It's... it's Jake," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Jake? As in your boss, Jake?"
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah, that Jake."
Arlene's expression shifted from surprise to concern. "Okay, now you really need to explain."
I took a deep breath, and before I knew it, the words just started spilling out. I told her everything, about the trip, about how Jake and I had slept together, about how he'd pulled away, about the silence that had followed. By the time I finished, I could see the worry etched into her features.
"Oh, Laura..." she sighed, shaking her head. "What did I tell you about guys like Jake?"
"I know," I muttered, feeling the shame and regret settle in. "I know. You warned me."
"I did," she said softly, her tone filled with empathy. "Guys like him... they're charming, and they know exactly how to get what they want. But when it comes to real commitment? They run."
Her words stung, but I knew she was right. I had known it too, deep down. Jake was never going to be the kind of guy who settled down, especially not with someone like me. I was just another conquest, another fling that he could forget about once the thrill was gone.
Arlene reached across the table, squeezing my hand gently. "I'm not saying he's a bad guy," she continued. "But you deserve better than this. You deserve someone who sees your worth, someone who's not going to make you feel small or used."
I nodded, though the ache in my chest was hard to ignore. "I thought there was something real between us," I admitted, my voice shaky. "But... after what he said, I just feel... cheap."
"You're not cheap," Arlene said firmly. "He's the one who's cheap. And he's the one missing out on something amazing."
I smiled weakly, appreciating her words, even though it didn't feel like enough to ease the hurt. Arlene had always been protective of me, and I knew she had my best interests at heart. But it didn't change the fact that I had fallen for Jake, and now, I had to deal with the aftermath.
"You know," I said, wiping at my eyes, "when we were on the island, I thought... I thought maybe he felt the same way. But after we got back, it's like he just flipped a switch. He didn't even acknowledge me. Like nothing happened."
Arlene sighed, leaning back in her chair. "That's what guys like him do, Laura. They reel you in, make you think you're the only one, and then they pull away the moment things get real. It's classic."
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle in. It was a harsh truth, but one I had to accept. I had let myself get caught up in Jake's charm, and now I was paying the price.
"I just don't know what to do now," I admitted. "I can't avoid him forever, and work has been... weird. It's like we're both pretending nothing happened, but I can't stop thinking about it."
"You don't have to avoid him," Arlene said gently. "But you do need to protect yourself. Set boundaries. If he tries to mess with your head again, don't let him. You're stronger than that."
I nodded, taking her advice to heart. Arlene was right. I needed to be stronger, to focus on myself and my work, and not let Jake get under my skin anymore.
As we finished our conversation, I felt a sense of clarity settling over me. I wasn't completely healed, not by a long shot, but I knew what I needed to do. It was time to move on, time to take back control of my life. And maybe, just maybe, I could learn from this and come out stronger on the other side.
My phone rang just then and my heart stopped when I saw Jake's face lit up the screen…